There’s no place like home for Canadian travellers
Montreal has replaced Vancouver as the Canadian destination that First in Service (F1S) travel advisors across the country are booking the most.
In a new survey, F1S advisors were asked to name the three top domestic destinations they are booking for 2024 and 58 per cent of F1S advisors indicated that Montreal was among the most popular.
“Montreal has long been a standout among major North American cities thanks to its vibrant culture and sophisticated charms that reflect its French roots,” notes Fernando Gonzalez, F1S Chief Executive Officer. “In addition to receiving accolades from Lonely Planet, Montreal was also named one of the safest cities in the world by Berkshire Hathaway.”
While Vancouver had previously ranked first for 2023, it fell to second place (42 percent) behind a surge of interest in Montreal, which was recently hailed by Lonely Planet as the third best city in the world to visit in 2024. Calgary ranks third (33 percent), followed by Toronto (17 percent).
Despite Vancouver’s second place finish, British Columbia retains its crown as the most popular province among F1S advisors’ clientele, with 67 per cent of F1S advisors naming it or citing Tofino, Vancouver and Whistler specifically.
The province of Quebec is second (58 percent) with Montreal and Quebec City named. Alberta is third (50 percent) with Banff, Calgary, Edmonton and Lake Louise all named. Ontario ranks fourth (17 percent), while other top provinces include Newfoundland and Nova Scotia.
“Montreal is a beautiful place that is easy to navigate,” says F1S advisor Jessica Donath. “It is like our very own European city!” F1S advisor Michelle Green notes that the allure for her clients is Montreal’s “culture, food and arts,” while F1S advisor Jay Rabinovich attributes its popularity to the “city vibes and culinary experiences.” F1S advisor Julia Hayhurst sums up the city’s trajectory to the top by noting, “Montreal is a vibrant and historic city – perfect for a weekend getaway with family or friends.”
