In 2008 & 2009, many companies put their incentive travel programmes on hold due to “optics” or a decline in corporate performance. Some companies are not ready to re-instate their foreign incentive travel programmes. Instead, they are on the lookout for memorable and unique experiences closer to home to reward their team and build customer loyalty.
Inspired by the day I spent with BMW Canada at their Toronto Advanced Driver Training Programme and my recent visit to Montreal during the Formula 1 (F1) Montreal Grand Prix in June, I decided to showcase luxury driving experiences around the world. Luxury driving incentives offer great possibilities as an alternative to foreign incentive travel.
Remember, if you do want to offer any of these incentives for your team, it’s important to make your plans early as all of these experiences sell out quickly.
This blog entry is light on text and heavy on incredible, fast action videos. Pick a location close to you:
This experience was great fun and a sure-fire strategy for improving the driving skills of your sales teams and the other members of your team who are on the road.
It’s a combination of classroom instruction and exercises in a BMW training vehicle on their closed track.
When? July
Full Day: 20 People
Half Day: Two Groups of 16
This is the video of the oversteering exercise that I shot during the day I spent with BMW Canada. I learned a lot . The instructors were very supportive but I must admit that I was too much of a “fraidy cat” to make may car spinout when it was my turn to try it. Oh well, next time.
Every October, adrenaline junkies get to experience the thrill of racing like stunt drivers down one of Malaysia’s tallest hills. Take a peek at what happens.
Sepang International Circuit
BMW Advanced Driver Training
Kuala Lumpur
Formula 1 (F1) – Petronas Malaysian Grand Prix
When? April
Other Destinations
BMW Advanced Driver Training
Also Available in Japan, Sweden, Singapore, Malaysia, South Carolina
When You’re Ready to Go
Whether you decide to stay home in 2010 and 2011 or you’re ready to venture further afield, we’ll take you there. Executive Oasis International would be pleased to arrange:
a day excursion to a local adventure with time for your business meeting
a full package bundling a luxury driving experience with transfers, hotel, transportation to and from the track, meeting facilities, business facilitation, tours, excursions, gala awards dinner
Contact Executive Oasis International for more information about any of these luxury driving exeriences for corporate events and incentives:
Special thanks to Greg Horn, Editor of Kahnawake News for his assistance and support in preparing information about the First Nations People who originally lived in this area.
Montreal has numerous historical sites for groups to explore during incentive trips. Written by someone who grew up in Montreal, this article describes these sites and the historical events and the people that gave them significance. We’ll visit Mont-Royal, St. Helen’s Island, St. Joseph’s Oratory, Old Montreal, Chinatown, St. Lawrence Blvd. (the main), and Hochelaga-Maisonneuve. Your team will enjoy exploring these areas and discovering the role that each played in Montreal’s history.
Preparing this blog entry has been a bit of a struggle for me. That’s probably hard to understand as Montréal is the place of my earliest memories. So why has it taken me so long to write about Montreal? I guess many people can relate to the fact that, in the place where we grew up, we have some of our most joyful experiences but also the inevitable disappointments. It’s challenging to be objective and detached when writing about ANY place that we’ve called home. When writing about places we’ve only visited, one is less aware of political sensitivities, cultural nuances and social injustice. When writing about a familiar environment, it’s hard to strike a balance between not offending people and being honest enough not to gloss over certain realities.
I’ve finally decided to take a stab at sharing the rich history and cornucopia of experiences this incredible city offers for incentive travel and team entertainment. I hope that what I share will be of value. If you have any questions or reactions, please post them in comments.
Where do I begin? Well you probably already know that Montreal is an island city. It’s similar to Singapore in that respect. It’s one of the largest cities in Canada and its population is a mix of French, British and a myriad of other cultural influences. Since we’re focusing on historical sites, let’s begin with a bit of history.
The oral traditions of First Nations people, archealogical evidence, and the writings of Jacques Cartier, Paul Chomedey de Maisonneuve, and Father Bartholemew Vimont confirm the fact that Montreal is the site of what was once a First Nations Viallage. I am sure you have heard the First Nations Village was called Hochelaga That is what Canadian history books still teach. Is this accurate? Please take time to review:
It is part and parcel of this blog. However, I uncovered so much information that I devoted a full blog entry to it. It will also tell you how Montreal, Mont Royal and Canada got their names.
