Rocky Mountaineer Vacations' Guest Lounge Blog

Last Wave Off - Rocky Mountaineer

Ever notice that moving trains elicit a wave from people along the route - and likely a reciprocal wave from the engineer and other people onboard the train?  It doesn't matter what kind of train - freight or passenger, the magic is there.

Along our Whistler Mountaineer route which runs each day, we have our regular "wavers."  Including the West Vancouver residents who ensure that as they have their coffee each morning, there is a friendly wave to the train.

There is a great tradition at Rocky Mountaineer - something called a "wave off."  It is usually seen at departures at the Rocky Mountaineer Station in Vancouver, but the spirit is at every station we arrive or depart at.

The Rocky Mountaineer wave off is completely voluntary for employees, which makes it authentic.  Sometimes there are 50 people there; sometimes 100.  People get come to work early to be a part of this tradition. The benefit is to see guests from all over the world with enormous smiles on their faces, ready to take on an adventure.  What a great way to start the work day.

Which leads me to perform my final wave off - which I did earlier this week and was captured in the picture above. After ten years, I am leaving the Rocky Mountaineer to take some time off before beginning my next challenge, which is yet to be determined.  The time spent at RMV has been unforgettable - the people I have met come to mind immediately.  And after blogging since 2006, hopefully, there is some content that others can draw from to help better understand this incredible part of the world.

Thank you for following - over 16,000 of you have read my chatter - may I wish you, a trip of a lifetime.

Graham

1 Millionth Guest onboard the Rocky Mountaineer

The Man in Seat 61

This week, RMV welcomes the Man in Seat Sixty One. When I first heard about Mark Smith, the man in Seat 61, I thought it sounded very much like a James Bond episode. The domain name alone carried intrigue.

I became aware of this site because it seemed to drive a lot of traffic to the Rocky Mountaineer site - actually, an incredible amount of volume.  Mark's site is a mandatory for those considering rail travel anywhere in the world.  Having said that, I was certain we could convince Mark to update his information on Canadian rail (and the maps!), and more specifically on the routes that RMV now offers, by inviting him on the Rocky Mountaineer and Whistler Mountaineer trains.  I am delighted to say, welcome aboard, Seat 61 - and we will keep you posted on his impressions.

Why the Seat 61 designation?  Read here....

A Serious Case of Nothing to Say...

One of the dangers of blogging is writer's block.  The other (often as a result of the block) is blogging with nothing to say.  I am determined not to post for the sake of posting. Two things happened in the since my last post in early April....daily visits increased by 20% and 6 people have emailed me to see if I have stopped writing.  Guess that is a positive sign.

The reality is our train season has started.  With up to four trains operating each day and planning for next season well underway, I got, well, a little bit busy.  But the world has changed in a short period of time giving me some material to share with you.

Fuel surcharges.  The dreaded words of all travellers.  I have been with this organization for a decade and in the past, we have agonized over the implementation of fuel surcharges - and never done it. The reality is the costs have far surpassed a level that RMV can manage - the impact of the increases on a business that operates trains is immense - and far beyond what we had budgeted several months ago.

Regrettably, beginning May 15th, RMV will add a Cdn$30 person fuel surcharge for each 2 day trip on the Rocky Mountaineer.  A fuel surcharge of Cdn$5 per one way trip on the Whistler Mountaineer will also apply (terms and conditions prevail if I did not explain every scenario in this posting!).  The good news is if you have already booked your trip and placed a deposit, the surcharge is waived, no matter when you travel. Plus, if you book by May 14th, we will waive it, as well.  So get off the fence and book today.  For any questions, please contact our sales center directly.

What else....? We now have the ability to take on line bookings on selected tour packages off the Rocky Mountaineer site - the Whistler Mountaineer site has been able to be booked on line for some time.  I have a whole new appreciation of the techie side of the business.  In today's world, it seems so straightforward to have a booking capability on the internet.  Easy for the marketing and sales guy to say. Vacation product is difficult to configure with all the options that are available.  Having said that, we are up and running.  What we are really excited about is that after November, our sites will be relaunched - blown up and re-designed with enhanced on line booking capabilities.  Not that exciting for you to be reading a blog about this perhaps, but a real step forward - and a big investment - for us - and an expectation of our guests.

Our one millionth guest on the Rocky Mountaineer is coming up. I blogged about this last year and soon it will be a reality. We have forecasted the honoured guest will be travelling on the Rocky Mountaineer on June 5th.  If you are travelling that day, stay tuned.  The lucky one millionth guest will be treated like royalty and there is a significant celebration to take place.  Kind of like winning the lottery but you don't get to retire!  Thank you all for making us successful enough to celebrate this milestone.

Fuel surcharges, on line booking and one millionth guest - a potpourri to break writer's block.

 

Read all about it! Behind the company front door...

You can find out a lot about a company when you look behind the stage door.  Make no mistake about it, in the hospitality industry, we all know it takes many performers to make a production work, let alone exceed expectations. 

I thought I would take you on a tour of our back stage - the people you don't see, the stories you never hear and the culture that drives the success or failure of any organization.  On our website we post our celebration season end videos for all to see (go to link and scroll down).  They are relaxed insights into the people who make it happen and they are certainly not intended as a sales video to sell vacations - but they do show off the culture and the people who service our guests.  They are short and fun, so have a look.

The other view of any organization comes from a company newsletter.  What is important to them, what do they focus on, what are their values and do they have any fun?  Internal communication can tell a lot about a company. Have a look at typical month at Armstrong Group.  Again, an easy read and gives you some insights of the organization you may be thinking of trusting your vacation with.

Download april_inside_track_newsletter.pdf

 

New for 2008! Rocky Mountaineer GoldLeaf Culinary Team

We are truly excited to welcome a new culinary team onboard the Rocky Mountaineer routes in 2008.  The team now includes 4 renowned chefs, who will lead a superb dining experience and enhance the GoldLeaf brand even further.

