Open Jaw :: On The Town ::

with Martha Chapman
12DEC08

Visit Britain’s Tom Wright

Michael Kearney of Golf Away Tours with Jayne Shackleford of Tourism Ireland

An impressive team of Canadian Olympians and British boosters honouring Visit Britain’s Val Schroder on her retirement

Jolly Good Time!

Toronto was at its twinkly best as VisitBritain hosted their annual tis-the-season party. From the Panorama Room on the 51st floor of the Manulife tower we could see that the city was lit up like a Christmas tree.

But the real sparkle was inside as travel industry execs rubbed shoulders with VisitBritain boosters and even some Canadians who are looking forward to hopping across the pond four years from now.

Steady on. Aren’t they taking a tad long to plan their holiday?

Not at all: that’s because sprinkled in amongst the glitterati were members of the Canadian Olympic team, heading to London in 2012. In fact, the evening had much of an Olympic theme as Tom Wright, chief executive of VisitBritain, told us that “interest in the event is extraordinary – we can’t guarantee gold medals to everyone, but we can guarantee a great welcome.”

A brief film gave a preview of what the U.K. is doing to prepare, from London Marathoners to those wacky ditch swimmers. It seems the whole nation is in training, foregoing crisps and Double Diamond in front of the telly for thrashing about in the great outdoors.

In fact, the Brits think the Olympic year is going be so hot that more than a million of us will head to the U.K. waving wee maple leaf flags. “This year our Canadian visits are up 4% year over year and we’re tracking 852,000 visitors.” The U.S., he added sadly, is slightly more “challenging.”

Between the bevvies and bits of British bites, we thought it was the perfect time to see what sports this crowd will be glued to during the Games. Tom Wright will be eyeing the sailing, cycling and rowing (“our top three sports”). Val Schroder, VisitBritain Canada’s soon-to-retire PR Manager, will be watching the sailing and swimming, while Paul Gauger of VisitBritain’s New York office can’t wait for beach volleyball on the beautiful boulevard called the Horse Guards’ Parade. “It will be a quirky and magnificent backdrop.” Even Ebenezer Scrooge could hardly bah humbug that!