Our Mission
Anderson Vacations is passionate to provide expert knowledge and diverse quality niche product by being innovative, dynamic specialists, staying ahead of the market trends and being THE ONE STOP CANADA & DOWNUNDER TRAVEL SOLUTION.
Our BHAG (Our Big Hairy Audacious Goal)
See Oceans, See Mountains!. Be the primary and premier travel provider studied by our competitors and business leaders worldwide.
Our Executive Team
President/ CEO
cmarshall@andersonvacations.ca
Corey Marshall is one of the founders of Anderson Vacations and is the President and CEO. He has been involved in the business since inception in 1994, and with his strategic implementation of new product lines and programs to enhance current strategies and direction has been an integral source of Andersons growth. Corey sits on the National Tourism Associations board of directors, Travel Alliance Partners Ltd. Board of directors, is a member of the SAIT (Southern Alberta Institute of Technology) industry council and past chair, and is passionate about youth in tourism, strategic marketing partnerships, and the retail travel agent distribution model. Coreys think outside the box mentality, and entrepreneurial vision works its way through the entire organization, throughout the staff and supplier partners who all drive to ensure Canada is top of mind in the travel industry as a destination of choice.
Director of Product
kmccardle@andersonvacations.ca
Karen McCardle has worked in the international travel industry for over 15 years. Originally from Auckland, New Zealand, and formerly of Greyhound, Discover Holidays, Adventure World New Zealand, and House of Travel, she brings a wealth of experience in the product directing role. Her past experiences managing all of the product for the largest ($650 Million) retail outlet in the New Zealand marketplace, is an amazing asset to the Anderson team. She emphasizes the importance of mutually benefical partnerships with her supplier partners, and this mentality that ensures return on investment for all involved is what sets Anderson apart with their suppliers and in the industry. Her no worries attitude and passion towards Canada as a destination is seen in everything that she does.
Director of Sales
sdowns@andersonvacations.ca
Seth Downs, a University of Alberta Recreation and Leisure studies graduate of 2003, heads up our sales and marketing team. He has been with Anderson since leaving University and worked his way through the ladder of the organization to where he now sits directing and managing the sales force. His knowledge of Canada product, and the Anderson product line is sought by travel agents and customers world wide, and is equally entrepreneurial in passion, and his involvement day to day. His never say never attitude, and business development philosophies are a great asset to the Anderson organization.
Corporate Program Director
jmacdonald@andersonvacations.ca
Originally from Cape Breton Island, on Canada’s east coast, Joseph Macdonald is currently the Director of Corporate Programs, SimpleRES & Finance for Anderson Vacations, Canada’s One Stop Travel Solution. Joseph was the co-founder and owner/operator of Home On The Range Adventure Tours (incorporated December, 2001) which amalgamated product lines with Anderson Vacations in September 2008.
Home on the Range was a Calgary based tour operator that provided a wide range and variety of western experience adventures and activities. The company served a global clientele that took part in escorted and fly/drive FIT tours, Rocky Mountain Weddings, authentic western experiences (ranch stays, pack trips, cattle drives), corporate retreats, and incentive travel and team buildings programs. Home On The Range was best known for its exceptional customer service and the creation of unique experiential travel programs for its clients.
Prior to assuming his role with Home On The Range, Joseph served as President of Angus Associates, change management and training consultants to the financial services industry, and Director of the MBA (Financial Services) Distance Education Program at Dalhousie University. Joseph has taught undergraduate and graduate courses in International Business, Multicultural Management, Tourism, Finance, Accounting and Strategic Management for universities in Canada, China and southern Africa. He received his B.Comm. degree (Finance & Marketing majors, Sociology minor) from the University of Alberta and his MBA (International Finance & Multi-cultural Management majors) from Dalhousie University.
Joseph has held management, training and consulting positions in businesses across North America, Asia and Africa. In addition to these roles, he currently serves on the Advisory Committee for SAIT’s Tourism Program, has previously served on the Board of Directors of Tourism Calgary and as an Advisory Board member for the Cowboy Heritage Tourism Innovation Project. He has also served as Chair for the Inter-cultural Connections Association of Nova Scotia, was a Director for Big Brothers in both Halifax and Medicine Hat and is a 30+ year Foster Parent through Foster Parents Plan of Canada.
