Fulfilling Bucket Lists for
20 Years By John Hardy
“
W
e fulfill bucket lists,” beams the supercharged, upbeat and expert travel industry veteran Corey Marshall, president and CEO of the award-winning, Calgary-based Anderson Vacations. “We put together dream vacations for our clients.” Of course there’s more, much more, to the Anderson difference than their superb range of unique and customized vacation products, including the most comprehensive Canada and Alaska program, and the second-to-none Australia/ New Zealand and the South Pacific Island products. The company also offers fully escorted deluxe coach tours, the renowned Grand Pacific Tours of New Zealand, and the breathtaking (and usually sold-out) iconic experience that is the Rocky Mountaineer (VIA rail adventure) through The Canadian Rockies. There’s also the Anderson edge: the tremendous experience, the up-to-date knowhow and market savvy of the uncompromisingly client-focused Anderson team of Anderson Vacations | 20 Years
95
Photos, this page: Staff and vendors at Anderson Vacations’ Agent Event, recently held in Calgary. Photos by KLH Streets Photography.
travel and vacation specialists, along with their commitment of loyalty, responsiveness and timely, efficient and reliable service to their retail and supplier partners. “This is our 20th year and, with constant market monitoring and research and vital input from our clients and suppliers,
UNBEATABLE VALUE • LUXURY COACH • ALL INCLUSIVE
New Zealand
PER PERSON, TWIN SHARE FROM
4103
$
*
$200
BONUS PER PERSON**
16 Day NZ Highlights 20 DAYS FROM
CALL NOW FOR OUR
GE 40OCPA HURE BR
Explore the natural beauty and unique culture of both the North and South Islands by luxury coach without breaking the budget. Enjoy an extensive list of pre paid attractions, quality accommodation, 4 two night stays and 30 superb meals. Multiple departures. 14 Day tour also available from $3545* per person, twin share.
Contact Grand Pacific Tours Canadian Experts (403) 245 6200, bookings@andersonvacations.ca or www.downundersolution.com
*Conditions apply. Prices valid for land only travel and quoted in Canadian dollars. Prices are subject to change without notice. Such changes may be due to adverse currency fluctuation. Single supplement available. **Valid for new bookings only until 30 June 2014.
we have been able to carve out a niche,” Marshall explains. “Our customized Australia and New Zealand programs have been extremely popular, and our years of experience and passion for exploring our own magnificent backyard in Canada allow us to provide even more expert knowledge of Canada as a travel destination. “In fact,” he adds with pride and enthusiasm, “we specialize in destinations we are passionate about.” Marshall’s cutting-edge travel industry professionalism underscores the complexity and detail that is required to put together smooth, efficient and problem-free, customized travel. A tailor-made vacation package takes a lot of searching and tracking down of options, checking and double-checking. Just one custom vacation likely involves about 30 – 40 different suppliers. The know-how of sourcing, negotiating, co-ordinating and planning vacation travel has become a truly specialized
Applause! Congratulations to Anderson Vacations for 20 years of business in our community. From the Southern Alberta Commercial Community.
®
Registered trade-marks of Bank of Montreal.
Anderson Vacations | 20 Years
skill that the Anderson team continues to perfect with every client arrangement. “Although the travel industry has changed tremendously, especially in the past several years, some things do stay constant,” says Vasil Vladinski, Anderson Vacations’ operations manager and specialist for the South Pacific. “Travellers expect value for their money and they are looking for – and deserve – a personalized and problem-free experience. It’s a priority.” To optimize problem-free travel, Anderson has a double-barreled approach. Guaranteed Departures is an added Anderson feature, assuring that the scheduled tour is secure, without worries about delays and cancellation; and Anderson’s exclusive 24 hour emergency line is not a call centre, but staffed by trained travel experts. Vladinski notes that today’s vacationing clients are also looking for cultural and experiential travel, not just flying into a destination and checking in to a resort. They want to make their vacation special and memorable by customizing the experience. That is just one of the unique aspects that sets Anderson Vacations apart. “Travellers want to interact with the culture in their chosen destination and they want to have a sensory experience,” according to Heather Murray, Anderson’s client services manager. “Ultimately they want to experience the
who-what-and-why feelings and have the sensory memories, as well as the nice pictures. After all, that may be one of the subtle contemporary differences between a traveller and a tourist.” Dawn Rueckl is Anderson’s general manager for Canada and agrees with the changing pace and nature of travel. “Canadian vacation trends are shifting so fast, whether it’s a client’s first time visiting iconic Canadian sites like Calgary, The Rockies and the Stampede, Parliament Hill in Ottawa, out east in the Maritimes or the many growingly popular off-the-beaten path destinations. A new trend is travelers wanting to experience the people as who they are and what they’re all about, not just the sights.” That’s why Canadian vacationers are increasingly interested in customized packages or independent travel to central and northern B.C., Prince Rupert and the whole of Vancouver Island, not just Victoria. They add extra time in Winnipeg to visit Churchill, on Cape Breton Island enjoying the neighbourhood céilí that starts with tea and ends with whiskey, or the popular and spectacular iceberg and whale watching excursions in Twillingate, Newfoundland. Another vital Anderson Vacations priority is the specialness of the vacation experience and the comfort and hassle-free enjoyment of the traveller. A good example is Anderson’s exclusive “New Zealand Ultimate Small Group Tours”.
