MONTREAL — Still flying high after the success of its Air Canada Race 2021 in Basel, Switzerland, Air Canada is offering up a new video showcasing the event.

The 3-minute video includes highlights from the Air Canada Race, as six teams of travel agents (including 33 from Canada, and 3 from the U.S.) took part in fun competitions and challenges around Basel. The race in Basel took part Aug. 29 and was followed by a workshop the next day. Participants then flew home or headed for post-race touring in Swiss favourites including Lucerne / Engelberg or Gstaad.

Travelweek correspondent Waheeda Harris was on the trip and filed a full report.

The new video, released today, also features feedback and insights from Air Canada’s VP Canada & USA Sales, Lisa Pierce, Switzerland Tourism CEO Martin Nydegger and participating agents.

Pierce notes that planning for the Air Canada Race 2021 was in the works for more than six months.

“It took a tremendous amount of courage and we’re so thrilled with everybody that helped make this event possible,” she says. “It is with a great sense of optimism that travel is returning. And we are ready to return to travel and we’re so happy to have all of the agents here.”

Pierce added that the benefits of using a travel agent to book travel these days, and going forward, were very clear: “I was telling a colleague, I think I need a travel agent because it was overwhelming to be perfectly honest, getting ready for this trip. You really appreciate the value of having a travel agent.”

Switzerland Tourism CEO Martin Nydegger gave a shout-out to the Canadian trade. “Dear friends from Canada, we are so happy to have you with us,” he says. “I can tell you – I can guarantee you – we are ready for your visitors.”

The winning Air Canada Race team, the ‘Waggis’ team, included Roger Villiers, Serge Coutu, Malisa Miletich, Anna Buchnea, Stacy Gargin and Colleen Maxwell.

Maxwell, who is a travel advisor with the Vancouver-based The Travel Group, summed it up after her team’s win: “I loved my experience in Switzerland and I can’t wait to come back … Today was such an amazing day. We had a fabulous time.”