tours
ignitemag.ca
PM41704530 IGNITE MAGAZINE, 6 – 1500 UPPER MIDDLE ROAD WEST, SUITE 317, OAKVILLE, ON L6M 0C2
2017 TREND REPORT
INSPIRE HOW THE INDUSTRY DOES GOOD
INNOVATIVE CITY TOURS JOB-HUNTING TIPS DESTINATION SPOTLIGHTS
Kingston, Ontario Sydney, Australia
November | December 2016
TOURS
DE FORCE
From Palette to Palate CALGARY, AB Calgary Food Tours combines the city's thriving art scene with food artists who transform meals into masterpieces in a 14-block walking and tasting tour. The Journey: A sweet-and-savoury luncheon with wine sampling at Hotel Arts near the Design District kicks off an experience meant to satisfy all appetites. Two interpretive talks make art approachable through storytelling and close-up looks at artists and their creative process. Groups may see paintings or a play, learn about pastry arts or nibble artisanal snacks in a gourmet warehouse. The Bonus: It can be run as an early brunch or late-afternoon cocktails and appetizers. In the winter, the experience can be shortened to focus on the art. calgaryfoodtours.com
Please your been-there-done-that crowd with innovative city tours that aim to capture destinations in new ways by Wendy Helfenbaum
Picture Perfect Tours HALIFAX, NS Local photographers treat your group to their fave views and secret photo spots while sharing tips and tricks. The Journey: Whether your attendees are newbie or experienced shooters, the guides provide a scenic adventure through downtown Halifax and off-the-beaten path coastal regions on the edge. Tours are customized according to the group’s familiarity with the area. First-timers will likely visit iconic landmarks such as Peggy’s Cove or Citadel Hill; veterans may see the old Bank of Nova Scotia with its Great Gatsby-esque interior. The Bonus: Owner Geordie Mott takes advantage of his motherin-law’s expertise as a genealogist and photo archivist with the Nova Scotia Archives, sharing visual material on iPads to highlight Maritime history. pictureperfecttours.ca
Craft Beer Tour VANCOUVER, BC Cycle City Tours takes attendees through Vancouver’s eclectic neighbourhoods while peeking ‘behind the brew’ at three of the city’s craft breweries. The Journey: In groups of up to 24, visit facilities that showcase 140 years of history. Plenty of food pairings at brunch from Belgard Kitchen accompany the beer samples, making this an ideal tour for foodies and “beer nuts.” Offered year-round, this tour visits under-the-radar historically significant neighbourhoods. The Bonus: Sample scrumptious French cream puffs delivered to participants along the way. cyclevancouver.com
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Ignitemag.ca
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November | December 2016
good to know
Beyond the Bike Lanes MONTREAL, QC
Mariposa Cruises TORONTO, ON In May, Mariposa Cruises launched a multilingual Scenic Harbour Tour with a twist: a GPS-enabled audio guide system. The Journey: A beloved floating venue goes interactive, with headsets and slides projected on a big-screen TV, capturing the history of the city’s revitalized waterfront. Narrated in English, French, Mandarin and Spanish, the 45-minute excursion is a great add-on for groups hosting international guests. The outing covers stories and legends behind Toronto’s landmarks seen during the cruise aboard The Oriole, a Great Lakes steamship replica. The Bonus: All six ships in the Mariposa fleet are available for customizable private charters. The company also offers an interactive Harbour Tour App. mariposacruises.com
The Trek: Montreal’s Spade & Palacio specialize in “non-touristy tours” that showcase the diverse city through the eyes of its locals. The Journey: Beginning at the bike shop/café that designed participants’ bikes, guests can grab some java before heading out to view street art in Montreal’s less-visited laneways. Stops include a pedestrian mall in the Gay Village and a ride through the festival district. After lunch in the park and a couple of cold ones at an artisanal brewery, the guides will likely dare you not to move here once the tour’s over. The Bonus: Guides split guests into groups of 10, customizing each tour based on interests and cycling experience. spadeandpalacio.com
The Ride NEW YORK CITY What do you get when you cross sightseeing in the world’s most electric city with interactive Broadway performances on the streets? A tour attendees won’t soon forget. The Journey: Seated in a massive bus with stadium seating and floor-to-ceiling windows, groups experience surprises throughout Midtown Manhattan and Times Square, including ballet dancers, rappers and singers, all of whom interact with the riders. The Bonus: The bus can be wrapped in corporate logos and performers can be branded with client-supplied costumes and props. theridenyc.com