Giving Your Team a Sense of Montreal’s Historical Areas
Let’s take a look at some of the areas that will give your team a real flavour of Montreal. In each area, I will:
provide a synopsis of the historical events that make the area significant
highlight corporate event venues with a flair that is truly Montréal
identify hotels that have managed to preserve the character of the areas in which they are situated
Almost all of them have restaurants, function rooms and banquet facilitities that are ideal for meetings and corporate events
Mont-Royal
When I was growing up and up until 3 years ago when my father passed away, my family lived near the Plateau within walking distance of Mont-Royal. My earliest memories of Mont-Royal are of my father taking my sister and me to Parc Jeanne Mance on Park Avenue, to swing, slide and enjoy ice cream treats after dinner during the summer. That’s where I took my first tennis lessons. It’s still a place where Montreal families relax and play.
On the other side of Park Avenue, at the bottom of Mont-Royal, you’ll find Fletcher’s Field with some of Montreal’s most recognizable landmarks including the bandstand and the Jacques Cartier Monument with the statues of the lions in front and the angel at the top.
Notice Mont-Royal with it’s familiar cross in the background of the photo. The cross was erected in commemoration of the wooden cross that was placed there in 1643 by Paul Chomedey de Maisonneuve, the founder of Ville Marie. For years, our family had a perfect view of Mont-Royal and the cross from our living room window and balcony. Monteal’s Maisonneuve Street as well as the city of Chomedy (North of Montreal) were both named in honour of Paul Chomedey de Maisonneuve.
Things to do on Mont-Royal
Mont-Royal is a perfect location to enjoy cross country skiing, ice skating, and toboganning in the winter, and hiking in the summer. In the summer, it’s great to walk up there. Groups looking to fit some exercise into their itinerary can do so at no cost.
Places for Corporate Events on Mont-Royal
At the top of Mont Royal you’ll find 2 locations that are ideal for corporate events:
Lac-aux-Castors with its pavillion is suitable for picnics and informal outdoor events in the summer and ice skating events in the winter.
The building in the upper right section of the photo is the 2 story pavilion with washroom facilities, a cafeteria and Le Pavilion, a Mediterranean-style bistro that can be rented for more formal special and corporate events.
The dome that you see in the distance is the highest point in Montréal and the top of L’Oratoire Saint-Joseph du Mont-Royal. Let’s take a detour and talk about this famous Montreal landmark.
L’Oratoire Saint-Joseph du Mont-Royal
L’Oratoire Saint-Joseph du Mont-Royal, is a bascilica built through the inspiration of Brother André in honour of Saint-Joseph, the patron saint of Canada. You can see it from Mont Royal but you access it from Queen Mary Road.
In the summer, you can see, some Catholic pilgrims from around the world ascending the long staircase by pausing and kneeling to pray on each step.
The Observation Centre at the top of L’Oratoire Saint-Joseph du Mont-Royal is a location from which you can enjoy a 360º panoramic view of Mont-Royal, Montreal and, on a clear day, the Laurentians and the US border. It’s a great place to start or end your trip to Montreal.
Chalet du Mont-Royal
Chalet du Mont-Royal has reproductions of maps depicting the evolution of the city and Mont-Royal from 1535 to 1760. Its walls have photos and drawings with significant events in Montreal’s history.
Built in 1932 in the heart of Parc Mont-Royal (that opened in 1876), it’s available for rental for all types of events including corporate events. Outside Le Chalet is the Belvédère Kondiaronk observation deck. It was named after, the First Nations Chief Kondiaronk. It’s the perfect vantage point from which to get a spectacular view of Montreal’s downtown core, the Olympic Stadium, Le Biodome de Montréal, and Île Sainte-Hélène. (The photo at the top of this blog was taken from the observation deck.)
Let’s take another detour and look at the role Île Sainte-Hélène plays in Canadian history.
Île Sainte-Hélène
Île Sainte-Hélène is a small island in the St. Lawrence River just south of Montreal. One can access it by travelling along across the Jacques Cartier Bridge which was named in honour of Jacques Cartier. On this island, which is a parkland enjoyed by Montrealers and visitors alike, one can visit the Biosphere and the La Ronde Amusement Park or just relax and enjoy the green space. As a child, I remember many picnics at St. Helen’s Island and enjoying time at its beach. The water quality at the beach is still fine for swimming.
