TORONTO — There’s a lot to be said for longevity in this industry.

Brett Walker, GM, International Operations for Collette, has been with the company since it opened its very first office in Canada, in 1989 in the Fairmont Royal York in Toronto. And Collette itself has been making travel dreams come true since 1918.

We ask Brett about those very early days for Collette in Canada – back when he was a “one-person operation: sales rep by day and office duties by night” – for this new interview, part of Travelweek’s ongoing 50th anniversary series.

“There were no personal computers or digital media of any kind then. Nada. None. My car was loaded with boxes upon boxes of brochures, binders of sales and marketing materials and slide carousels and a projector for presentations. You name it, it had in a box in my car,” he tells Travelweek.

Read on for more industry memories, plus a look at Collette’s top sellers for 2023 and 2024.

Travelweek: What was it like coming aboard in 1989 as Collette was first establishing itself in the Canadian market, and what do you appreciate most about Collette now?

Walker: “Wow that was almost 35 years ago. Way back when I was a one-person operation. Sales rep by day and office duties by night. It was Collette’s inception here in Canada. Few agents knew Collette … and starting out, even fewer knew me.”

“It was tough slogging and heavy work. There were no personal computers or digital media of any kind then. Nada. None. My car was loaded with boxes upon boxes of brochures, binders of sales and marketing materials and slide carousels and a projector for presentations. You name it, it had in a box in my car.

“In the evenings I would head into Collette’s office, on the lower mezzanine of the Royal York Hotel, next to where Benihana used to be. The office wasn’t nearly as glamorous as the location might conjure. I’d open mail and process credit cards on an old desktop payment terminal connected to a landline. There was no internet and nothing was fast in those days.

“A big shout out to my dear friend Penny Martin, who at the time worked for CAA. Penny was one of the first to commit to working with me. She gave me a big leg up for sure and helped many of us at Collette on our road to success.”

Travelweek: Can you give us a snapshot of what’s selling well for Collette in 2023 – everything and everywhere?

Walker: “It’s been fairly well documented, but it’s worth repeating, our small group touring under the brand Explorations has taken off. These are all tours with under 24 travellers.

“Our Explorations tours are up 82% in passenger volume over 2019. Some of this is attributed to Collette’s introduction of more small group tours. We’ve introduced seven Explorations tours since 2019, but generally supply tends to follow demand and not the other way around.

“Two of the newest Explorations tours taking off are Best of Italy and Flavours of Portugal & Spain featuring the Douro & Rioja wine regions. However, of all our Explorations tours, the top three sales performers (by passengers) in Canada are South Africa, Victoria Falls & Botswana; Egypt & Jordan and Kenya: Plains of Africa.

“My picks for the rising stars among Collette’s Explorations tours for 2024 and beyond are Sicily & Its Isles, Colours of Morocco and Japan Past & Present. All three of these tours are coming on strong.”

Travelweek: You were appointed Chair of CATO in January 2020, just before travel (and the world) changed forever. We know that Canada’s travel agents are working overtime to keep up with sky-high demand amid staff shortages. What are you hearing from Canada’s tour operators in this crucial recovery year?

Walker: “Obviously recovery takes many forms. There are definitely some structural changes that have taken place in the industry that will require a longer recovery.

“However, recovery isn’t building back to the way we were. That’s not happening. While I obviously can’t speak for all tour operators, I can’t imagine any tour operator, nor the industry, building back to the state it was before.

“The market has changed and the industry must too. We’re exclusively digital now for one thing. No more boxes of brochures. Travellers are longing for adventure but much more conscious of their impacts. They are looking for more immersive, more interpersonal experiences and they’re looking for businesses and brands that provide end to end services that align with their values and travel aspirations.

“Through all these changes, CATO remains vigilant. As in the past, there are common issues that require a singular focus and a common resolve. CATO’s strategy may change as factors affecting our industry change but CATO’s mandate is steadfast: to preserving a fair market, a level playing field and a healthy competitiveness for all.”

Travelweek: You have also been instrumental in creating CATO’s partnership with Tourism Cares. As you’ve noted, small steps in sustainability can add up to a big impact over time. What are some neat initiatives you’ve seen in the travel industry, either at Collette or other companies, that make you hopeful for smart sustainable solutions for travel in the future?

Walker: “Such an interesting question and I have no definitive answer. While the path forward seems anything but certain, I do know that looking back in five or 10 years the changes ahead are going to be enormous.

“The critical need to lessen any negative environmental impacts, coupled with industry’s focus on sustainability, will surely drive positive changes the likes of what we’ve never seen before.

“CATO has established our first ever standing committee on Sustainability, chaired by Emma Cottis, who is also spearheading USTOA’s sustainability efforts.

“Going forward, I expect much more cooperation and alignment, not only between CATO and USTOA but industry and advocacy groups across the world to bring about positive changes.”

For all the latest product news from Collette, see GoCollette.com. More interviews and memories will be running in Travelweek Daily through the end of 2023 to mark Travelweek’s 50th anniversary. Plus, try your luck with our contest, ‘It Happened This Week’, featuring a new headline (and a new chance to win!) every week from Travelweek’s 50 years of travel industry news coverage.