#MyCanada by CTI DMC’s Michelle Kenny

Canadian Tours International (CTI) DMC helps incentive planners create unforgettable programmes featuring Northern Canada’s highlights such as polar bears, beluga whales and the northern lights, as well as its authentic local cultures and traditions.

We caught up with General Manager Michelle Kenny to find out what makes the region so special, and her personal highlights…

Bucket-list and transformational travel experiences are predicted to be a big trend when the incentive travel sector recovers. What makes Canada well-suited to these type of once-in-a-lifetime trips for top performers?

Canada is the second biggest country on this planet. We’re surrounded by three oceans, are home to the largest lakes in the world and feature an enormous climate diversity that embraces eight different climatic zones.

We’re the so called “Polar Bear Capital of the World”, the “Beluga Whale Capital of the World” and one, if not the best, place in the world to see the northern lights. We describe Canada using terms like unique, one-of-a-kind, the best. It’s difficult to think about once-in-a-lifetime experiences and not to think of Canada.

What makes Northern Canada special in particular? And why should clients consider it for incentive rewards?

Canada’s North offers experiences that one can’t find anywhere else in the world. We’re talking about cultural, environmental, ecological, and spiritual experiences. The region has a unique climate and is home to rare flora and fauna, as well as cultures with long-standing traditions

What types of groups and clients is the region best suited to?

The North welcomes everyone. We have hosted groups ranging from two to 200 guests for a whole range of different experiences.

For example, we’ve worked with a lodge that is 800km north of the Arctic Circle to host smaller groups of up to 16 guests. We’ve brought groups of up to 40 guests to Churchill, Manitoba to stay in a tundra buggy lodge overnight and wake up with polar bears.

We’ve hosted groups of 50 and more in the city of Yellowknife, and smaller groups in lodges out in the countryside surrounding the city. We also organised shore excursions in Goose Bay for 200 guests on an expedition ship.

Our guests are looking to experience something extraordinary and visit places that are not easily accessible.

What is your top not-to-be-missed Northern experience?

My personal bucket-list for Canada include viewing baby seals and polar bears, and staying awake for as long as it takes for the northern lights to appear. These experiences create lifetime memories.

Are there any new or forthcoming products or experiences in the region that are ideal for incentives?

We’re developing a programme for a private jet tour in Churchill. One of the suppliers we are working with has a brand-new glass floor boat that we’ll be using during excursions to see newly born beluga babies.

We’re also scheduled for a hot air balloon ride in Inlet Pond, Nunavut, where we sleep in traditional yurts and move from camp to camp by dog sleds accompanied by Inuit guides.

Finally, we’re keen to return to Yellowknife to explore a brand-new INDIGENOUS programme that teaches the Dene way of life through our history, language, and unique connection to the land.

This content is sponsored by Destination Canada Business Events. If you’re interested in rewarding your top performers with a memorable experience in Northern Canada, head to the Destination Canada Business Events website for ideas and inspiration