Samuel de Champlain did extensive exploration of what was to become Montreal. What is not as well known is that, in 1605, during his 2nd exploration of what was to become Canada, French explorer Samuel de Champlain was accompanied by Mathieu Da Costa, a free man Black man from the Azores. He was hired as his translator to help Champlain communicate with the Native People. Mathieu Da Costa is the first known Black man to set foot in Canada. Clearly, he had been to Canada before or he would not have known the language of some of the First Nations people.
In terms of historical significance, Île Sainte-Hélène was named by Samuel de Champlain in honour of his wife in 1611. In May 1613, Champlain left St. Helen’s Island and explored the great lakes.
Champlain is known as the “Father of New France” as he was given the duties of governing New France without the title in 1620. Lake Champlain and the Champlain bridge that connects Montreal with Brossard were named after him. More recently, St. Helen’s Island was enlarged and used as the site of the Montreal world’s fair Terre des Hommes also known as Expo 67. It is now the site of Parc Jean Drapeau, named after Mayor Drapeau who was Montreal’s mayor for a long time including during Terre des Hommes. You’ll find information about a number of reception halls and venues that are available for events at the Parc Jean Drapeau website.
Restaurants on St. Helen’s Island
Restaurant Hélène de Champlain
Ideal for corporate events.
Île Notre-Dame
The Montreal Casino is on adjacent Île Notre-Dame, a man-made island created for Expo 67. It is another location that is ideal for corporate events.
Vieux- Montréal …..Old Montreal (formerly Ville Marie)
It’s outside Le Chalet that one can get a ride to Old Montreal in a caleche during the summer. Until I was in my late teens and I ran into some American tourists who asked me to take them there, I had only been to Old Montreal a handful of times. Of course, after spending an evening there dining and showing them around, I fell in love with it.
History surrounds you in old Montreal. Many events of historical significance took place in this area. Some but not all of these are reflected in the historical sites in this area. In fact, we could devote an entire blog to Old Montréal and still not have enough space to discuss everything. Many of the buildings have their original exteriors and some streets have been stripped down to the original cobblestones and reserved for pedestrian traffic.
In the basement of Notre-Dame-de-Bonsecours you can still see traces of settlements of First Nations people in the area. These date back to before Ville Marie was founded by the French. Old Montréal was the site of France’s Ville Marie settlement.
Although he lived in another part of New France, Quebec City, Father Paul Le Jeune was very active in supporting the French settlement in Ville Marie. It is worth pausing to mention that, in 1628, Canada’s first Black resident was brought to New France. He was an 8 year old African boy from Madagascar who was enslaved and brought to New France. He was sold several times, eventually to Father Paul Le Jeune who baptized him as a Catholic and gave him the name Olivier Le Jeune. Olivier Le Jeune was freed from slavery in 1638.
Paul Chomedey de Maisonneuve, Jeanne Mance, who founded the Hôtel-Dieu hospital, and about 50 settlers landed there in 1642 to found Ville Marie (This hospital is of significance to my family as my mother worked there for years.) In 1893, a 41-foot granite obelisk was erected to mark Pointe-à-Callière, the spot where the St. Lawrence River and the Little St. Pierre River used to meet. This land was reclaimed from the river and is now part of the city.
In 1685, King Louis XIV of France’s Le Code Noir established the conditions for slavery in France’s colonies around the world. In May 1689, King Louis XIV of France gave approval for limited enslavement of African and the Pawnee (First Nations people) in Ville Marie and other parts of New France in response to complaints by the colonists about the shortage of labour for servants and other workers. In 1709, he formally authorized slavery throughout New France. In 1734, Marie-Joseph Angélique, a slave of African heritage was tortured and hung for allegedly setting a fire to her master’s house that spread and destroyed nearly 50 homes in Ville Marie.
In 1732, the first known Jewish settler in Canada, Ferdinande Jacobs, settled in Manitoba and worked as a fur trader with Hudson’s Bay Company. The Virtual Jewish History Tour – Montreal identifies Aaron Hart, a commissary officer serving under General Amherst, as Montreal’s first Jewish settler in 1760. In 1777, the Shearith Israel Congregation built the city’s first synagogue at the corner of Rue Notre Dame and St. James Street in Old Montreal.
