Favourite destinations and spots in Canada. Part III, specifics

I previously wrote about destinations and cities that I really like in Canada. But here are some specific spots within those destinations or cities in Canada where I love to be and would love to go back many, many times:

1. On a helicopter over Niagara Falls (Niagara Helicopters has been a client of mine, but even if that was not the case, I would still love taking their helicopter flyovers - it's just an terrific way to see the Falls)
2. At the top of Sulphur Mountain in Banff via the Banff Gondola
3. Dining at the restaurant at La Pinsonnière in La Malbaie, Québec
4. At Schwartz Delicatessen in Montreal (for the smoked meat sandwiches).
5. On a boat on Campbell River, BC, around the Discovery Islands watching killer whales
6. Walking the Cobblestone streets in Old Quebec City (with my significant other, of course) - I particularly like the Quartier du Petit Champlain
7. On the porch of a cottage overlooking Lake Muldrew in Muskoka, Ontario
8. Walking, catching some sun or having a snack in Kitsilano Beach, Vancouver
9. At a table by one of the big windows overlooking Lake Louise at the Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise during afternoon tea time.
10. At the Cowboys Niteclub in Calgary if it's still there and I wasn't getting oler. The original closed a year ago, I think.
11. At Balzac's coffee house in the Distillery District in Toronto
12. At the swimming pool at the Fairmont Jasper Lodge in Jasper, Alberta
13. Running around Stanley Park's Seawall in Vancouver
14. Running up Mont Royal in Montreal
15. Meat Cove in Cape Breton
16. Having dinner at Joso's in Toronto
17. Dinner or drinks at the Lure Restaurant in the Delta Victoria Ocean Pointe hotel (Delta Hotels and Resorts is also a client of mine) with a view of Victoria's Inner Harbour
18. Sitting somewher by the Harbourfront's boardwalk in Toronto (in the summer)
19. Running along the Niagara Parkway past the Falls towards the Dufferin Islands
20. At Peggy's Cove in Nova Scotia
21. At Parliament Hill in Ottawa (yup, I love our Parliament Buildings - and don't miss the Hill's Parliamentary cats, if you've never seen them).
22. Parliament Hill seen from the Museum of Civilization across the river
23. Swimming in Lake Muldrew, Muskoka
24. On a flight with Harbour Air from Victoria to Vancouver on a sunny day (sitting next to the pilot)
25. At home in the backyard in Etobicoke, Ontario (mi casa es su casa)

Campbell River, British Columbia

Bon voyage,

Jaime

www.cactusrock.com

Cape Breton Island working to face challenges. I see opportunities.

I was a bit surprised to read in the Tourism Daily News, that Cape Breton Island's tourism, one of my favourite places in Canada and one of the most beautiful places in the world is having problems. I understand that there have been challenges for the entire industry in years past, but overall the global numbers released recently indicate that, as a whole, Canadian tourism is strong, mostly because of our domestic tourism.

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I have been saying for years that Nova Scotia is a prime destination to develop in the Mexican and Spanish markets. As I mentioned in my previous post, the CTC's market research study (September 2007) lists a number of attributes "Mexicans strongly associate with an ideal destination." Let's see how these apply to Cape Breton Island and indeed to all of Nova Scotia:

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Seeing as much as possible in the time available. Nova Scotia offers a great many number of places to see in a short period of time. Cape Breton itself can be explored in a couple of days seeing great spots like Cheticamp, Pleasant Bay, Meat Cove, Baddeck and many more. Given the average time Mexicans and Spaniards take for vacation, they would have more than enough time to explore in Nova Scotia.

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Places important in history. If you are interested in Canadian and world history, Nova Scotia is one of the best places to observe and learn. There is living history in Nova Scotia. Of course, Louisbourg is one of the main attractions that Mexican and Spanish tourists would find wonderful, but there is also the Annapolis Valley, Pictou and Halifax itself. So many important events in the history of Canada, France and Great Britain took place in Nova Scotia that anyone interested in history would have a great time learning about them.

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Great food and drink. Seafood anyone? One of my favourite things about Cape Breton and Nova Scotia is the food. Lobster, lobster, lobster. Lobster anyone? Did I mention that Mexicans and Spaniards in general love seafood? Drink? Well, while Nova Scotia is not known for wineries, Mexicans and Spaniards love beer. Perhaps a pint or two of Alexander Keiths would do the trick.

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Buying the latest fashions - OK so we can't have it all. In this regard, we can't pretend that Cape Breton or Nova Scotia are fashion centres. Nevertheless, there is some good shopping in Halifax.

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Exciting travel stories. I still have very fond memories of my first (and unfortunately to date) and only trip to Nova Scotia (recall that I was born in Mexico). Undoubtedly, Mexicans would come away with great memories from their time in Cape Breton.

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A sense of freedom. Anyone who has driven around Cape Breton Island and has stood on the tip of Meat Cove or taken a boat ride to see whales in Pleasant Bay will understand what a sense of freedom one can find in Nova Scotia.

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I am convinced that Cape Breton is a gem when it comes to its potential in the Mexican and Spanish markets. Of course, no destination is for everyone. Markets must be segmented and the right targets approached. Nova Scotia and Cape Breton are for Mexican and Spanish independent experienced travelers who love to fly and drive and design their own itineraries. Much work needs to be done to develop the markets, but I believe it would be worth it.

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Regards,
Jaime Horwitz MBA
www.nuevaescocia.ca

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