Working as a chef or in the galley of the train is a unique experience.  I have had the opportunity to watch this first hand many times and continue to be amazed with the dexterity and teamwork involved.  Imagine a 200 square foot stainless steel kitchen with a four foot aisle and no windows.  Then imagine imagine as the train curves, climbs and gently rocks along the route - only you do not know when the next movement will occur as you synchronize your work with a team of 5 talented professionals, preparing 140 a la carte presentations a day in each GoldLeaf dome.

The results are impressive and the chefs have been working hard in the "off season" to ensure the dining experience matches the outstanding scenery in western Canada.  There is more on the culinary experience found here. Bon appetit!

Less than 2 Years till 2010 Olympics in Vancouver and Whistler

Invest 5 minutes and watch this incredible video - a beautiful representation of the sights and sounds of British Columbia - and proof it does not always rain here!

No Smoking Please, we're Canadian!

About 7 or 8 years ago, our founder and owner determined that the Rocky Mountaineer experience would be smoke free for our guests and employees.  I was reminded of this upon hearing that Sheraton Hotels have made the decision to create smoke free rooms in North America.  Many other hotels preceded them.

The decision for RMV back then was somewhat ground breaking - North American and specifically Canadian, attitudes have changed a great deal since then - but we certainly received some strong feedback against our decision at the time.  The reality is that our decision then, and now, makes sense on a number of levels, not the least of which is that the trains travel through three provincial parks and 7 national parks and several mountain ranges, and we cherish these fragile environments.  Forest fires can be started easily with discarded cigarettes.

Eight or nine hours without a cigarette can be difficult for many smokers.  We ensure that all train personnel have Nicorette (tobacco substitute) on hand to help ease the transition.  But we also receive incredibly supportive comments on how comfortable a smoke free environment is for our guests.

For more information on this topic and specific regulations in each area or province of Canada, click here.

S'long to an old friend - Winter Trains

"We don't say goodbye, we say s'long."

Irish proverb - or is it American?

I have started this post a few times, forgotten to save it and lost the draft.  Maybe an omen.

Ten years ago, we introduced a cool (no pun intended) concept - run the Rocky Mountaineer train in the winter time and create a travel experience that could not be duplicated. When you combine "the land of million Christmas trees" with the magic of the Canadian Rockies and a train called the Rocky Mountaineer, we had the core elements to launch our new product.

A week or so we made the difficult decision to not run the 2008 Winter Rail program for the Rocky Mountaineer.  We were caught in a difficult dilemma - expand the program considerably to gain efficiencies and distribution support or collapse it.  With only four departures available in the month of December, the program was not able to gain broad distribution outside of the peak season of Christmas when airfares and room nights were high. And it became apparent that we would be unable to expand the season, not because the demand was not there, but rather because we do not own the tracks we operate on.  The opportunity to expand the winter rail program simply was not available.

Unlike a retail store which can move to a different location when expansion is warranted, we did not have that luxury.  It doesn't mean that we are abandoning the concept of running trains in Canadian winters, rather we are back to the drawing board to introduce another creative tourism product.  If you were one of our guests over the last ten seasons, we hope your memories of the Canadian Rockies in all their winter glory are still with you.

We all want a Perfect Vacation!

A post by Seth Godin about the "problem of perfect," rings so true in the hospitality industry.  Whether you are on a vacation or in a restaurant a or visiting an attraction, the customer expects - and the management attempts to present, perfection in their product delivery.  But is it attainable? Of course not.

Many customers are not prepared for the adventure part of a paid experience. The recovery of a slip up can be an adventure taken in the proper context, or it can be a ruined day.  Seth uses the word "interesting."  Interesting has unpredictability to it.  Perfect is predictable.

As the Rocky Mountaineer brand becomes more established, the expectations rise; and so they should. Any product in the hospitality industry has a mix of an infrastructure element and a people element.  Both can be unpredictable in their delivery, but they can be interesting if one is open to what the final result may be. 

Very occasionally, our trains get delayed.  Sometimes an hour, sometimes more.  Long explanations why (another post), but likely because of freight train traffic on the same route. You may read some comments about this on some of the travel sites. Yes it can occur.  What was anticipated to be a perfect trip may not be - but with the change in plans, some unexpected magic can occur.  Our onboard team kicks into another gear.  You see things track side you may not have noticed.  You learn about an area you may never have known about - or you may find out that you and someone else in the coach grew up in the same hometown.   The journey, especially an interesting journey, is the the destination. This is the lure of travel for so many. And that can be perfect.

Over 50 Social Networking - Eons

Last night, the US CBS network show, 60 Minutes had a profile on Facebook and it's founder, 23 year old Mark Zuckerberg.  It got me thinking how fast this type of social networking has caught on and how the medium is now nicely segmented for other demographics.

Eons describes itself as the Facebook for people over 50 years old.  Given that I will go out on a limb and say that the majority of people who use Rocky Mountaineer Vacations travel products are 50 plus, I had a look.  There are some interesting travel articles, groups and blogs that may be worth a look.  It is simple to navigate and really fast. The guaranteed thing about Eons is that you won't find my kid's profiles there.

If 50 plus is not your age group, try Multiply for the 30 plus crowd or teebeedee if you have hit the 40 year old mark.  Either way, have fun with it and you might even find some people who have been on the Rocky Mountaineer or can impart some advice.

World's Leading Travel Experience By Train - Rocky Mountaineer

I posted a year ago about the World Travel Awards.  Rocky Mountaineer is honoured to be honoured again as the World's Leading Travel Experience by Train!

Fellow nominees for this award included The Blue Train (South Africa), Rovos Rail (South Africa), Great Southern Railway Ltd. (Australia), Palace on Wheels Inc. (India), Orient - Express Ltd. (U.K.), Orient Express (Peru), Grand North Western, The Royal Scotsman (Scotland).

