The province has exclusively booked the Rocky Mountaineer for runs between Vancouver and Whistler, B.C., between Feb 12 and 28.

“We see this as one of the hottest tickets at the Olympics,” said Tourism Minister Cindy Ady.

“I haven’t run across anyone who hasn’t said, ‘What a great idea. What a good way to promote the province.’ Because it’s not here in Alberta, it’s out in Vancouver, right? And so you’ve got to do different things in order to get the attention that you want.”

Although official Olympic buses will be running back and forth from Whistler, Alberta will have the only train running between the two Olympic sites. The train will be “more or less shrink wrapped in the Alberta flag” and will have promotional materials throughout, she said.

To help cover the cost of the deal, provincial officials also plan to rent out space on the Alberta Train to corporations wanting to treat customers.

The Alberta government won’t provide a breakdown on how its $7-million Olympics marketing budget will be spent, but besides the train, the province is hosting a pavilion in downtown Vancouver on the busy corner of Robson and Beatty streets called Alberta House.

The facility will have a public plaza featuring artists and performances, as well as interactive screens to share information about the province with Olympic visitors.

“The other provinces all have houses as well; we just think ours is particularly well positioned and that the train will give us attention in our worldwide markets, where we have some almost $5-billion worth of tourism industry that has also been struggling,” she said.

“The Olympics is not probably going to come back to Canada for another 22 years. This is Canada’s Games. The world is going to be looking at us. This opportunity doesn’t fall in your lap every day.”

Source: CBC News >>> continue reading

Railway Map Guide:British Columbia & Canadian Rockies

Until January 5, 2010, BC and Washington Residents pay only $109 per adult round trip when booking four or more guests.

Whistler Dome Service attendantEnjoy the breathtaking scenery between Vancouver and Whistler, hosts of the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games, all in the comfort and stress-free environment of the train. During your three-hour trip you’ll journey from the coastal city of Vancouver, through scenic Howe Sound and the spectacular Cheakamus Canyon, across a trestle bridge, past the jagged snow-capped peaks of the Tantalus Mountains and by an old extinct volcano, before finally arriving in the mountain landscape of world-renowned Whistler Village.

>>> BC Residents click here

>>> Washington State Residents click here

Railway Map Guide:British Columbia & Canadian Rockies

In addition to renting six luxury dome cars on the Rocky Mountaineer to shuttle guests between Vancouver and Whistler, the province will also have a home base in each location for its guests.

And so the clubhouse of the Whistler Golf Club will be transformed into a mini Alberta House of sorts - a business/hospitality centre where guests of Alberta can gather after a day in Whistler before getting back on the train and enjoying a five-course meal on the way to back to Vancouver.

“It’s a VIP experience,” said Russ Tynan, executive director of Alberta’s Olympic and Paralympic Secretariat, created over one year ago. “That’s what we’ve touted it to be. It’s about business development.

“This is about businesses and colleagues needing to connect with the right people and establishing long-term relationships, and how better to do that than… attending a world class celebration in a great place.”

Tynan explained that the province readily jumped on board with plans for 2010 after an official invitation from B.C. and Olympic organizers. The invitation was extended across Canada.

Alberta, however, has the 1988 Calgary Winter Olympics under its belt and understands what kind of benefits can come from being a part of 2010.

“We’ve been fortunate,” said Tynan. “We were given the opportunity 20 some odd years ago to host the Olympics and we understand how the world’s attention will shift and so we know that invitation we got is pretty magical and pretty special and so we’re not going waste it.”

The province has committed $6.6 million in new funds for the program. Other funding will come from existing programs.

The world will know the province is at the Games as the train will be wrapped in messaging with the name “Alberta” as it travels through Sea to Sky country.

The top of the line Rocky Mountaineer GoldLeaf Service dome cars and lounge cars will be used for the occasion.

..

By Alison Taylor, Pique Newsmagazine, >>> continue reading

Railway Map Guide:British Columbia & Canadian Rockies

This fantastic offer allows you to sit back and relax and experience one of Canada’s most exciting three-hour rail journey – the Whistler Mountaineer – a breathtaking train trip between North Vancouver and Whistler in Glacier Dome.

Until 25th September, 2009, book a Rocky Mountaineer two-day rail journey or vacation package, and receive a round-trip journey onboard the Whistler Mountaineer train for FREE, plus a CA$50 Rocky Mountaineer souvenir credit.
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Railway Map Guide:British Columbia & Canadian Rockies

Not far away — though out of my sight range — I know skiers are plying their summer sport on Blackcomb’s glacier, and below me, golfers are enjoying what many, including Golf Digest, say are the best courses in Canada. (The bears think so, too; they often show up on the fairways).

This little mountain town is a perpetual motion machine. But the most popular sport, by the numbers, is the one I’m practicing: rubber-necking. Whatever brings you to Whistler, you’ll wind up gaping at the mountains, trees and rivers.

