Great Lakes Cruising Sailaway

 

OUR LINEUP FOR THE INAUGURAL GREAT LAKES CRUISING SAILAWAY

Sailaway 2027 will be held on 4 May at the Toronto Cruise Terminal. The metropolis of Toronto is the multi-cultural hub of North America. Friendly, exciting, diverse and enchanting, Toronto is the number one tourism destination in Canada and an ideal port of call for expedition cruise ships. What better location then, to host the inaugural Sailaway event?

The day begins with welcoming remarks and introductions of the GLCA Board of Directors. Executive Director, Stephen Burnett, will present a brief video overview of expedition cruising in the Great Lakes that places the emphasis on experiences ashore. From the saltwater estuary at the mouth of the St. Lawrence Seaway to the northwestern terminus of Lake Superior, these are the unforgettable experiences throughout the Great Lakes.

Mike Riehl, our host from the Toronto Port Authority, will guide a panel discussion with representatives from our visiting cruise lines. The burning question: “Why the Great Lakes?”

Tourism consultant Pat Forrest, of the Canada’s Great Lakes tourism cooperative, will present the latest shore excursions developments across the breathtaking natural environment of Northern Ontario. She will explain how a collective of eight Northern tourism agencies has amassed scores of new creative and innovative shore excursions and how communities en route have become engaged.

Paul Pepe, from Tourism Thunder Bay, will moderate a panel discussion on building relationships between the expedition cruise industry and the media. A tourism industry executive with an entrepreneurial spirit, Paul immerses himself in outdoor adventure; he knows first-hand how to relay that experience to the press.

Then we break away for lunch. Victory Cruise Lines have graciously invited all attendees to enjoy lunch onboard the newly refurbished MV Victory II, which will be berthed steps away from the meeting venue.

Then it’s back to business. The next panel discussion will be led by Greg Higginbotham and focus on port infrastructure. Greg is Tourism and Strategic Projects Coordinator for Port Colborne. As a Tourism Analyst and Destination Marketing Specialist, he is an expert on guiding infrastructure investment decision making, in part to capitalize on the opportunities presented by the expedition cruise industry.

We wrap up the day with an informative session on Aboriginal tourism. Megan Knott, CEO at Tourism Kingston, will guide us through the Indigenous history and culture that have been the character of the Great Lakes dating back more than 10,000 years. This is Canada’s cradle of civilization. Learn how the Aboriginal community can play an integral role within the cruise industry.

Space for this event is tight, so it will be limited to a maximum of 50 participants. Priority will be given to existing GLCA members before we open this up to other cruise industry interest groups.

There is a registration fee of $200.

Watch for further details, updates, an official schedule and registration information as we continue to plan this new industry activity.