Deadline: 7 June 2017
The Aboriginal Tourism Association of Canada (ATAC) is pleased to issue the following call for applications to qualified Aboriginal tourism businesses and Aboriginal Tourism Marketing Organizations to participate as sellers in the National Aboriginal Tourism Showcase Program at the Showcase Canada Asia marketplace in Beijing, China October 16th – 19th, 2017.
Showcase Canada-China 2017 will bring together representatives from over 100 leading Canadian seller organizations with qualified travel agents from Mainland China, Hong Kong and Taiwan, in a business exchange with a proven format of pre-scheduled business appointments. It will provide outstanding opportunities to network, build valuable relationships and grow business.
Selection Criteria
Aboriginal tourism businesses must be “Market-Ready” to ensure the following:
- Has been operating in a safe and professional manner for at least one year
- Carries adequate insurance totalling no less than $2 million in liability
- Has current business and operating licenses, registrations and permits
- Has a website that honestly and accurately represents an Aboriginal tourism business
- Accepts credit cards and debit cards as means of payment
- Handles reservations/inquiries by telephone, fax and email on a year-round basis
- Handles and is able to provide confirmation of booking arrangements within 24 hours
- Has a product that is of interest to tourists, both domestic and international
In addition, Aboriginal tourism businesses must also ensure the following “Export-Ready” criteria are also met:
- Demonstrate an adequate budget and marketing plan
- Understand the roles played by receptive tour operators, tour operators, travel wholesalers, and retail travel agents and understand rack or retail pricing, agent commissions and wholesale net rates at each level
- Be willing to include receptive tour operators in the marketing and sales plan and provide contracted wholesale net rates to receptive tour operators
- Provide detailed pricing and program information to tour operators and wholesalers at least one year in advance of selling season
- Be prepared to set up billing arrangements with the tour operator, wholesale agency or receptive tour operator
- If planning to pursue group business, ensure ability to accommodate and adapt to the needs of the market (e.g. tour bus access and parking, washroom facilities, maximum group size, group pricing, and frontline staff that speak the language of target markets)
- Carry adequate insurance (receptive tour operator can sometimes add suppliers to their existing policies at nominal cost)
- Provide support (free or reduced rates) for international media and travel trade familiarization tours
- Offer currency exchange rates consistent with industry norms
How to Apply
Interested applicants must submit applications electronically via email.
Eligible Countries: Canada, China, Hong Kong and Taiwan
For more information, please visit Call for Applications.