The best news is that tourism trains are doing very well world wide.  As the bar gets set higher, so does the challenge to improve the product. Trains like the Rocky Mountaineer and the ones above are not simply about point to point transportation - rather they are an experiential travel excursions.  Without this component, the passenger trains delivering to a broad market base will not survive. With fixed capacities and enormous entry costs,  I have not met a business model that is as capital and labour intensive as tourism trains.  Having said that, RMV and other tourism trains can take you places that simply cannot be accessed by vehicles, ships or airplanes. That is what makes us unique - and frankly, that is what drives the passion to be the best in the world at what we do.

Top 50 Employer in Canada for 2008 - Rocky Mountaineer Vacations

    A year ago, I wrote a blog post on Rocky Mountaineer Vacations (RMV) and our selection as a Top 50 Employer by the Globe and Mail.  (Globe and Mail, you say?...think Daily Mail or USA Today, if you are from outside of Canada) Well, I am proud to say RMV has been chosen and the selection was recently announced with great fanfare at the end of the year.

The Globe's selection is the most prestigious of all the Top Employer Awards, and requires significant buy in from employees groups in excess of 400 to make the short list.  It does not mean we are the perfect employer or the best fit for everyone, but I do hope it reflects the passion we exhibit within the tourism experience we present to the world.  Hats off to our employees who strengthen our brand - and more importantly, have the privilege to provide memorable experiences to thousands of people from all over the world, each and every day. And, yes, we think that RMV is a pretty good place to hang a hat for a career too. Two years in a row is a credit to our team...

What's a GST?

In Canada, GST stands for Goods and Services Tax.  You can read about it on the link, but the good news - if there can be good news on a tax - is that it has just been reduced to 5%.  In short, your vacation to Canada just got reduced by one percent.  Happy New Year!

Rocky Mountaineer Souvenirs On Line

By popular request! Check out the latest in Rocky Mountaineer souvenirs. Now available on line for shipping around the globe. Why?  Because every home needs a bear with a salmon....(proceeds of bear in support of the Pacific Salmon Foundation)

Travellers from all over the world!

I was asked this morning about the origin of our guests onboard the Rocky Mountaineer.  A quick look at our guests bookings for 2008 shows representation from 18 countries around the world.  I would expect that we will exceed 25 countries in 6 months time.

To date, we will be welcoming guests from...Germany, South Africa, New Zealand, Australia, Bermuda, Brazil, Denmark, Gibraltar, Hong Kong, Malta, Netherlands, Singapore, Sweden, United States, Canada,Ireland and Switzerland.  And travelling with us in December are some guests from French Polynesia.

Apparently, the are 194 countries in the world, so we have sold only 9% of the markets available!

Welcome all!

The Rocky Mountaineer and Simon Fraser's Route

Imagine reading this on the back of a paperback book you found in your favourite  bookstore....

"Almost 200 years ago, fur trader Simon Fraser and 23 men set out in four birch canoes. 

Their Mission Impossible: explore the river that now bears his name from the present day Prince George (city) to the Pacific Ocean where Vancouver now stands.  The extraordinary and perilous journey that followed (is) wilder than any adventure novel and would take them 1,600 kilometres across some of the wildest, most difficult and least forgiving terrain on the planet."   c.Vancouver Sun

Would be be tempted to read on?

I have posted previously on Simon Fraser and the Fraser River which touches all three routes that the Rocky Mountaineer travels on.  And for good reason - 2008 marks only the 200th year anniversary of Fraser's exploration through this treacherous route. An amazing story has has been captured and presented on line, after four years of research and travel by Stephen Hume and his series published by the Vancouver Sun newspaper. It is a must read for anyone traveling on the Rocky Mountaineer, past guests and those interested in very readable history. Series 3 is the most relevant to the routes we travel on, but the entire site puts the life and time of Simon Fraser - and Canadian history, in perspective.

Canada's history is young, nothing compared to other parts of our world - but it is understandable because so many of the defining symbols are still accessible and understandable in our present day sense.  Of particular note in the series link is Hume's blog, which captures the tone of the adventure perfectly, outside of the story lines.

Spend some time with this very readable version of history - a free paperback version - you will be captivated and understand why the Rocky Mountaineer's newest journey introduced in 2006 is called the Fraser Discovery Route.

New for BC Ferries in 2008

The new Super C Class vessel build for BC Ferries is on it's way to British Columbia.  BC Ferries has built a tracker to follow it's 45 day journey.  You can expect to see the first of 3 of these vessels on routes between Vancouver and Vancouver Island by Spring 2008. They are the largest double ended ferries in the world, necessary to maneuver in the tight waters of BC's coastline.

A video highlighting the "handover" of the ship is available as well.  For those of us who depend on the ferry system in BC - it is truly an extension of our highways - it is a welcome addition to the world's largest ferry fleet.  And a great bonus for tourists travelling to and from Vancouver Island on the 90 minute trip.

Steven Low Imax Film

For you steam fans/ railfans, you may be interested in an update on the latest Steven Low film on the Rocky Mountain Express film shot in Imax format. This link has some fantastic footage from the production and still shots through western Canada.

From the site....

Rocky Mountain Express (working title) is a giant screen film now in production by The Stephen Low Company. Directed by Stephen Low and produced by Pietro L. Serapiglia and Alexander Low, the production is being filmed in the Rocky Mountains and other locations across North America in the 15/70 film format for exhibition in IMAX theaters and in other giant screen theaters worldwide. Extensive aerial photography has been completed for the project. Principal photography continues through 2007-08 with release of the film scheduled for spring 2009.

Rocky Mountaineer Travelogue and Pictures

I was fortunate to travel on the Rocky Mountaineer between Whistler and Quesnel on October 11th and caught some amazing colours on the Fraser Discovery Route where fall foliage was in full display.  Check out the photo album on the sidebar and follow the route with me.

For a variety of pictures taken by Rocky Mountaineer guests have a look here. They have a much better eye than I do!