Joseph brings new approaches and concepts to bear on old problems and processes. He is an entrepreneur by design and in spirit. He understands the emotional competencies and adaptability that individuals and organizations require in their environment and within themselves, to thrive and to nurture success.
Brief
History
Anderson Tours and Charters was founded in 1992 by Dave and Lorraine Anderson. Owning their own motor coach equipment at the time Dave and Lorraine felt it best to start a tour company focusing on a very small market segment (The Strathcona County 50+ Traveller) and taking that segment travelling around Alberta. In 1994 the Marshall family bought this company from Dave and Lorraine and have owned and operated it to this day.
Increasing in size each year by an average of
50% the growth has stemmed from our organizations
commitment to excellent customer service, and
care provided to our retail travel agent partners
as well as the end client. This growth can be
also attributed to our ambition to stay ahead
of tourism market trends and online technology.
New product lines have been introduced since 2001
including Explore
Canada (Group Tours piece), and Independent
Travel Packages. These product lines
allowed us to form a point of difference in the
Canadian travel market.
With the diversification of distribution channels and product offerings Anderson Tours re- branded in 2005 to Anderson Vacations.ca, so we could be seen visually as not just a Tour Escorting company, but as the ONE STOP CANADA TRAVEL SOLUTION. With the re-brand and diversification, Anderson Vacations relocated our head office to Calgary in 2005, while maintaining secondary offices in Edmonton and the Corridor region of Ontario.
Each of our product lines have different travelers types that they appeal to. Our Escorted Tour programs target the 55+ domestic traveler that want everything planned and looked after for them. Our Explore Canada Groups program focuses on the inbound tour operator group market throughout North America, as well as student, convention, conference and corporate incentive groups. These groups use us as their receptive tour operator as we look after complete itinerary planning saving them time and money. Our Independent Travel Packages appeal to all ages depending on the product and itinerary they are looking for. Completely customizable, tailor made packages for travellers from the adventurer to the rail enthusiast, from the family get away to the romantic couples program.
2007 saw the launch of the latest editions in Anderson’s business arsenal Anderson Logistics (our Charter Brokerage and Logistic Business), and SIMPLERes.ca (our convention housing platform). While Anderson Logistics strength has been in securing and working with major sport and oil transportation contracts, SIMPLERes forcuses on the meeting planner, providing a solution for city wide convention housing contract management.
2008 will see the final and latest addition to the Anderson product family. However instead this time rather then trying to become further diversified in the Canadian Travel marketplace, Anderson made the decision to apply the same brand messaging of niche, specialist knowledge and expertise, exceptional customer service, and one stop solution to its next destination. This time Australia, New Zealand and the South Pacific Islands, and Anderson will become your One Stop Canada and Downunder Travel Solution. By forging relationships with major airline partners, as well as a technology platform provided to the Canadian retail agent at desk top, Anderson is bringing to the Canadian retail market South Pacific travel in a real time way that it has never been able to be booked or researched before. With 60% of the Anderson Call centre and executive team being from the South Pacific it was a perfect fit, as the destination knowledge Anderson is able to pass on will add further expertise to the new venture. The Future of South Pacific Travel is Here Now www.DownUnderSolution.com
Specialist Canada Knowledge & Expertise:
We are known and respected in the Canadian market for our specialist’s knowledge on Canada, Australia, New Zealand and the Cook Islands as a destinations; we rely on this as our point of difference and never undervalue this key ingredient in our success. Staff have regular opportunities to visit, explore, and experience destinations from coast to coast, and pass there experiences onto our customers so they can ensure they make the most of our holidays. For a complete staff listing click here.
Owner / Management Run Company
A key benefit in working with Anderson Vacations, an owner operated company, is that our Product Team, Reservations Team and Clients are managed directly by the owners of the company. This ensures that all aspects of the partnership, from marketing and negotiations to the reservation process and operation of the tour or independent package will be run efficiently and treated as priority with the same emphasis that existed in 1992 under the guidance of Dave and Lorraine Anderson. Although a different business today our long standing tradition of exceptional service, personalized detail, and customer retention/loyalty still hold true.
Anderson now sits as a company of just over 30 staff, and 6 product lines promoting one stop shopping for Canadian travel needs, and is seen as one of the largest growing travel companies in Canada to work for or travel with.
OUR GOAL IS TO EARN YOUR CONFIDENCE AND KEEP YOU TRAVELLING WITH US!
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