Places to See in Old Montreal
Built in 1685,the Old Sulpician Seminary is the oldest surviving building in Montréal. Practically next door you’ll find Notre Dame Basilica. It was built between 1824 – 1829. This is where Celine Dion was married. Vieux-Port de Montréal is a happening area that is bustling with actvity throughout the year. Native canoes and French and British boats used to land there.
Built in 1705 for Ville Marie’s Governor de Ramezay, you can still tour Château RamezayChâteau Ramezay today. At Chateau Ramezay you’ll find photos and exhibits about Ville Marie and some of the artifcats from what is known as Dawson’s “Hochelaga” archealogical digs (as we discussed in a previous blog entry).
These not to be missed exhibits are of great historical significance and they will give you a sense of Montreal’s early history.
Ville Marie went through a transition after the Battle of the Plains of Abraham near Quebec City. Rather than put up resistance, Ville Marie surrended to England. Rue St. Paul, Montreal’s oldest street, dates back to 1850. The transfer of power from France to England was marked by the Treaty of Paris in 1763. In spite of this, many of the original buildings are still standing and Old Montreal retains its original French character and charm.
As you stroll through the streets of Old Montreal, some of the facades are hundreds of years old but the interiors of the buildings have been renovated. They now house art galleries, boutiques, clubs, fashionable cafes, and restaurants.
Where to Dine in Old Montreal
Old Montreal has no shortage of places to dine. Walk down just about any street and you’ll find cafes, bistros and restaurants with superb cuisine. I’ll just highlight three.
Les Filles du Roi located at the Pierre du Calvert hotel (the restaurant’s venue was once a residence for young ladies of marriagable age who were brought to New France as a way of dealing the shortage of eligible marriage partners for the settlers)
Crêperie Chez SuzetteEnjoy a scrumptious variety of crepes and fondues. Crêperie Chez Suzette is located at Aux Délices du Vieux Montréal that has 4 restaurants on 2 1/2 floors.
Gibbys RestaurantAt Gibbys you’ll be able to enjoy steak, seafood and fish in a historical setting. Located in a 200 year old setting, Gibbys is located in what was once the in the Youville Stables on a site founded by Marguerite d’Youville that once belong to the Sisters of Charity (or Grey Nuns).
According to their website:
Part of the original structure was built in 1694, and served as The Grey Nuns’ General Hospital, which cared for the sick and destitute. However, most of the building dates from 1765 to 1850. Youville Stables received its name from the horses’ stalls which were once located in the central courtyard.
Another interesting historical note is that the Little St. Pierre River once flowed in front of the ste. In 1833, it was covered when St. Anne’s Market, now Place Youville, was built.
Corporate Event Venues in Old Montreal
You’ll also want to see the Bonsecours Market opened in 1847. The market stalls are gone but you’ll see boutiques and cafes and enjoy a variety of events throughout the year. Bonsecours Market has 4 spaces that are suitable for corporate events. La Campagnarde on at Aux Délices du Vieux Montréal is perfect for small corporate events. Modern locations include Le Westin Montréal in the heart of Old Montreal.
If one heads west along Rue de la Gauchetiere or North along Boulevard Saint-Laurent, you’ll come to Chinatown where the Chinese first settled in Montreal and where there is still a thriving Chinese community.
Even many Montrealers don’t realize that this area was originally a large Jewish community during the 19th century. Unfortunately, a lot of the original buildings were destroyed in including the 2nd location of the synagogue for the the Shearith Israel Congregation on Chenneville Street were demolished to make way for the Guy Favreau complex.
Montreal’s Chinatown began to develop around 1850 with the first immigration to what was to be come Canada. In 1867, Canada officially became nation rather than just a British colony. Most Chinese immigrants settled in Western Canada and were employed by CNR to build the railway. When the railway was completed, many Chinese families moved to Montreal, the largest Canadian city at the time, in search of employment. They faced a lot of discrimination and, for this reason. many Chinese immigrants worked primarily in the tailoring and hand laundry business. Both involved long hours and a lot of drudgery.
