I’ve just returned from our Country’s Capital city of Ottawa where I attended the Travel & Vacation Show this past weekend. I thoroughly enjoyed the opportunity to reconnect with dozens of our past clients and meet so many wonderful people who hold Newfoundland & Labrador in such high regard; all suggesting a trip to our province was at the top of their “Bucket list”. Obviously Newfoundland & Labrador’s advertising videos are working especially well since nearly everyone spoke of their effectiveness and their desire to visit the province upon seeing them. In a world that has become so skeptical of advertisers claims, it’s refreshing to experience such a display of consumer trust and the integrity of our tourism industry’s promise to deliver exactly what our ads depict. But that’s what makes these ads so special; they speak quite simply from our heart to yours.
Of course no trip involving a Newfoundlander and the city of Ottawa could end on anything but a humorous note. So, I managed to make time to visit Parliament Hill where I availed of the opportunity to view the ‘Peace Tower’. While on board the elevator our young guide reminded us to watch for the “Bell” – explaining that it was the largest bell cast in Canada. And to emphasize this fact he added;
“My colleagues and I were in the staff room recently and we determined that the tower’s bell weighs the equivalent of three and a half elephants!”
“Eh boy?” I exclaimed in mock exaggeration. “Where are you going to find an elephant in this country? I thought I was still in Canada – How much does that bell weigh in whales?”
Thanks so much to everyone who visited the Newfoundland & Labrador pavilion. We certainly look forward to seeing you this summer and would love to give an extra loud shout out to these members of the McCarthy’s Party family who stopped to say hello;
- Janice Sloan who travelled with our now retired but always exceptional guide Rex Hillier (Rex won a recent by-election vote and is currently an MHA – Member of the House of Assembly for Newfoundland & Labrador)
- Sheilagh & David Beard who travelled with our father, the Codfather of Newfoundland & Labrador tourism – Jim McCarthy
- Jassott Holtzhauer who travelled with the very talented orator and musician Francis Corrigan in 2010
- Dan Hudson & Fern Whyte who travelled with Bruce (Bippy) Power 4 or 5 years ago
- Pat & Rick Davison who travelled on one of our splinter tours that featured Brother Mark, Mom and Dad on the same adventure
- Marilyn Conroy who also travelled with Bippy
- Gabrielle Laszlo & Shirley Cooper who really enjoyed their time last summer with one of our most conscientious guides Mike Edmunds
- And Jim McConkey who couldn’t say enough about the adventure he had with “the professor” – Gene Flynn
All my best,
Andrew
