Incentives Adventures in Canada: Immersive, Unique and Unforgettable

Experts in Incentives

Create a truly memorable incentive program with the help of Destination Canada’s Business Events team and Canada’s Signature Incentive Experience Collection. Learn more here.

Once synonymous with high-end hotels and first-class travel, the concept of luxury now also includes exclusive, authentic experiences in memorable locations that offer once-in-a-lifetime excursions and programs for incentive award winners. As an unparalleled incentive destination, Canada has embraced this shift towards more distinct, immersive activities, which engage and delight guests eager to take in the country’s vast and breathtaking landscapes.  

A recent Northstar Meetings Group report revealed that in addition to exotic destinations and top-notch services, today’s incentive groups crave luxury programs that are personalized, experiential, and centered on wellness, sustainability and unique adventures that restore body, mind and spirit.

While traditional luxury incentive trip offers stunning accommodations, exceptional cuisine and custom activities, new luxury adds bespoke, authentic elements to create true bucket list moments designed to surprise and impress guests with one-of-a-kind opportunities to connect with nature, boost wellness and enjoy a destination to its fullest. 

Canada excels in both areas, thanks to its captivating locations featuring exclusive properties set against spectacular mountainside or oceanside beauty. With a choice of boutique gems in cosmopolitan cities to off-the-grid wilderness resorts and international award-winning hotels in stunning locations, it’s easy to inspire your top performers at luxurious retreats equipped with stunning indoor and outdoor venues designed to motivate team building, big-picture thinking and quiet reflection.

Here’s a taste of the transformational experiences Canada can bring to your next luxury incentive program.

Tap Into Traditional Luxury at These 3 Exquisite Properties 

Fairmont Banff Springs allows attendees to soar new heights in Alberta

Nestled at the base of Western Canada’s majestic Rocky Mountains, the Fairmont Banff Springs sits within Banff National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Boasting magnificent panoramic views, this five-star “Castle in the Rockies” has welcomed guests for more than 130 years to its 739 elegant guest rooms and suites. One step inside the property’s gilded revolving doors transports guests into a European storybook setting: a singular, memorable experience for incentive guests.

In addition to creative culinary delights crafted with local ingredients, delegates will enjoy the renowned Stanley Thompson-designed Banff Springs Golf Course, where gorgeous views of the Bow River – along with local wildlife – give guests reason to connect with nature. They can also unwind and recharge in the award-winning spa, a serene oasis surrounded by rushing waterfalls and fresh mountain air. Its restorative mineral pool was inspired by the area’s famed hot springs.

Set against one of Canada’s most iconic mountain landscapes, incentive programs held here are sure to excite guests. For example, groups can dine above the clouds at the summit of Mount Norquay in a cozy post-and-beam lodge to experience sweeping views, delectable food and private concerts. 

Soak up 400 years of history at Quebec City’s Fairmont Le Château Frontenac

Québec City’s rich French legacy, European-style culture, architecture and cuisine make it a highly desirable incentive destination. Its walled Old City – a UNESCO World Heritage Site – will seduce delegates who discover its charm, elegance and the hidden courtyards dotting its cobblestoned streets. With breathtaking views of the St. Lawrence River, Fairmont Le Château Frontenac celebrates its surroundings by keeping its historical luxury cachet within 610 contemporary rooms on 18 floors. 

Inspired by a Renaissance-era French château, the property’s commanding fairy-tale silhouette – featuring multiple towers and turrets – has hovered atop Cap Diamant since 1893. Popular with royals, diplomats and celebrities — along with those being recognized for their achievements — Le Frontenac is one of Canada’s most important architectural and historical landmarks. It’s no wonder this is one of the most photographed hotels in the world.

Packed with European flair and home to some of Canada’s greatest museums, art galleries and festivals, Québec City is a lively cultural destination sure to appeal to discerning guests. Proximity to natural spaces such as the Montmorency Falls, Jacques-Cartier National Park and the Plains of Abraham allows delegates to relax and recharge while hiking, cycling or exploring some of the country’s beautiful landscape. In the summer, the walled Old City hosts outdoor entertainment and events. Winter welcomes Carnaval – the city’s homage to the season and the oldest and largest winter carnival in the world. Mark your 2024 calendar with the dates: February 2 – 11.