It has been reported that Montreal’s first Chinese laundry opened in 1887 at Jeanne Mance and St. Antoine. But Lovells indicates that the first Chinese laundry in Montreal opened in 1879 when Wah Lee Chinese California Laundry (pdf) took over a space previously occupied by Telesphore Filion’s barbershop on St. Antoine, north side, about four doors east of St. Lawrence, then described as 501 Craig. It’s currently a parking lot.
The community went through significant challenges starting in 1885 when a head tax of $50 was imposed on every Chinese person migrating to Canada. In 1900, the Head Tax tax was increased to to $100. By 1903, it was boosted to $500, representing about 2 years wages. Between 1923 and 1947 due to the Chinese Exclusion Act. During this period, fewer than than 50 people of Chinese origin were permitted to come to Canada. From this challenging start, the Chinese community in Montreal has grown. Some of my classmates who had families working for long hours and low pay in Chinatown went on to become doctors, engineers and other professionals. This is a testamant to the resilence of the human spirit.
In 2006, on behalf of the Canadian Government, Prime Minister Harper formally apologized to the Chinese Canadian community for the head tax and Chinese Exclusion Act. All living members of the Chinese community who had paid the head tax were compensated for this injustice.
As a teenager, I used to spend a lot of time in Chinatown as some of my friends attended the Chinese Presbyterian Church and I would go to the young people’s group on Saturdays. Chinatown used to be a lot larger but a number of developments such as Montreal’s subway system (The Metro), the construction of the Guy-Favereau complex and other developments has meant that some beautiful historical buildings have fallen under the wrecker’s ball. Now that I have had a chance to travel to southeast Asia 16 times, I can safely say that Montreal’s Chinatown does give you a fairly realistic sense of strolling in historical areas of Asian cities.
You’ll find Chinese groceries, souvenirs, antiques, clothing, and all kinds of treats. In another blog entry I wrote about finding the Hello Kitty Dolls that I had first seen in Singapore in Montreal’s Chinatown.
Hotels
Holiday Inn Select – an Asian themed hotel
Where to Dine in Chinatown
Years ago, when my was planning to have lunch at a well known restaurant in Chinatown, one of her Chinese friends asked her “How many Chinese poeple do you see eating there?” That was a great tip in selecting a restaurant with authentic cuisine and I use it to this day. So, when you go to Chinatown remember that tip.
I’ll give an example of one place that meets this criteria. It’s a buffet called:
Jardin De Jade Poon Kai Restaurant
It’s always busy and it’s very popular with Asian families and business people. Other than that, just stroll along Rue de la Gauchetiere and select any restaurant that looks interesting and where you see a lot of Asian families dining.
Boulevard Saint-Laurent is like a median, the dividing line between the “two solitudes” about which Hugh MacLennan wrote in his book with the same name. At one time, people growing up in Montreal would be more familiar with the West side of the island if they were anglophone and more familiar with the East Montreal if they were francophone. This was due to the patterns of settlement that started early in Montreal’s history. Boulevard Saint-Laurent, cuts right through the city. Head North from Chinatown and, after you cross Sherbrooke Street, you’ll come to an area that is known as “The Main”.
The Main
In the communities around Boulevard Saint-Laurent, many poor Jewish and European immigrants settled and got their start in Canada. The area around St. Lawrence Blvd, north of Sherbrooke became the nexus of Montreal’s Jewish Community. It’s in this area where you’ll find the original Schwartz’s Deli and Warshaws. This is where Steinberg’s, now Quebec’s largest supermarket chain, got its start. Few Jewish families live in this area today.
Today, Boulevard Saint-Laurent has residents, fashionable shoppes, restaurants, and cafes from every corner of the globe. It provides a truly multi-cultural experience.
If one walks East along Prince Arthur Street, once one crosses Boulevard Saint-Laurent the city changes and one enters Monteal’s East end that, traditionally, has been more francophone. Right after Carre St.-Louis, you’ll come to Rue St. Denis with many fashionable boutiques and restaurants. (In fact, if you look closely, you’ll spot my favourite creperie but I’m not about to divulge all of my secrets). Restaurants
If you continue to head east in Montreal, you will come to Hochelaga-Maisonneuve. It is a merger of Ville de Hochelaga (not to be confused with the First Nations village we discussed earlier) and Maisonneuve.
