What began as an incentive trip designed to inspire Australian travel advisors to learn more about Vancouver turned into a deeply personal milestone for Flight Centre Cherrybrook travel advisor and Vancouver Specialist Sam Stratten.
Destination Vancouver and Air Canada ran an incentive in March 2025 for Australian travel advisors, where Sam was entered to win a trip to Vancouver after completing the Vancouver Specialist Program (VSP) and Air Canada’s University Training. As the winning advisor, Sam travelled to British Columbia with his partner Andrea and their two-year-old son, Wyatt, in March 2026. The prize included round-trip airfare, six nights of accommodation and a selection of Vancouver experiences.
For Sam, the trip was a return to a destination that had already become deeply meaningful to his family. He and Andrea first travelled to Canada together after COVID, spending two weeks exploring Vancouver, Whistler, Squamish and Alberta. They returned the following year with Sam’s two children, and Vancouver quickly became what the family describes as their “second home.”
On their latest visit, the family spent six days exploring Vancouver and two days in Squamish, making use of many of the experiences included in Sam’s prize package, including a Granville Island Market Tour with Vancouver Foodie Tours. They also attended a Vancouver Canucks game and explored the city at their own pace, something Sam says is central to how he prefers to experience a destination.
“We like to experience a destination as if we live there,” says Sam. “That meant wandering through Granville Island markets, exploring quieter neighbourhoods, and taking the time to soak everything in. It’s that easy, everyday lifestyle combined with incredible surroundings that really stands out.”
Sam knew he wanted to propose during their trip to British Columbia, and the perfect moment came unexpectedly aboard the Peak 2 Peak Gondola in Whistler. He had carried the ring for six days, waiting for the right opportunity, and when he and his family found themselves alone in a gondola car, he pretended the height was getting to him and crouched down. When Andrea leaned in to check if he was okay, Sam held out the ring.
“I had planned a big speech with everything I wanted to say, but in that moment, I couldn’t get the words out,” says Sam. “British Columbia is where our relationship truly grew, so proposing in Whistler just made sense.” Unable to deliver the speech he’d planned, Sam later wrote Andrea a song to express what he couldn’t say in the moment.
The personal connection Sam has with Vancouver also extends into his professional life. Canada is the second-most-booked international destination at his Flight Centre Cherrybrook store, and he says completing the Vancouver Specialist Program has strengthened his confidence and enthusiasm when recommending the destination to clients.
“The training I completed has also empowered me in my role to become more confident when creating itineraries for my clients,” says Sam. “Not only do I come across as more confident, but also more passionate. Vancouver will also be top on my list of recommendations for holidays to Canada.”
Destination Vancouver’s Vancouver Specialist Program provides travel advisors with destination knowledge and resources to help them confidently sell and recommend Vancouver to their clients. Incentives such as this are designed to encourage more travel advisors to complete the program and deepen their knowledge and connection with the destination.
Sam’s visit was made possible through the support of Destination Vancouver and its industry partners, including Air Canada and participating hotel and experience partners. His prize included round-trip airfare to Vancouver; two nights at Pan Pacific Vancouver, two nights at Vancouver Marriott Pinnacle Downtown and two nights at the DOUGLAS, a Discover Canada Tours adventure, a Granville Island Market Tour with Vancouver Foodie Tours and a Destination Experience Pass, providing access to many of Vancouver’s attractions.
For Sam, the trip offered the opportunity to experience Vancouver not only as a travel professional, but as someone with a genuine personal connection to the destination. With hopes of one day calling British Columbia home, it’s easy to see why the destination continues to draw him and his family back.
“What we love most [about Vancouver] is the balance between stunning natural scenery and the diverse, vibrant cultural mix,” says Sam.
From completing the Vancouver Specialist Program to experiencing the destination firsthand with his family, Sam’s journey is a testament to the lasting connection that can grow between travel advisors and the destinations they recommend.