One Million Guests

This year, Rocky Mountaineer Vacations celebrates our one millionth guest in 2008.  One million is a big number and the celebration of this success can, in my opinion, drive the perception of mass market and facilitate the concept of impersonal delivery of service. "Millions and millions served" - a phrase made famous by McDonald's, came to mind! So, we struggled with how to position this important milestone.

Why is this important?  Because as a niche tourism experience in a competitive market, we have worked hard on ensuring our guest service delivery is a point of difference.  You do not see a lot of advertising about Rocky Mountaineer, simply because we spend marketing dollars to make the guest experience better, not the advertising better.

So how did we come to grips with the one million guests?  Well, we have a saying in the organization that "everyone is in guest service." By extension, "one million guests" should emphasize that an organization and it's employees are successful - and one should not be apologize for this milestone (maybe that is the Canadian way!). Using this thought, I am comfortable in saying the Rocky Mountaineer train has not served one million guests - we have served one guest, one million times.

Voila! 

Whistler Mountaineer on BBC

Invest 5 minutes for this video with front end footage of the Whistler Mountaineer. seen several times on BBC TV in the UK - by a total audience of 6 million+.

Luxury Retreats Business Story

I had the pleasure of spending an hour in my office with a young Canadian man named Joe Poulin.  Eight years ago, living at home and working out of his bedroom, he stumbled upon a concept of renting luxury villas, first in the Caribbean and now around the world.  Up to that point, he had never travelled more than an hour from Montreal.

Joe's company now had product ranging from $200 a night to $45,000 a night in over 50 countries. His business is serviced from 4 offices around the world and carries over 100 employees. The rest of this fascinating story can be found here.

And it is fascinating, because there are still niche businesses that provide powerful value to clients and customers.  In the age of technology it doesn't matter where you are located but the business standards (great service and product at a fair value price) you set will determine success or failure.

And Joe's future? I would say pretty bright.  He turns 27 years old next year.

Salmon Poems?

"Every fourth year (2006, 2010, 2014...) during September and October, the quiet banks of the Adams River 405 km (251 miles) inland from the Pacific Ocean, becomes the scene of a natural miracle.

In these peaceful, colourful days of early fall, the normally quiet waters of the12-km (7.2-mile) river turn turbulent and crimson as over two million sockeye salmon - fish returning from a life's journey that takes them far out into the ocean - pour into their home waters to spawn and to die."  Read the full story.

The world's largest sockeye salmon run by the Shuswap Lake area is the inspiration for some of our guests to compose (sometimes) humourous and creative poems honouring one of life's great struggles and accomplishments.  The winning poems, as choosen by fellow guests is bestowed with the Order of the Salmon pin.

Thanks to Mr. Allan Cole from Enfield in the UK who sent his version through our Guest Lounge. Have a read!

SERPENTINE PERFECTION.


It leaves its resting place at dawn
And slowly winds its way through towers of steel.
Picking up speed where dying salmon spawn,
Where seals play and eagles swoop and wheel.

Snaking now across flat plains and springs,
Snatching snacks whilst looking for the prize -
That elusive glimpse of horns or wings;
Not to be eaten, but devoured with its eyes.

Passing rivers, mountains, lakes and pine
At dusk it stops and sheds its skin,
Which then is taken on some other line
Whilst it rests, the journey's final stage to win.

From the snow-capped mountains high
It descends again to metal pinnacles austere.
For now its final resting place is nigh,
That serpentine perfection - the Rocky Mountaineer.

Alan E. Cole

Photos taken onboard the Rocky Mountaineer

    A few weeks ago we began a photo contest to reward spectacular photos taken by guests onboard the Rocky Mountaineer.  We have received dozens to date.  So forget the brochure images and professional layouts - have a look at these pictures and see what the trip was really like for these travellers....and keep the photos coming!

The Band Played On!

Thanks to everyone who attended and assisted the Summer Train Spectacular held on July 14th at Rocky Mountaineer Station.  Over 1,500 people took advantage of a sunny day and rode, toured and watched the trains of all sizes.  Mix in some music, food, face painting and contests, along with a visit from some special guests and it was a day to remember.

Look forward to seeing you next year.  Check out the photo album on the right hand sidebar for some highlights of the day.

My Marketing Hat On

A blog like this is not the place to list testimonials - but I can't help but share this email we received today that demonstrates when a guest experience cycle (read purchase cycle) works. 

Our guests below...

• found out about RMV and bought the trip through a partner of ours.
• had a fantastic experience onboard.
• returned home and visited our Guest Lounge area for testimonials to compare to their experience.
• have told other people about their trip.
• have stated they "will" be back.
• expressed the want to try our winter rail trips.
• carried enough passion to tell us all this.

Textbook stuff, but very real. Keeps all of us doing what we do...

My wife and I have just returned to the UK from an Archers Direct Holiday package which was built around your train from Jasper to Vancouver.

We traveled Gold Leaf from Jasper on Tuesday 3rd July in Coach J05 in the care of Janice, Sharla and Maria. Janice was really helpful with a luggage problem where your company generously replaced a damaged case for which I give you my sincere thanks. Janice, Sharla and Maria were excellent. Smartly dressed, always ready with a smile, interesting commentary and prepared to listen and answer questions they must get tired of hearing every trip.

The catering staff Sidney and Francis did an excellent job. Their food was well presented and delicious, served in a comfortable dining car with magnificent scenery through every window. The choice of cuisine and the quality of service provided by the girls was excellent.

Since we returned home I’ve looked at your guest testimonials and am having difficulty finding words to describe our experience of your Rocky Mountaineer train that you won’t have already read in similar messages probably thousands of times by now. So to keep it simple, I’ll use a word I heard a lot during our stay in Vancouver ………… “perfect”…………….. that’s how good your train and staff are in my opinion!

When I left the train at Vancouver and we said our goodbyes, I told Sharla that they made an already great trip better and I meant it. I have to say you have got it right. A beautiful country, superb train, a warm welcome from genuine, friendly and caring people.