There are many historical sites in Montreal’s East End communities like Hochelaga-Maisoneuve. Sadly, I don’t know this area well. For the longest time, other than Rosemont, areas East of Rue St. Denis were a blur to me. I have made a point of exploring this area with my son when I have returned to Montreal. One thing is certain, East End or West End, with the unique architecture and layout of the streets, it’s ALL recognizable as distinctly Montreal. Hochelaga-Maisonneuve is an area that more visitors to Montreal and ex-Montrealers who grew up in the city’s West End should make an effort to explore. Its history dates back to 1664 and there are numerous historical sites.
Ville de Hochelaga was annexed to the City of Montreal in 1883. At that time, Maisonneuve (known as Côte Saint-Martin at the time) decided to establish a model industrial city instead of joining Montreal. The city flourished for decades. By 1918, due to its heavy debt load, it also became a part of Montreal.
This excellent website has documents, maps, photos, and an extensive history of Hochelaga-Maisonneuve.
Where to Learn More About Montreal’s Historical Sites
This ends our tour of some of Montreal’s historical sites and the events that made them significant. The next time I feel inspired to write about Montreal, I’ll focus on exploring the downtown core, the Golden Square Mile, Little Burgundy (St. Henri), and Westmount.
In the meantime, if you’re interested in learning more about the history of Montreal and its historical sites, a good place to start is the:
Memorable Montreal – EXCELLENT! Explores 13 communities in Montreal with an historical overview, maps, photos, and documents.
Anne is a co-author of the book West Indians in Toronto: Implications for Helping Professionals.
Special thanks to Greg Horn at Kahnawake News for reviewing, fact & cultural sensitivity checking the section of this blog related to the history of First Nations people in the Montreal area. Greg Horn is ioriwase on Twitter.
Let Executive Oasis International Bring Your Team to Montreal & Other Parts of Canada
Executive Oasis International would be pleased to build a customized itinerary for you based on your interests. We can also offer you one of our own itineraries that give your group some down time and also a chance to experience some of the historical sites we’ve described.
To arrange an incentive trip to or corporate event in Montreal, please feel free to contact Executive Oasis International for assistance:
Corporate Incentive Travel: Giving Your Team a Sense of the Local Culture
by Anne Thornley-Brown, President,
Executive Oasis International
Specializing in escorted Incentive Travel and sales incentive trips.We provide one stop shopping and will help you plan and organize your next incentive trip to any of our featured destinations.
Anne is @executiveoasis on twitter.
Stop: Even if you don’t have the budget for international travel this year, here is how you can still give your team an international experience without getting on a plane:
I’ve often wondered why companies fly their sales and executive teams halfway across the world just to lie on the beach and get drunk at the bar. Particularly in these challenging economic times, companies can do that at home at a fraction of the cost. A foreign incentive trip or retreats provides an opportunity to give your team a rich, unique and memorable experience. All you have to do is build a few experiences into your itinerary that provide a glimpse of the local history and culture of your incentive travel destinations.This is easier to do than you may think and it doesn’t have to take a lot of time.
Before your trip, you can use social media to provide an orientation to the destination. During your sales incentive trip, visit one of the many cultural centres, heritage villages and museums that are designed to give visitors a glimpse into the history and culture of your chosen destiation. Here are a few ideas:
Take a 2 night trip to Kuching in Malaysian Borneo. Spend an afternoon at the Sarawak Cultural Village. You’ll explore the 7 major ethinic groups that have influenced Malysia’s culture and visit traditional homesteads.
Take a day or overnight trip to Malacca, a virtual time capsule into Malaysia history with traditional Malay, Chinese, Portuguese, Dutch, British, and Japanese influences. There is even a full size replica of a historical Sultan’s Palace.
Explore the Edo-Tokyo Museum with replicas of traditional buildings and interactive exhibits that provide insights into Tokyo’s rich culture and history.
Stay at a traditional Ryokan for 1 or 2 nights.
Be mesmerzied as you take in a traditional Kabuki performance at the Kubuki-za in Tokyo
Contact the Native Canadian Centre of Toronto and arrange for a cultural showcase and a cultural officer to familiarize your group with the history and cultures of Canada’s First Nations people.
Visit one of Canada’s oldest Black communities at the Buxton Settlement.
Even if you have to extend your sales incentive trip by half a day or a full day to make time to build a cultural excursion into your itinerary, it will be time well spent. You’ll broaden their horizons and provide your team with a truly memorable and meaningful experience of a lifetime that they would never be able to have back home.