Throughout the city, renowned chefs serve up exquisite gastronomic delights that highlight the city’s history and diverse flavors. Your top performers can enjoy caribou cocktails and decadent dinner at the Hôtel de Glace, the only ice hotel in North America. 

Explore Atlantic Canada at The Great George in Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island

An award-wining historic upscale boutique property, The Great George opened in 1846 and represents the best this Maritime capital city has to offer. Within its 17 brightly painted, lovingly restored heritage buildings sprawling across a city block, the hotel’s quiet luxury combines eclectic décor in 54 suites, townhouses and condos with legendary Island hospitality. Its space was designed to appeal to the senses, with a refined yet informal atmosphere that encourages guests to relax and enjoy Prince Edward Island’s (PEI) charm and natural beauty.

Located in the heart of downtown Charlottetown on the south shore of PEI, steps from the pedestrian-only Victoria Row and Peake’s Wharf, this unique property features glorious harbor views and a top-notch culinary offering that benefit from fresh ocean ingredients. With more than two dozen golf courses, a vibrant arts scene and more than 680 miles of sandy shoreline and soaring cliffs, where crashing waves envelop your honored guests in nature’s embrace, this city provides exceptional outdoor space to energize groups.

Whether you choose to stage lunch by the dunes in the Prince Edward Island National Park, explore Charlottetown’s waterfront walkways, tour the highest concentration of lighthouses in North America or host a sumptuous lobster feast on a private beach as the sun sets near a roaring bonfire, guests will remember their island experience for years to come.

Steeped in history, traditional luxury properties like these impress VIPs with classic touches, elevated accommodation and service, and relaxed settings. For planners seeking more immersive experiences in more remote areas, here are a few options that embrace new luxury.

Nature Meets New Luxury at These 4 Outstanding Properties

Take in the Captivating Pacific Coast Vibe From Sea to Sky at the Beachfront Wickaninnish Inn  

Groups can experience unforgettable moments in the rugged, pristine wilderness while enjoying rustic elegance on Vancouver Island’s spectacular West Coast at the Wickaninnish Inn, a 5-star boutique hotel perched on a rocky edge of Chesterman Beach, nestled between an ancient rainforest and the ocean near Tofino, British Columbia. 

Luxurious rooms in this secluded sanctuary – which is located within the UNESCO Biosphere Reserve of Clayoquot Sound – feature waterfront views so guests can marvel at the surrounding landscape and seascape, while first-class farm-fresh dining and the award-winning Ancient Cedars Spa surround delegates with opportunities for comfort and serenity. Plenty of adventure in untamed wilderness settings – on land, at sea or sky-high – will appeal to adrenalin seekers and nature enthusiasts alike. Whether exploring Pacific Rim National Park, surfing and sea kayaking on the Esowista Peninsula, cycling or hiking in the rainforest, exploring tidal pools along the shore or fishing for salmon, guests will be wowed by the chance to have time to think, unwind and take it all in. 

Other memorable activities at this coastal paradise include a chartered floatplane tour enables delegates to spot sea lions, whales and other local wildlife frolicking in the white-capped waves. Explore the artful wonders in Henry Nolla’s Carving Shed, tucked in the trees on the Inn’s property, while sampling scotch, whiskey or craft beer. Or host a Pacific clambake or private reception on the Inn’s Shell Beach – named for the crushed shells underfoot – an exclusive setting to toast and pamper your top performers as they inhale the scent of the saltwater breezes.

Enter the Heart of the Great Bear Rainforest at Tweedsmuir Park Lodge

Imagine your guests staying in one of 10 authentic log or timber-framed chalets, tucked between British Columbia’s picturesque Tweedsmuir Provincial Park and the Great Bear Rainforest. Here, expansive views of the rugged Coast Mountains evoke renewal, wellness and comfort. 

Exclusive luxury accommodations at Tweedsmuir Park Lodge gives delegates a window to the wilderness – a chance to spot wildlife, including grizzly bears, from a private viewing platform along with spellbinding views of the Atnarko River.

