The Prince George Chamber of Commerce is making a fully guided tour of China so cheap, some members are marvelling that they feel more like tourists on a land cruise. Oh yeah, and it might just spark some business ideas, too.
The price tag of $2,500 for members and $2,650 for non-members is a low price for any trip to China, said Chamber CEO Christie Ray, but when you factor in the visits to key cultural locations, and full-service transportation and accommodation, it could be the China chance of a lifetime. From Oct. 16 to 24, participants will be taken to everything from the Great Wall to the Bird's Nest Olympic Stadium, from Tiger Hill to the Ming Tombs to Lingering Garden. It covers Beijing, Shanghai and other locations, too.
Travel arrangements are based on double occupancy, whether travelling solo or in groups. Prices are set on Vancouver to Vancouver round-trip parameters. If you wish to fly the P.G. to Vancouver legs of the trip, there is a discount offered by Karren Moore at Carlson Wagonlit Travel for members of this group.
Once you pay the Chamber price, and $40 for the gratuity pool, the only other obligation on you is whatever you want to spend on souvenirs and gifts.
If you only go to see the sights, that is fine with Ray, but there will be options built into the trip for those hoping to spark business relations.
"There are opportunities to tour an economic development zone in one of the cities, and meet face to face with businesses there already interested in working with Canada, and to talk to marketing and commerce officials who can explain their ways of doing business there," said Ray. "This is not a trip that suggests you'll come back with contracts in hand, this is an orientation to China, a chance to look at it through a business lens or a tourist's lens so you can be helped in forming thoughts about doing future business with this Asian neighbour we have. You don't really know what might be possible for you until you go see the people, feel the geography, get an actual sense of the place and how it operates. You never know what light bulbs it might set off for you, and we have brought the price down so low we think it's the ideal opportunity."
The trip is arranged so fully in order for the business mind to focus on the ideas and inspirations. A company that specializes in Chamber of Commerce tours to China has done the groundwork. The hotels are four- and five-star, all the driving is prearranged, all the meals are prepared for you, all the destinations are picked based on years of the company's experiences working with inbound business tourism groups.
"They take care of everything so the group can safely put their minds to the business that could be done. They want the participants to be free to have that open mind, not worrying about where to go for lunch or how to get ahold of someone who can talk about the business culture there," said Ray.
The trip doesn't depart until fall, but people wanting to attend need to make arrangements now, for practical items like passports and visas and currency and travel insurance - all the usual particulars. Therefore, the Prince George Chamber is in need of commitments sooner rather than later. Stop by their office on Vancouver Street or check out their website for more information.
