HONG KONG — Three Canadian travel agents were given the trip of a lifetime last month after winning the Hong Kong Specialist (HKS) Club Incentive contest.

Organized by the Hong Kong Tourism Board (HKTB) for the second consecutive year, the contest included a five-night trip to Hong Kong, with flights provided by Cathay Pacific Airways.

The three Canadian agents were: Cindy Beaumont, Corporate Travel Adviser at Vision Travel Solutions in British Columbia; Jayne Johnson, Travel Consultant at Carlson Wagonlit Harvey’s Travel in Nova Scotia; and Marcus Johnstone-Mckinney, Product Marketing Specialist of Flight Centre Travel Group in Ontario.

In total, the contest winners numbered 40 HKS members from 15 overseas markets. In addition to Canada, these markets included Australia, Germany, India, Indonesia, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, New Zealand, Philippines, Singapore, Taiwan, Thailand, the United Kingdom and the United States.

All winners were invited to experience Hong Kong’s mega events and its latest tourism offerings. After a welcome dinner and presentation, the group participated in the Hong Kong Cyclothon, visited Sham Shui Po and Old Town Central, and toured the UNESCO Sai Kung Islands.

According to Beaumont, the winners also enjoyed two days at leisure, during which she embarked on the Big Bus-Hop on, Hop Off, “an excellent way to explore Hong Kong”, she said.

Johnson said Hong Kong was more than she had expected: “It’s such a vibrant city with so much to see and do! It truly was a trip of a lifetime, starting with the Cathay flights, the great hotel and the best tour guide.”

Johnstone-Mckinney’s top highlight was the chance to revisit a city he hadn’t been to in 20 years: “To see how it had changed but how the charm had remained. We experienced some amazing food and saw some jaw-dropping sights. All in all, it was a wonderful experience.”

For more information on the Hong Kong Specialist program, go to https://specialisthk.com.