We used to have a railway company in the UK called the Great Western Railway (GWR) once known by devotees as God’s Wonderful Railway. The Rocky Mountaineer wasn’t around at that time of course so they didn’t know any better.

We will be back; probably for a winter trip Calgary– Vancouver– Whistler, but I don’t know when at the moment. Thanks a million to all staff for a wonderful two days.

Yours sincerely

David and Jane T

Lancashire UK

Sounds Logical!

The US and Canadian standard railroad gauge (distance between the rails) is 4 feet, 8.5 inches. That's an exceedingly odd number.  Why was that gauge used? Because that's the way they built them in England, and English expatriates built the US and Canadian railroads. Why did the English build them like that? Because the first rail lines were built by the same people who built the pre-railroad tramways, and that's the gauge they used. Why did "they" use that gauge then? Because the people who built the tramways used the same jigs and tools that they used for building wagons, which used that wheel spacing. Okay!   Why did the wagons have that particular odd wheel spacing? Well, if they tried to use any other spacing, the wagon wheels would break on some of the old, long distance roads in England, because that's the spacing of the wheel ruts. So who built those old rutted roads?  Roman war chariots formed the initial ruts, which everyone else had to match for fear of destroying their wagon wheels. Since the chariots were made for Imperial Rome, they were all alike in the matter of wheel spacing. The North American standard railroad gauge of 4 feet, 8.5 inches is derived from the original specifications for an Imperial Roman war chariot. So to draw this story to an end… the Imperial Roman army chariots were made just wide enough to accommodate the back ends of two war horses! And the ruts in the roads? Imperial Rome built the first long distance roads in Europe (and England) for their legions.   The roads have been used ever since. Now, the twist to the story... When you see a Space Shuttle sitting on its launch pad, there are two big booster rockets attached to the sides of the main fuel tank. These are solid rocket boosters, or SRBs. The SRBs are made by Thiokol at their factory at Utah. The engineers who designed the SRBs would have preferred to make them a bit fatter, but the SRBs had to be shipped by train from the factory to the launch site. The railroad line from the factory happens to run through a tunnel in the mountains. The SRBs had to fit through that tunnel. The tunnel is slightly wider than the railroad track, and the railroad track, as you now know, is about as wide as two horses' behinds. So, a major Space Shuttle design feature of what is arguably the world's most advanced transportation system was determined over two thousand years ago by the width of a horse's back end.  Go figure!

She is Remarkable!

Last week we welcomed Harriet Winspear from Edmonton, Alberta (4 hour drive east of Jasper or 3 hours north of Calgary) onboard the Rocky Mountaineer.  Mrs. Winspear has lead a remarkable life and along with her late husband, Francis, has given a tremendous amount of her time to making the lives of the people around her that much better.

Her efforts have been recognized with honourary law degrees from the University of Alberta and the University of British Columbia. As well, she is a member of the Order of Canada - the highest honour bestowed upon Candian citizens. She has also won the YWCA Woman of Distinction Award. All impressive, but what to me is even more impressive is her love of life.

Mrs. Winspear travelled with us in 2006.  She returned in May of this year with three friends and took a Circle Tour (4 days on the Rocky Mountaineer) including the Yellowhead and Kicking Horse Routes.

And why is this remarkable?  Mrs. Winspear will celebrate her 103rd birthday in October of this year...and rumour has it she is planning her 2008 vacation with us, as well.

Remarkable!

POSTSCRIPT:  We are saddened to note the passing of Mrs. Winspear on March 13, 2008 at the age of 103.

Canadian Loonies and Toonies

Coming from outside of Canada?  Get used to Loonies and Twoonies - our names for the Canadian dollar.  In 1987, Canada removed the dollar bill from circulation and introduced the dollar coin.  It was designed with a Loon on it - a type of bird with a distinctive call.  The name "loonie" stuck.  In 1996, we got even more orginal by discontinuing the 2 dollar bill and the "Twoonie" was born.

These are slang terms but understood throughout the country, so feel free to use them.

The terms do not replace the word "dollar."  We do not refer to price of things as 100 Loonies, rather we price things in Canadian dollars and cents and pay for the smaller items or receive change that may include the one and two dollar coins, called - Loonies and Twoonies!

Interestingly enough, I looked on EBay and Twoonies are available currently for US$2.49 each plus $3.50 shipping.  So take my advice and come to Canada and get them at par value - and no shipping charge.  They make great golf ball markers too!

Vancouver Taxi Tips

• Getting a taxi in Vancouver can require local knowledge.  At times, there may not be not enough of them in the city to satisfy the summer demand.  The City of Vancouver receives a large amount of cruise ship traffic between May and October and when two ships carrying 5,000+ passengers converge on the city, it can be challenging to flag one of the 600 taxis available.

So here are the tips:

• Getting a taxi from the airport is generally not a problem.
• If you are downtown and need a cab, head to a hotel and get one there.  This should be your key tip.
• Areas of the city have taxi stands, though they are tough to locate. If you find one, those cabs are avilable for hire.
• Flagging a cab on the open street is like a lottery - sometimes you win, but usually...
• Calling for a taxi is the best solution, but requires planning - I have pasted thephone numbers below.
• If you require a taxi for the next morning (and are not staying at a hotel - or even if you are), you can phone ahead the night before and book one.  For an early trip to the airport, this works very well.
• Some empty taxis will ignore you.  Don't take it personally - if they are licenced from outside of the city, they are no licenced to pick up flag fares. It is NOT like London or New York!
• They DO take credit cards.  Just tell the driver when you get in.  They won't like it, but you are the customer.
• Looking for a great restaurant tip from a driver - might happen, but don't count on it.
• Taxis are well priced and good value.  Worth taking a tour of Stanley Park in a cab even.
• Tipping is acceptable for good service.
• A trip to or from the Vancouver Airport is about Cdn$30.
• If you require a wheelchair accessible taxi, best bet is Vancouver Taxi.  Advise them when you call and leave a little more leadtime.
• All taxis in Vancouver are small - generally hybrids or Toyotas.
• If your party is more than 4 people, you will likely require an extra taxi.