Welcome to the world of play
G
Good fishing and great memories are just a short drive away. Bring your family to one of the beautiful lakes right next door in Saskatchewan.
Gou
Congratulations to Anderson Vacations on 20 great years.
TourismSaskatchewan.com
Out of province marketing (national & International)
Anderson Vacations | 20 Years
Our recommendations
Government of
Gov
AustrA liA, New th PAc ific Dow nun
ZeAlAN d & sou der Destina tion Pla nner 201 4-2015
SKA A & ALA CANAD 15 14 – 20 nner 20
tion Pla
Destina
Anders on Vac ations
With new coaches, the passengers travel in comfort and style, because on a coach originally built for 48 people, the interior has been reconfigured to comfortably accommodate just 20 luxury leather seats, which means every passenger has a window seat. Aside from the interesting shift for vacations outside major cities (like Vancouver, Winnipeg, Toronto and Halifax) and enjoyably adventurous, off–the-beaten-path destinations like Anderson’s New Orleans Big Easy Tour, the Niagara Falls & Grand Hotel Tour, a two day shopping adventure to West Edmonton Mall, a 27-day escorted criss-cross tour of Canada and even a fascinating tour of the massive oil sands operations in Fort McMurray, the Anderson team is noticing a significant surge in interest about traditional and non-traditional ways to travel and vacation in Australia, New Zealand and the South Pacific. Corey Marshall, a professionally (and privately) seasoned Australia and New Zealand expert, explains that the two biggest changes when it comes to ‘down under’ and South Pacific travel are: much easier access by air and travelers no longer doing hectic three week marathons. “It used to be grueling, but the flight is actually not bad now,” he says. “It’s a direct, overnight flight, it’s more affordable and lets travelers comfortably combine a trip to New Zealand with a few days in the Cook Islands or an Australian vacation with a Fiji or Tahiti stopover.” The knowledgeable Anderson Vacations professionals also highlight new (and popular) South Pacific destinations such as French Polynesia, Samoa, Tonga, and, due to easier and more affordable flight access, they are noticing more repeat travel to down under. Anderson Vacations’ success reflects Marshall’s outsidethe-box mentality and entrepreneurial vision as well as his sharp market savvy and understanding of what contemporary travelers want and expect.
AuS & The STRAliA, NeW Z ouTh P ACifiCeAlANd iSlANd S Down un
der De
stinatio
n Plann
er 2014
– 20
15
He raves about “the remarkable Anderson Vacations staff,” not only for their exceptional travel industry expertise, but also for their solid client and service-focused commitment and hard work. After 20 industry-leading and respected years, a dedicated and knowledgeable staff and solid relationships with longterm supplier partners, Anderson Vacations continues to earn a distinguished local, regional and international reputation as one of the most innovative and service-focused travel professionals in the business. A special and well-deserved honor happened last December, when Anderson Vacations was chosen as the winner of the prestigious Tourism Industry Association of Canada (TIAC) Award as “small to medium size business of the year,” presented by the national association to recognize tourism excellence, business success, leadership and creativity within the Canadian tourism industry. Here’s to the next 20 years of Anderson Vacations fulfilling buckets lists! •
andersonvacations.ca