From immersive yoga or soul-healing soaks in the 60-acre-property’s outdoor hot tub to fly-fishing or a Heli-Hike to view ancient glaciers and breathe in the scent of blankets of alpine flora, delegates can venture into remote wilderness and emerge transformed from the incredible biodiversity and raw beauty surrounding them.

Gourmet farm-to-table cuisine features fresh local fish from Bella Coola waters and organic produce grown onsite, crafted to exceed expectations. Dining against the dramatic mountain landscape of granite cliffs and plunging creeks will wow your top performers. You can also host an evening where guests learn about the legends and traditions of the Indigenous Peoples who have called this place home for generations, where guides share 10,000 years of history through stories and songs about the Great Bear Rainforest.

Explore Vancouver Island’s Wild West Coast at Clayoquot Wilderness Lodge

Modeled after turn-of-the-century prospector settlements, 25 luxury canvas tents line the ocean shores against an ancient growth forest in a UNESCO-protected biosphere reserve. Here, at the Clayoquot Wilderness Lodge, guests experience a once-in-a-lifetime adventure. Set within a 62-mile-wide inlet of the Pacific Ocean and accessible only by boat, helicopter or seaplane, this bespoke property is remote and resplendent, with enchanting landscapes meant to connect you with nature by offering an authentic sense of place.

Delegates can soak up the timelessness of the coastal ecosystem, which includes an old-growth conifer forest, private bays and tiny islands. The Lodge, located in the heart of the reserve, sits at the mouth of the Bedwell River, making this site a natural playground for remote hiking, wildlife-spotting – you may see whales, porpoises and sea lions – sunrise yoga and exhilarating heli-tours that can include everything from guided fly-fishing to secret spots, swimming and a gourmet picnic.

After a day of unbridled adventure, restore body, mind and soul at the Healing Grounds Spa, which offers a waterfront massage tent, saunas and cedar hot tubs set among old-growth forests. 

Later, the area’s freshest seafood and foraged produce provide a mouth-watering taste of the region’s delicious terroir. Unique gathering spots on property include the Cookhouse and Bistro Tents and a Glass Lounge. Escaping to Canada’s premier luxury tented lodge means reveling in the tranquil beauty of Canada’s remote wilderness and is sure to evoke memories from your team for years to come.

Thrill guests on the Wild Shores of the Pacific Ocean at the Nimmo Bay Resort

For customized wilderness, wildlife and wellness experiences, head to the Nimmo Bay Resort, an intimate family-owned oceanside eco-wilderness property in the center of Canada’s Great Bear Rainforest on the rugged West Coast. This remote luxury retreat – sea planes and helicopters deliver guests right to the door on the Broughton Archipelago – aims to awaken the senses: The aroma of giant cedar trees, the salt-swept winds, seeing animals in their natural habitat, and hearing the forest leaves rustling under the sun.

Here, the rhythm of the rainforest dictates the pace. If you’re team is looking to refresh themselves, they can paddle to a floating cedar sauna after a restorative massage – before taking a dip into the clear Pacific waters or soaking in a hot tub near the waterfalls.
 
Options for unforgettable team experiences abound. Take a customized guided helicopter trip to secret mountainside rivers ripe for catch-and-release fly-fishing, heli-surfing or a glacier hike – or forage for sea kelp and Dungeness crab with a renowned chef.

Away from distractions, perspectives shift and give way to creative thinking. Whether exploring the coast, kayaking with seals, accessing more than 50,000 square miles of untouched wilderness or sitting around a floating campfire, your team will feel refreshed and rejuvenated.

Your Choice of Unique and Diverse Options 

These immersive, luxury-focused properties and experiences will leave groups with exquisite memories they’ll want to share for years to come. Best of all, this is just the tip of the iceberg in terms of what Canada has to offer: No matter what type of incentive you seek, planners can count on savvy business event professionals to help personalize your program while providing your team with its best VIP trip yet.  

For impartial insights, inspiration, and advice, and to learn more about the abundant adventures Canada offers, reach out to the Destination Canada team: Jennifer Attersall, Director, Incentive Travel, Business Events, Destination Canada; attersall.jennifer@destinationcanada.com

Learn more at www.businesseventscanada.ca