Yellow Cabs:
604-681-1111
Vancouver Taxi:
604-255-5111
Black Top Cabs:
604-731-1111
MacLure's Cabs:
604-731-9211

• And yes, I did used to drive a taxi, over 25 years ago.  A great way to figure out if you want to be in the hospitality business.  The final tip...be patient, adapt the west coast attitude and relax.  Vancouver is a great walking city with city transit (including SeaBus and SkyTrain) as a pretty good good alternatives.

Evening Magazine from Seattle

Seattle's King TV "Evening Magazine"rode on the Whistler Mountaineer and the newest route for the Rocky Mountaineer, the Fraser Discovery Route.  Among other things, they discovered the beautiful Bowron Lakes (deemed to be one of the top canoeing areas of the world), just east of Quesnel, British Columbia.  Have a look at this 6 minute clip (and click on the video link) for a flavour of the landscape and what is offered onboard. There is a 10 second commercial to sit through at the start....worth the wait, a fun profile on the trips.

Spectacular!

Without further introduction, we wanted to share this video with you. We happen to think it's pretty good. Invest 4 minutes and have a look.  Your comments welcome!

He is Familiar

  His name is Carlo Rota and he is from Toronto, Canada.  A few years ago while hosting The Great Canadian Food Show for the Food Network, Carlo and his crew boarded the Rocky Mountaineer to film a delightful segment featuring Carlo as a chef onboard the train.  It was a memorable show.  While working in a 200 square foot stainless steel galley (without windows), with 5 other team members in the kitchen, a cameraman and sound man and PR folks watching, it got a little cozy.

Carlo was great - he rocked and rolled with the motion of the train, which is uneasy for many as there are not any windows to see out and anticipate the grade and curves.  His father was a chef so he knows his way around the kitchen, but a train galley is different.  He made one (big) mistake as breakfast for our guests was being prepared in not securing the pantry area. Several dozen eggs came flying throughout the galley as an unlatched door released.  It was classic television.  The look on everyone's face before they burst into laughter is a memory.  Imagine 8 or 9 people stepping in a very small area over all of these eggs and having to clean up, create Plan B and deliver a wonderful breakfast to unsuspecting guests - and Carlo was embarrassed! He was the culprit who made the eggs fly.

So I am a fan of "24," a hit FOX Network TV show on American television ....starring another Canadian, Kiefer Sutherland, and who should be one of the other actors, but our old friend Carlo, who plays Morris O' Brian, CTU Intelligence Agent. Recognize him?

We have fond memories of Carlo on the Rocky Mountaineer and hope he returns to visit us - the bucket and mop are waiting!

Subscribe to our Guest Lounge today, more stories to follow about prominent guests...Bill Gates is next.

Royal Hudson's Day!

   The Royal Hudson had a highly successful outing on Sunday.  Click on the images for a close look at her running - and proudly pulling some of the Rocky Mountaineer's coaches.

For more coverage, read the Globe and Mail's article.  Congratulations to all!

The Royal Hudson at the Rocky Mountaineer Station in Vancouver, BC. on April 15, 2007

Appreciations to Murray and Don Evans for forwarding the images.

The Return of the Royal Hudson

The return of the Royal Hudson takes place this weekend in Vancouver as she takes a day excursion to White Rock - about two hours away.  Rocky Mountaineer Station is the place to be if you wish to wave her off at 10am on Sunday, April 15th.  The arrival back at the station, after a stop in White Rock is expected at 5pm.  Over 800 people will be onboard and the trip is sold out.

The consist will also have 4 Rocky Mountaineer RedLeaf coaches and RMV is proud to welcome the Royal Hudson back.  Take time to read some fascinating history on one of the world's great steam locomotives.  Or Google Royal Hudson 2840.

Congratulations to our friends at the West Coast Railway Association for the remarkable work they have done in the restoration.

One of the most powerful images I have seen of the 2840 was taken by the talented photographer, Chris Harris who resides in 100 Mile House in British Columbia's Cariboo region.  You will see the 100 Mile House town and district while travelling on the Fraser Discovery Route.  I encourage you to visit Chris's site to get a flavour (Canadian spelling!) of the region and our province.

Pacific Salmon Partnership

This is an internal employee memo from Peter Armstrong, President and CEO.  Self explanatory and thought I would share here in the lounge.

I am delighted to share with you that Armstrong Group announced a long-term financial partnership with the Pacific Salmon Foundation (PSF) at yesterday's THINK SALMON launch, held at the Rocky Mountaineer Train Station in Vancouver.

THINK SALMON is about inspiring, you, as well as individuals and organizations to act in the best interest of British Columbia's Pacific salmon, giving them the best possible conditions and environment to grow and thrive in. If we all play a part in helping salmon to thrive, we will be protecting our beautiful province for future generations.

 

Over the next eight years Armstrong Group will contribute $400,000 to support PSF's programming, which involves conservation, restoration, community awareness and education. These programs include support of PSF’s River Heroes Award Program, which recognizes regional stewardship, individuals, businesses and corporations, ongoing fundraising and educational dinners within the many communities Armstrong Group operates and assistance in the Gates Creek Recovery Effort, a small but important watershed on the Fraser River.

Our Rocky Mountaineer and Whistler Mountaineer trains as well as Gray Line West motor coach routes follow some of the largest and most important salmon runs in North America. In recent years, we have learned more about the declining trends of the salmon population and have decided to act by offering our support both financially and through the volunteer efforts of our employees.

 

This contribution supports Armstrong Group's long-term commitment to innovative sustainable tourism policies and programs. By minimizing environmental impact and promoting awareness of natural resources, heritage, and culture, we offer our guests an experience that is truly connected to the land and communities in which we operate.