This blog entry focuses on opportunities for Toronto (GTA) based companies to reward their teams locally when funds aren’t available for foreign travel. It will also of value for foreign companies (particulary in the USA, the Middle East and Asia) that are considering Toronto as an incentive travel destination.
Toronto Based Companies
There are many reasons that some Toronto based companies are deciding to forego foreign travel this year and reward their team by staying closer to home.
due to the economic downturn, funds are tighter this year
companies that are doing well want to conserve their resources so that they will have a cushion in case they run into turbulent times up ahead
the local economy could use a boost
domestic travel is important to bridge the gap in tourism revenue created by US and other foreign companies staying closer to home this year
Explore the World without Leaving the GTA (Toronto)
Fortunately, Toronto now has enough a multi-cultural flavour that it’s possible to experience many of the elements of foreign travel without getting on a plane. Here are some of the elments that you can build into your itinerary to give your team the feel of foreign travel:
Explore a full size, replica of a 19th Century Canadian village at Black Creek Pioneer Village – Come in December and experience Christmas by Lamplight
Enjoy sushi and terriyaki at a Japanese teppanyaki restaurant
Visit a Japanese shopping centre
Hunt for bargains in Chinatown or an Asian shopping centre
Cheer for your favourite team at the Dragon Boat Races
Treat your team to afternoon tea or high tea at a traditional English tearoom in York Region
Enjoy Middle Eastern cuisine complete with entertainment by a belly dancer at a Morrorcan or Persian restaurant
Sample crepes and other French cuisine at a variety of French restaurants
Discover treasures from every corner of the globe in Kensington market
Savour the delights of a scrumptious paella dinner and watch Flamenco dancing without setting a foot in Spain
Tickle your palette with Jamaican jerk chicken
Dance at Caribana, an authentic West Indian carnival that takes place every August
Dress up for a Bralizian Carnival Ball
Feel the thunder of hooves at Polo for Heart in June
Relax at the Royal Agricultural Winter Fair and Horse Show in November.
Spend time at a casino without travelling to Las Vegas, Atlantic City or Montecarlo.
You don’t have to go to Dubai to take a dinner cruise (and enjoy fireworks if you come in late June or early July)
You don’t have to go to Dubai to take a dinner cruise (and enjoy fireworks if you come in late June or early July)
You don’t have to go to Paris or New York to spend an afternoon at an art gallery or museum
You don’t have to go to London or Broadway to take in a theatrical production. You’ll have a wide selection from which to choose in Toronto’s theatre district, the Shaw Theatre in Niagara-on-the-Lake, and Stratford’s Avon or Festival Theatres
A local event planning firm like ours, will help you time your visit to take advantage of the multitude of concerts, ethnic festivals and international film festivals that take place throughout the year. Toronto has a lot to offer. Whether you’re flying in for a visit or a Toronto based company considering staying at home to reward your team this year, you’ll be glad you took the time to get to know it.
Toronto Inbound Incentive Travel
With the low value of the Canadian dollar relative to the US dollar and some other major currencies, Canada is an affordable destination for companies that are seeking an interesting incentive travel itinerary to reward their teams or express appreciation to clients. One benefit of the economic meltdown is that airlines like Singapore Airlines, Etihad Airwyas and Air Canada have some really competitive fares that make travel to Canada affordable. A number of hotels and resorts currently have recession friendly pricing for 2009 and 2010. Book early and you will stretch your budget.
Every region of Canada has something special to offer, however, today we are focusing on Toronto and areas that are no more than a 2 – 3 hour drive from Toronto.
Accommodation Options
If you’re planning to take your team to the Greater Toronto area (GTA as locals call it). There are numerous options to lend variety to your trip. In downtown Toronto, there are large hotels with full amenities and historical significance. If you venture 45 minutes to 2 hours away from Toronto, you can find:
conference centres with full amenities
country lodges on several acres
lakeside hideaways that are perfect for meetings and strategy sessions for small teams
luxurious resorts with extensive recreational facilities
Other areas to explore nearby include York Region, just North of Toronto, the Muskokas, Niagara Falls, and picturesque Niagara-on-the-Lake.
In Toronto and all of these areas, there boutique hotels, small inns, and lodges where, with a little flexibility in dates, your team can have enjoy exclusive use.