November | December 2016 |
Ignitemag.ca
|
27
PM41704530 IGNITE MAGAZINE, 6 – 1500 UPPER MIDDLE ROAD WEST, SUITE 317, OAKVILLE, ON L6M 0C2
2017 TREND REPORT
INSPIRE HOW THE INDUSTRY DOES GOOD
INNOVATIVE CITY TOURS JOB-HUNTING TIPS DESTINATION SPOTLIGHTS
Kingston, Ontario Sydney, Australia
November | December 2016
TOURS
DE FORCE
From Palette to Palate CALGARY, AB Calgary Food Tours combines the city's thriving art scene with food artists who transform meals into masterpieces in a 14-block walking and tasting tour. The Journey: A sweet-and-savoury luncheon with wine sampling at Hotel Arts near the Design District kicks off an experience meant to satisfy all appetites. Two interpretive talks make art approachable through storytelling and close-up looks at artists and their creative process. Groups may see paintings or a play, learn about pastry arts or nibble artisanal snacks in a gourmet warehouse. The Bonus: It can be run as an early brunch or late-afternoon cocktails and appetizers. In the winter, the experience can be shortened to focus on the art. calgaryfoodtours.com
Please your been-there-done-that crowd with innovative city tours that aim to capture destinations in new ways by Wendy Helfenbaum
Picture Perfect Tours HALIFAX, NS Local photographers treat your group to their fave views and secret photo spots while sharing tips and tricks. The Journey: Whether your attendees are newbie or experienced shooters, the guides provide a scenic adventure through downtown Halifax and off-the-beaten path coastal regions on the edge. Tours are customized according to the group’s familiarity with the area. First-timers will likely visit iconic landmarks such as Peggy’s Cove or Citadel Hill; veterans may see the old Bank of Nova Scotia with its Great Gatsby-esque interior. The Bonus: Owner Geordie Mott takes advantage of his motherin-law’s expertise as a genealogist and photo archivist with the Nova Scotia Archives, sharing visual material on iPads to highlight Maritime history. pictureperfecttours.ca
Craft Beer Tour VANCOUVER, BC Cycle City Tours takes attendees through Vancouver’s eclectic neighbourhoods while peeking ‘behind the brew’ at three of the city’s craft breweries. The Journey: In groups of up to 24, visit facilities that showcase 140 years of history. Plenty of food pairings at brunch from Belgard Kitchen accompany the beer samples, making this an ideal tour for foodies and “beer nuts.” Offered year-round, this tour visits under-the-radar historically significant neighbourhoods. The Bonus: Sample scrumptious French cream puffs delivered to participants along the way. cyclevancouver.com
26
|
Ignitemag.ca
|
November | December 2016
good to know
Beyond the Bike Lanes MONTREAL, QC
Mariposa Cruises TORONTO, ON In May, Mariposa Cruises launched a multilingual Scenic Harbour Tour with a twist: a GPS-enabled audio guide system. The Journey: A beloved floating venue goes interactive, with headsets and slides projected on a big-screen TV, capturing the history of the city’s revitalized waterfront. Narrated in English, French, Mandarin and Spanish, the 45-minute excursion is a great add-on for groups hosting international guests. The outing covers stories and legends behind Toronto’s landmarks seen during the cruise aboard The Oriole, a Great Lakes steamship replica. The Bonus: All six ships in the Mariposa fleet are available for customizable private charters. The company also offers an interactive Harbour Tour App. mariposacruises.com
The Trek: Montreal’s Spade & Palacio specialize in “non-touristy tours” that showcase the diverse city through the eyes of its locals. The Journey: Beginning at the bike shop/café that designed participants’ bikes, guests can grab some java before heading out to view street art in Montreal’s less-visited laneways. Stops include a pedestrian mall in the Gay Village and a ride through the festival district. After lunch in the park and a couple of cold ones at an artisanal brewery, the guides will likely dare you not to move here once the tour’s over. The Bonus: Guides split guests into groups of 10, customizing each tour based on interests and cycling experience. spadeandpalacio.com
The Ride NEW YORK CITY What do you get when you cross sightseeing in the world’s most electric city with interactive Broadway performances on the streets? A tour attendees won’t soon forget. The Journey: Seated in a massive bus with stadium seating and floor-to-ceiling windows, groups experience surprises throughout Midtown Manhattan and Times Square, including ballet dancers, rappers and singers, all of whom interact with the riders. The Bonus: The bus can be wrapped in corporate logos and performers can be branded with client-supplied costumes and props. theridenyc.com
November | December 2016 |
Ignitemag.ca
|
27
