Cape Breton businesses among Tourism Award finalists

Destination Cape Breton Association (DCBA), the tourism body responsible for the marketing of Cape Breton Island, is delighted to announce that three Cape Breton tourism operators–Cabot Links, Chanterelle Country Inn and Cottages, and North River Kayak Tours–have been shortlisted for National Tourism Awards from the Tourism Industry Association of Canada (TIAC).

Mary Tulle, CEO of DCBA stated, “Cape Breton right now is garnering an abundance of media exposure but what is truly wonderful is seeing our operators, who offer world class experiences, receiving much deserved recognition.”

The Canadian Tourism Awards are presented annually by TIAC to recognize success, leadership and innovation in Canada’s tourism industry, and to reward those people, places, organizations and events that have gone above and beyond to offer travellers superior tourism experiences in Canada.

Cabot Links, in Inverness is nominated for Business of the Year. Cabot Links is Canada’s first and only true links golf course. Lauded as a golfer’s paradise, the Rod Whitman design incorporates the rugged Nova Scotian landscape, dramatic seaside, undulating terrain and sandy soil, culminating in what SCOREGolf calls “Canada’s Next Great Golf Course.”

Chanterelle Country Inn and Cottages is named in the Sustainable Tourism Award category. The Chanterelle property, situated on the Cabot Trail overlooking the estuary of St. Ann’s Harbour and the North River, provides fixed-roof accommodations for travelers to Cape Breton Island. Since its inception, the Chanterelle has been dedicated to providing a green environment, beginning with the design of the Inn, which eliminates the need for air-conditioning, the installation of solar panels and a wind turbine for energy. Its everyday practices include the local sourcing of food ingredients, pre-cycling, re-cycling, and composting.

And in the Traveller Experience of the Year Award category we find North River Kayak Tours. North River Kayak Tours (NRKT) is an adaptable and ever-evolving organization; one devoted to satisfying the wants and needs of its guests. It offers an array of tour packages and experiences in an effort to appeal to as large a market as possible. From multi-day tour packages for those seeking the ultimate adventure, to half-day guided tours for those seeking a taste of sea kayaking combined with Cape Breton culture, NRKT has an experience for everyone.

The awards will be presented at the gala dinner ceremony at the Fairmont Chateau Laurier in Ottawa on Tuesday, December 3, 2013. Since its inception in 2003, this gala evening has become a highlight of the Tourism Congress.