Areas to Explore
Of course you’ll want to see the CN Tower.
In a future blog entry, I’ll go into detail about what else you can see in various parts of Toronto. For now, I’ll just list the areas you can explore and identify areas near Toronto that would be ideal for day or overnight excursions.
Toronto
Chinatown
Kensington Market
The Underground City
The Distillery District
Yorkville
York Region
Niagara-on-the Lake
The Muskokas
Port Carling
Pitfalls to Avoid
Don’t cram too much into a stay that is too brief. Instead, arrive early in the day, stay for at least 3 days and leave late on your last day. There is a lot to see and do and you want to get in all of the key elements of your business meeting and allow enough time for exploration.
Traffic can be heavily congested so a commute to the downtown core from an airport hotel or North of the city can be a long and uncomfortable experience for your guests. (Torontonians refer to the Don Valley Parkway as the “Don Valley Parking lot”.) So, definitely avoid travel during rush hour. Instead, move your group to and from the downtown core after dinner when traffic is lighter. Then, they can wake up refereshed the next morning, ready to enjoy what the city has to offer.If you decide to forego a stay downtown, allow at least an hour to travel in each direction ( 1 1/2 – 2 hours during the winter).
When a local planner is honest enough to give you feedback that a plan you are considering is not viable…..listen. This advice is applicable whether you are considering a trip to Toronto, Dubai or anywhere else in the world.There will always be firms that are so determined to obtain your business that they will smile, take your money, and tell you that whatever you are requesting is viable. By contrast, incentive travel planners and event planners who will let you know about pitfalls to avoid are worth their weight in gold. They’ll make you look good and help you avoid mistakes.
I recently handled an inquiry from a prospective client that insisted on staying at an airport hotel and ending their meeting at 3:00. They simply would not listen to advice that, given traffic patterns in Toronto, the team building session they were planning would be much too rushed to be enjoyable.
Another prospective client demanded a BBQ on or near the beach in downtown Toronto even when they were advised that this would exceed their budget and that there was a strong liklihood that the experience would not be pleasant due to the odours near Lake Ontario on certain days.
Finally, consider the company that was intent on staying in downtown Toronto when their main reason for coming to Ontario was to go dog sledding.
A planner with integrity may not always tell you what you want to hear but they may save your group from some unpleasant experiences and hours of uncomfortable traavel to ensure that you have a fabulous stay in Toronto.
Tips to Get the Most Out of Your Time in Toronto
If you venture North of the city to York region, you will enjoy unique and more spacious accomodation and dining facilities for a fraction of what it would cost you in downtown Toronto.
Consider splitting your time. Perhaps stay at a Muskoka, York Region, Caledon, or Niagara-on-the-Lake property for most of your trip and spend a couple of nights in downtown Toronto.
See Toronto the way that many Torontonians do by getting a TTC (Toronto Transit Commission) Pass. For $9 Canadian, an adult can enjoy unlmited Bus, Subway and Streetcar transportation (except for a few rush hour routes).
If you plan to enjoy unique winter activities like dog sledding, book them well in advance, they sell out fast. I would strongly recommend booking dog sledding at least 4 months prior to your arrival….6 months in advance would be ideal.
If you come during the winter, definitely be prepared. You will need to rent or purchase winter coats (or jackets), sweaters, boots, scarves, hats, and mittens. Dress in layers for maximum warmth.
Double check the visa requirements based on the countries of birth and citizenships of your employees.
For more information visit about what you can do in Toronto & the GTA:
Companies located in or near the GTA can stretch their budget by having business and strategy sessions on-site at their company premises and enjoying recreational and dining facilities at a local hotel or resort for part of the day.
Great Canadian Race
If you want to give your team the opportunity to explore downtown through a Great Canadian Race or by making room in the schedule for shopping, consider staying at a downtown hotel for 1 or 2 nights.
Executive Oasis International offers one stop shopping for local or foreign companies wanting to plan exciting itineraries to reward their team. We’ll help you:
find a hotel or resort that’s a perfect fit for your selected activities
arrange transfers, handle logistics re: meeting room and AV
plan recreational activities and entertainment to help your team relax and unwind
design effective team building sessions and facilitate them expertly
Most of all we’ll give you solid advice about how to get the best out of this destination.
