SHiFT-Inspired Guided Adventures Earns SkiBig3 Canada's Top Tourist Honour

CALGARY, Oct. 3, 2018 /CNW/ - Alberta's own SkiBig3 received national attention, and international acclaim, today, as Destination Canada added their Guided Adventures experience to the Canadian Signature Experiences (CSE) collection from across Canada. The CSE is a curated collection of over 200 extraordinary and authentically Canadian travel experiences.

A staple of Rockies tourism, SkiBig3's Guided Adventures allow travellers to experience Alberta's three iconic ski resorts, Banff Sunshine, Mt Norquay and Lake Louise Ski Resort through the eyes of a local. Skiers and snowboarders can skip the chairlift queues, receive coaching, and enjoy an insider's tour led by a CSIA-certified instructor. The three-day program includes one day at each resort and is tailored to the group's ability level. The experience also includes a maple taffy closing celebration, surprise gift, and a pass to the Whyte Museum in Banff.    

Jenevieve LeBlanc, Business Development Supervisor at SkiBig3, developed Guided Adventures after attending Travel Alberta's SHiFT Experiential Training Program in Drumheller in the spring of 2017.

"Since my participation at SHiFT, I have been … well… "shifted" in my outlook of our industry and how we can collaborate on experiences that are truly going to resonate with our travellers. I am constantly looking at ways to create moments that are connecting emotionally with a visitor and allowing them to be a part of our destination," said LeBlanc. "The Guided Adventures program is just one way to provide unique yet accessible experiences for our guests. And now that it's receiving the attention from across Canada, it just proves how important traveller-focused experiences are in the tourism sector."

"The SHiFT program is unique to Alberta," said Shelley Grollmuss, Vice President, Industry Development at Travel Alberta. "SHiFT participants experience new winter and year-round tourism products and services, then discover how to transfer successful, proven concepts to their own business.

"The SHiFT program leaves a legacy in each host community—the host destination and attendees create memorable experiences and partnerships that last much longer than the initial program. SkiBig3's success with their Guided Adventures program, and their addition to the CSE list is a testament to their experiential approach to tourism, and the value that Travel Alberta's industry training adds to our partners."

One of Travel Alberta's most unique and sought-after programs is the SHiFT Experiential Training Program. SHiFT is a program focused on developing tourism experiences around the province in all seasons using a combination of classroom training and engagement with local businesses.

Travel Alberta has teamed up with the Town of Sylvan Lake to host SHiFT from March 18-21, 2019. Registration is open now.

About Travel Alberta

Travel Alberta is the destination promotion organization of Alberta. Established as a crown corporation in 2009, Travel Alberta is mandated to promote the province as a top tourism destination and support the Government of Alberta in the development of tourism policy, advocacy, research, visitor services and product development. Travel Alberta provides marketing expertise and destination development support to Alberta-based tourism businesses, creating compelling reasons for travellers to explore Alberta.

For more information about Travel Alberta, please see industry.travelalberta.com and follow us on Twitter at @TravelAlbertaCo.

SOURCE Travel Alberta