Australian travel advisors have the chance to turn their destination training into a six-night trip for two to Vancouver, with flights, luxury hotel stays, lounge access and a packed line-up of experiences included.
Destination Vancouver highlighted the incentive at its Vancouver Specialist Program Sydney Wellness Event, where representatives from Destination Vancouver, Destination British Columbia, Air Canada and Rocky Mountaineer shared ideas for helping clients return from Canada feeling better than when they arrived.
The prize includes return economy flights for two from Sydney or Brisbane with Air Canada, plus lounge access for two before departure. The winner and their guest will spend two nights at each of The Westin Bayshore Vancouver, Fairmont Hotel Vancouver and JW Marriott Parq Vancouver.
They will also be able to put their destination knowledge into practice with a Taste Vancouver Gastown food tour, a Harbour Air Classic Vancouver Panorama flight, a Sea Vancouver City & Nature Zodiac boat tour, entry to Capilano Suspension Bridge Park and a Vancouver Foodie Tours Granville Island Market tour.A Forbidden Vancouver walking tour, dinner and mountain admission at Grouse Mountain, a private behind-the-scenes experience at Vancouver Aquarium and a Destination Experience Pass are also included.
To be eligible, Australian CLIA-accredited cruise specialists must complete the complimentary Vancouver Specialist Program and Air Canada Global Sales University by 15 October 2026.
The promotion was launched in conjunction with Destination Vancouver’s appearance at Cruise360 Australasia, where advisors were asked to visit booth 32 and scan the competition QR code.
Advisors who have already completed both training programs are also eligible, subject to the competition terms and conditions.
The Vancouver Specialist Program comprises eight self-paced modules covering the city’s neighbourhoods and accommodation, attractions, transport, dining, cruise and rail journeys, day trips, events and sports. Graduates receive a Vancouver Specialist certificate and logo, along with access to benefits including a Destination Experience Pass for the specialist and a guest, famil opportunities and ongoing webinar training.
At the Sydney event, the destination’s “Recouver in Vancouver” campaign provided a playful framework for the wellness theme, encouraging visitors to step away from daily routines and reconnect through food, nature and time outdoors. The funny three-part video series turns the basics of taking a proper holiday into lessons for overworked travellers.
For agents, one of Vancouver’s strongest selling points is how easily urban experiences and nature can be combined. The compact city sits between the Pacific Ocean, temperate rainforest and coastal mountains, allowing clients to move from downtown shopping and dining to a sunset at English Bay, kayaking from Granville Island or walking and cycling the seawall into Stanley Park.
Recouver In Vancouver – Lesson One: City In Nature
Wildlife-loving clients can join seasonal whale-watching trips in search of orcas and humpbacks, while Indigenous-owned Talaysay Tours offers guided experiences in Stanley Park. Salmon n’ Bannock provides another way to connect with Indigenous culture through seasonal dishes and ingredients.
Recouver In Vancouver – Lesson Two: Wellness
Food was also firmly on the menu. Event guests heard that Vancouver’s Michelin Guide features 76 restaurants spanning 27 types of cuisine, including 12 one-star restaurants. Agents can introduce clients to several neighbourhoods and venues in one outing through a guided food tour of Gastown or Chinatown, with some itineraries visiting seven or eight restaurants.
Recouver In Vancouver – Lesson Three: Culinary
Vancouver Specialist Sam Stratton of Flight Centre Cherrybrook told guests the training had introduced him to new sides of the city despite having visited several times.
“Every time I go there, I learn something new, but I learnt so many new things about Vancouver by going through the specialist program as well,” Stratton said.
He uses that knowledge to add personal touches to client itineraries, including booking a particular table at Cactus Club Cafe Coal Harbour overlooking Stanley Park, the seaplanes and mountains, and recommending local favourites such as Japadog.
The panel advised agents to pre-book popular experiences to reduce stress for clients and to consider spring, autumn and winter travel. Vancouver’s peak summer hotel occupancy can reach 95 per cent, while the shoulder seasons bring fewer crowds without shutting down the city’s major attractions. Whale-watching generally operates from March until the end of October, while an ice hockey game offers clients a lively local experience during the Vancouver Canucks season.
Air Canada currently operates direct services between Vancouver and Sydney and Brisbane. At the event, the airline said its lowest Basic fare had been removed from the Australian market, meaning its entry-level international Economy fare now includes checked baggage. It also flagged daily Brisbane services and the planned rollout of complimentary Wi-Fi on services from Australia, with further details to come.
For clients continuing beyond Vancouver, Destination British Columbia encouraged agents to consider its Rainforest to Rockies journey, combining coastal landscapes, rainforest, hot springs, waterfalls, Indigenous experiences and local food. Rocky Mountaineer, meanwhile, positioned its daylight-only rail journeys as a form of slow travel, with overnight hotel stays, regional dining and time away from Wi-Fi allowing guests to focus on the scenery and each other.
Agents can enrol in the Vancouver Specialist Program using promotional code 2026CRUISE360 and register for Air Canada Global Sales University.