Another One - The BACTAs

Last week, at the Spotlight Canada Marketplace held in London, England, the British Annual Canada Travel Awards were held.  The BACTAs (as they are known - long way to go until they become a household name like the Oscars or Grammys, I suppose) celebrate excellence in tourism products and marketing as seen through the eyes of the UK marketplace.

We are deighted to announce that up against competitors such as Air Canada, Rocky Mountaineer Vacations was chosen as Canadian Supplier of the Year.  Again, we could not be prouder.  We see this as affirmation that our tour operator partners and travel agents who sell us in the UK, recognize the value and service they receive when dealing with RMV.  The UK represents over 25% of our world-wide market and we are grateful to the support of the travel trade for this honour!

An American View

There are more of these Canada sites than I thought! Here is a an American's Guide to Canada.

I particularly like one of the entries below on how you can tell you are in Canada - funny thing is, it's true!:

"There's hockey gear everywhere. A guy can get onto a bus wearing goalie pads, a helmet -- everything but the skates -- and nobody gives him a second look."

We stand proud again!

Without going on and on about awards - there have been a few in the past months - we are prouder than ever to announce that on February 22nd, we were awarded three prestigious awards by Tourism British Columbia.  I suppose all recognition awards are prestigious, but somehow when your local market and industry recognizes you, it means a lot more.

Before about 700 guests at the famous Fairmont Empress Hotel in Victoria, BC, Rocky Mountaineer Vacations accepted awards for:

Tourism Industry Leader of the Year - won by our founder and CEO, Peter Armstrong.

Foresight Sustainability Award

Best Tourism Marketing Award - for the launch of the Whistler Mountaineer

In many countries, including Canada, we call that a hat trick!

To me, it simply means that we are doing good things to add value to the industry we compete in and the communities we serve.  Sound like Pollyanna? Nope just Canadian...see previous post!

Eh or O' Canada?

  Over 80% of the guests on the Rocky Mountaineer are from outside of Canada.  Does this mean this is a non- Canadian tourist experience?  Absolutely not!  Because our country is so vast, the cost to travel outside of the country is often more than an international trip.  And we do know that those Canadians who travel with us are very proud of the landscapes the trains and vacations that they travel through.

Canadians often have another mindset.  We are a modest, and for the most part conservative bunch who have lived in the shadows of the world's more powerful nations.  Therefore, we tend to think in terms of, "if it is considered world-class, it could not possibly be Canadian."  Getting an insight into the country you are about to visit and the personna of it's people, is always a valuable thing.  Click here for a fun profile of Canadians and how we think and speak - a good read before visiting the country where the lightbulb, telephone and even, the BlackBerry was invented.  Basketball too!

Vancouver's Stanley Park

 Vancouver's iconic Stanley Park, suffered severe damage to the west side of the 1,000 acre forested area when a storm hit in mid-December. The park has re-opened though it will take some months to full restore the trails and seawall damage - in total, the Vancouver Park Board is estimating the repair and clean up at over $9 million.

I visited the park on the weekend and like most people, felt I had to see it to believe it. The aftermath of the 160 kph winds of Mother Nature was fascinating as trees as old as 400 years fell victim to the storm.  The older trees looked like they had been hit by lightning, simply snapped by the force of the winds, while others left enormous roots balls after being pulled viciously from the ground.

The damage can make for fascinating viewing all the same and I would encourage a visit to see Stanley Park in this state.  Come a day early or stay a day late on your trip to Vancouver to see the power of this storm.

The Fraser Continued

This website, on the Fraser Basin was passed on to me.  Planning a trip or a past guest? Worth a read!

All the fuss about the Fraser River?

I am not going to try and and be an expert on the Fraser River.  I do, however, live five minutes away from it and attended a University named after Simon Fraser, the explorer who discovered it almost 200 years ago.

Suffice to say that as you read about the Rocky Mountaineer, you keep seeing reference to this "Fraser River."  The Fraser River is an icon in Western Canada.  It is often referred to a Canada's most important waterway (it is the 5th largest river in the country) and  the top salmon producing river in the world.  To put the river in perspective, the drainage of the Fraser River watershed is nearly one quarter of a million square kilometres - which is larger than the area of Great Britain!

The point is that the Fraser River is another topic to read on before your trip on the Rocky Mountaineer this year.  All three of the Rocky Mountaineer routes follow the Fraser for several hours on end, from different perspectives - riverside, within the canyon, on top of the canyon.

Quesnel and the Pine Beetle

If you are not familiar with the connotation, "Quesnel and the Pine Beetle" - it may sound like the title of a Hollywood movie. In fact, it is the beginning to a facinating story to be found in British Columbia, Canada.

The town of Quesnel (pronounced Kwa-nell) is the overnight stop on the Rocky Mountaineer Fraser Discovery Route.

The town has been a fabulous addition to our Canadian rail network and have really bent over backwards to ensure that the stop is a success for everyone concerned. It is a gold rush town (1862) of about 11,000 warm and friendly people with a population of about 25,000 in the surrounding North Cariboo region.  Much to see and do and well worth a visit back, particulary if you love the outdoors. 

The region has been tremendously hard hit by the pine beetle outbreak which has necessitated the town, the region and many parts of the province to reinvent it's economy for forthcoming generations.  Remarkably, over $6 billion worth of trees have been destroyed by the beetle. Tourism is certainly a major part of the go forward solution and with the Rocky Mountaineer, and others investing through areas of the province that have had minimal international tourism exposure in the past (an undiscovered secret, as many have called it), the benefits are twofold. Guests are exposed to the dramatic impact the pine beetle has had on the forests - and it is a facinating that will stay with you - yet they are uncovering a tourism experience they will not soon forget.  Part of the reason why the USA Today and other media outlets have been so interested in the area.

There are many articles on the pine beetle and its impact on the Canadian economy - take the time to brief yourself on the boom and bust this outbreak will have on the forest industry and it will certainly add to your understanding of this spectacular region of Canada.

