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.
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 has sat on the Alberta Economic Development Authority Board (AEDA), 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. Corey's 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 and the South Pacific are top of mind in the travel industry as destinations of choice. Corey was recently recognized as one of "Calgary's Top 40 Under 40" by Avenue Magazine, as well as a "Business Leader of Tomorrow" by Business in Calgary.
To see Corey’s video interview done by Avenue
Magazine in the 2010 Top 40
Under 40 Awards Please Click Below:
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.
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
Anderson Vacations
is THE ONE STOP CANADA & DOWNUNDER TRAVEL
SOLUTION.
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!
Anderson Vacations
301, 1117 1st Street SW | Calgary, AB | T2R0T9 Toll
Free: 1-866-814-7378 Local: 403-245-6200 | Email:information@andersonvacations.ca