Belize Hotel Association’s Board Director Barry Snowden and Membership & Marketing Executive Ilechia Flowers were at The Outdoor Adventure & Travel Show last weekend in Calgary, Canada. Doors opened to more than 13000 travel enthusiasts at the Stampede Park, BMO Centre on Saturday, March 23, from 10AM to 6PM and on Sunday, March 24 from 10AM until 5PM.

Vistors to the BHA booth were excited to learn that Westjet had seasonal direct flights from Calgary to Belize twice a week. They stated that they preferred to have a non-stop flight, without making connections through the USA, or even in Canada. They were enticed with the idea of leaving snowy Calgary at 8:30 AM, and by 3PM they could be sitting on a sunny Belizean beach sipping a tropical cocktail.
Most visitors knew of Belize, and were intrigued by the possibility of having a jungle and beach vacation on one trip. Our BHA representatives were very busy, speaking on the countless activities in each area of the country and how effortless it was to navigate from one destination to the next. Our 2019 BHA Hotel guide was a great tool for the visitors, as they were able to easily pinpoint the hotels, tours and attractions that were available in each region, so they could make their travel plans more easily.

This Calgary show is considered the largest Adventure and Travel Show in Western Canada, with over 200 exhibitors and more than 13500 visitors each year. Attendees are active and passionate outdoor enthusiasts and 73% state they are there to get information about new travel destinations, while 83% of the attendees have made a purchase at the show, ranging between equipment, supplies or a vacation package. 38% of attendees have an average household income of over 100K.

Outdoor Adventure Show visitors are committed to a lifestyle that involves sports and activities of all kinds, from hiking, paddle sports and adventure travel to mountain biking, climbing, adventure racing, scuba diving and hiking. Whether novice or expert, this market spends substantially on clothing, gear and travel. These consumers have the means and the desire to invest in a wide variety of products and services that will enhance their experiences and assist them in reaching their personal goals.