USA Today - Last July

We were pleased to receive some incredible coverage from USA Today last July.  You may be wondering how a story like this appears. In short, after a lot of hard work!

The author is Gene Sloan, one of the most respected travel writers in North America.  When RMV received news of the successful bid to operate on the BC Rail line north of Whistler in 2004, one of the first "pitches" was to Mr. Sloan - we wanted to get him onboard during the early stages of our first season in 2006.

An appearance in the USA Today travel section is considered a coup as, like the New York Times and other publications, the writers do not accept complementary trips.  The coverage costs and expenses must be budgeted for well in advance.  Much like a restaurant critic paying his or her own meal, this allow the author to write true opinions about the experience.

Mr. Sloan was throughly familiar with our Whistler Mountaineer and Rocky Mountaineer Fraser Discovery Routes, having travelled them previously with BC Rail when they ran passenger trains.  At various travel media trade shows and with direct communication, we kept Mr. Sloan up to date on the progress of our new launch.  The attraction for him and USA Today, was that the article would be about an area of the world that few had written about.

Week before our May 1st launch, we got the word he would be travelling and about 2 months later the article appeared around the world.  Have a read, think you will enjoy it.

Top 50 Employers in Canada!

We are a young company, but Rocky Mountaineer Vacations is extremely proud to have been recently chosen as one of the 50 Best Employers in Canada - and the top hospitality company - in the recent release from the Globe and Mail (Canada's National Newspaper), Report on Business Magazine.  No question, this is the premiere award in Canada for employment practices in all industries.  Many of our Candian visitors to the Guest Lounge will recognize the Top 50 logo as it is proudly displayed across the country by organizations which have been choosen in the past.

The selection process relies primarily on confidential employee responses
to a detailed survey that measures the quality of the workplace culture. The
other components are an in-depth analysis of company culture and human
resources practices as well as a leadership team survey completed by top
executives. We sent out a release this morning announcing the selection which appeared in the January edition of Report on Business Magazine.
 

Clearly, this come as a result of long term business practices, not short term solutions.  If we are the type of organization you can see your future with, we want to hear from YOU!!

This award captures the essence of the Armstrong Group of Companies - Rocky Mountaineer Vacations, Gray Line West, The Thompson Hotel and Conference Centre, Two River Junction Dinner and Musical Revue and Great Canadian Lumberjack Show in Kamloops, BC.

Off to a Great 2007

We were just advised that the Rocky Mountaineer has won the Best Rail Journey as voted by readers of Luxury Travel Magazine.  The Rocky Mountaineer was shortlisted with Rovos Rail (South Africa) and Eurostar. The presentation will take place in London, England later this week - and we are thrilled!  Sarah MacIntyre, RMV's Director, Sales based in the UK will be on hand to accept the honour.

Luxury Travel is a monthly guide published for the world's leading buyers of luxury travel services - which makes sense given the name of the publication, doesn't it.

Each issue is written by key journalists at the forefront of the travel trade, and includes opinion and comment form expert buyers in all fields of travel. The readership is comprised primarily of travel agencies and tour operators.

Which Route to Take?

We get asked this question a lot - and it can be confusing, especially if you are not familar with the regions!  The Rocky Mountaineer opened it's third route (Fraser Discovery between Whistler, BC and Jasper, Alberta) in 2006 and not only do we provide a reason for past guests to come back again (shameless promotion!), but we have one of the great scenic rail networks in the world.  Some would argue the very best, and we would not disagree. Click on the map to enlarge.

Choosing the favourite (Canadian spelling of favourite! ) route is like choosing your favourite child.  One cannot be described as better; just unique and different. 

The Kicking Horse Route is a Canadian classic and the Rocky Mountaineer is the only passenger train on the CP route between Kamloops and Banff and Calgary.  By far, the best known and most travelled as it has the Spiral Tunnels and Banff National Park icons to draw on.  Travelling to or from Calgary makes for a long day.  I would recommend a start or stop in Banff instead, which likely requires a hotel stay...not a burden given the number of activities to do in the Banff area.

The Yellowhead Route runs to and from Jasper and includes the highest peak in the Canadian Rockies (Mount Robson), waterfalls, lakes and a route would likely be classified as lesser known, given that Jasper is less accessible to international airports (4 hours to Edmonton; 4-5 hours to Calgary).  Having said that, it is extremely popular on package tours that include self drive components, motorcoach tours to or from Banff or Circle Tours on the the train. The relaxed pace in Jasper National Park is very appealing to those who visit (the scenic lake shot on the Rocky Mountaineer home page is from the Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge).  It has been described as what Banff was decades ago. Again, you will require a pre or post hotel night in Jasper, so plan accordingly.

Both the Kicking Horse and Yellowhead Routes follow the Fraser and Thompson Canyons between Vancouver and Kamloops but the northbound (CP) and southbound routes (CN) take opposite sides, so a different perspective is gained on Circle trips.

The drive between Jasper and Banff would take about 4 hours time with no stops.  Many motorcoach sightseeing options (about 8 or 9 hours) are available or if you are renting a car, leave a full day to do it right!

The Fraser Discovery Route is perhaps my personal favourite as it climbs into regions of Canada that have yet to be discovered by the masses.  The route, run by CN has been primarily used by freight trains in the past (click on the picture to enlarge), but make no mistake, this is a great sightseeing adventure. Named after the explorer Simon Fraser, this route follows a major portion of the Fraser River to its headwaters near the Canadian Rockies. You overnight in Quesnel, BC about the halfway point on the 2 day trip.  The FDR (as we call it) carries two days of travel that are slighly longer than the other routes. It runs between Whistler BC and Jasper, Alberta. The Whistler Mountaineer train connects you between Vancouver and Whistler and take about three hours.

Any tips or recommendations to pass onto others? Send us a comment.

"I have never rated trains"

Delightful article in the Sunday Mirror from the UK from Sue Jolly who has never had a particular love affair with train travel. Have a read!