That’s what makes the Whistler Mountaineer the perfect way to get to the village. The train trip takes three hours, when you can drive it in about two, but who wants to be concentrating on curves instead of the landscape? So my husband and I booked the Mountaineer for the trip up and, a day later, back.

As the trip starts, one of our car’s two guides pours mimosas so we can toast our trip. We’re then served breakfast: fresh fruit, a cheese omelet, Canadian bacon, potatoes, coffee and juice. Thus stoked, we stare out the window.

..
By Helen Anders, statesman.com, >>> continue reading

~ 2009 JUNO Awards Gift Bag includes Whistler Mountaineer ticket between Vancouver and Whistler, BC ~

Vancouver, British Columbia (February 26, 2009) – Canadian music fans could find themselves seated next to the likes of Sarah McLachlan, Simple Plan and Nickelback onboard the Whistler Mountaineer this season. The three-hour train trip between Vancouver and Whistler is one of a few BC items to be included in this year’s coveted JUNO Awards Gift Bag, given exclusively to the show’s host, presenters and performers. The 2009 JUNO Awards event is held in Vancouver, BC on Sunday, March 29, 2009 and the “swag” bag contains a return train trip for two onboard the Whistler Mountaineer Glacier Dome, valued at $600.

It is rock star treatment all the way with the Whistler Mountaineer, which travels along BC’s famous Sea to Sky Corridor between Vancouver and Whistler. The journey begins on the red carpet and continues with a morning mimosa and the ultimate in personalized service in the exclusive Glacier Dome. For an up close view of the stunning waterfalls, sparkling Pacific waters and snow-capped mountain peaks, musicians and fans alike can visit the train’s open air Heritage Observation Car. Canadian music stars also hear fascinating commentary of the region and are served a hot gourmet breakfast and scrumptious afternoon tea.

The 2009 JUNO Awards, Canada’s preeminent music awards show will air on CTV on Sunday, March 29, 2009 from General Motors Place in Vancouver, BC. The show will be hosted by Russell Peters and will feature a star-studded line up of artists who will perform, including Sarah McLachlan, City and Colour, Nickelback and Simple Plan.

The Whistler Mountaineer is owned and operated by Rocky Mountaineer Vacations and has been in service since 2006. In addition to the four spectacular rail routes that travel through British Columbia and Alberta, Rocky Mountaineer Vacations also offers unique Canadian vacation packages. Since its inception in 1990, the company has grown to become the largest privately owned passenger rail service in North America and has hosted over one million guests onboard. In 2007, the Rocky Mountaineer train was honoured with a World Travel Award as “World’s Leading Travel Experience by Train” for the third consecutive and named by National Geographic as one of the “World’s Greatest Trip.”

Contact:
Nancy Dery
Media Relations & Communications Specialist
Rocky Mountaineer Vacations
(604) 606-8419
ndery@rockymountaineer.com
www.rockymountaineer.com

For more information, images and story ideas visit: www.whistlermountaineer.com

Source Link:  News Bureau/media

Gray Line West has cut back its tour schedule and laid off nine of its 119 Victoria staff, citing a challenging tourist season and expectations for a slow winter.

The company, which operates year-round sight-seeing tours and charter coach services in Victoria, Calgary and Banff, said the prospects of a lean winter forced its hand.

“We have put into effect a reduced business model in Victoria. The tourism industry is facing some challenging times and the forecast is for tourism revenue to decline in Victoria,” said Ian Robertson, executive director of corporate communications for the Armstrong Group, which owns Gray Line West and other operations such as the Rocky Mountaineer train.

“For us, at winter season it’s a particularly challenging time for tourism, and to continue with a full operation is not financially viable.”

The result is a reduction in the number of coaches on the road and tours the company will run through the city on any given day.

Robertson said they won’t be eliminating any particular tours — they offer grand city driving tours, attraction loop tours and trips to Butchart Gardens, among others — instead opting to reduce the number of options and times people can take them.

The layoffs affect management and maintenance positions. There will be no reductions or layoffs at any of Gray Line’s other operations.

Robertson also quashed rumours Armstrong Group was putting the Gray Line West division up for sale.

“We are always looking at opportunities, but the mandate we have given to Victoria and our operations in Banff is to develop a strong business plan for growth, and we continue on that track,” he said.

Armstrong Group bought Gray Line in 2005 as a complement to its other tourism businesses.

“We saw it as a fit with the Rocky Mountaineer train and Whistler Mountaineer, so it was a natural fit for our overall tourism strategy,” he said, noting the Victoria operation could expand again if the need arises.

“Certainly if the indications are that we are going to have a strong tourism season in summer, we would look at increasing our workforce and offering more tour options,” he said.

aduffy@tc.canwest.com