kabarsula Together for Impact: Sno’n’Ski Holidays MD Daniel Walker on the future of travel to Canada bandar SLOT INDONESIA

For Sno’n’Ski Holidays managing director Daniel Walker, a great Canadian holiday combines time on the slopes with lesser-known destinations, meaningful local experiences and opportunities to support the wealth and wellbeing of Canada’s communities. 

After more than 20 years leading Sno’n’Ski Holidays, Walker is an expert on snow-related trends, skier engagement, seasonal travel, and new destinations.

He has skied more than 50 of the world’s best resorts and has seen firsthand how Australian travellers can make a difference to the communities they choose to visit.  

Now, as a member of Destination Canada Australia’s Strategic Advisory Group (SAG), he is helping explore how a regenerative approach to tourism can benefit destinations while opening up new opportunities for the Australian travel industry. 

It’s a theme he’ll bring to Destination Canada’s Together for Impact Virtual Summit 2026 on Thursday 5 November, as Australian travel professionals come together to discuss how travel can create positive impact for the places they visit, the people who call them home and the businesses that connect travellers with Canada.

Selling more than a lift ticket 

“Early on, I thought of resorts mainly in terms of lift tickets and bookings. Now I look at where guests spend, how long they stay and what that means for the whole town,” Walker says. 

There’s plenty happening both on and off the mountain. Australian skiers are dining out, booking lessons, exploring local attractions and seeking cultural experiences, spreading the benefits of their holiday across more businesses and communities. 

“Smaller, lesser-known resorts are keen to attract Australian and international visitors,” Walker says. 

“As one of our key resort partners has said, it’s not all about the lift ticket. I’ve come to understand that Australians dine out for all three meals a day, pre-book activities and lessons, and want to engage with the local communities and their activities. 

“That’s why more and more resorts are competing for the Australian skier. We’re vital to a successful season, and when that spending is spread across more places, it helps sustain more communities.” 

Sharing the demand

It’s a compelling argument for exploring outside of Canada’s best-known ski destinations, and Walker says that he is also seeing travellers look beyond the piste.  

Longer stays, stopovers and add-on experiences are creating opportunities to build more personalised Canadian itineraries, and to share the benefits of tourism wider. 

“A big part of their decision is everything beyond the skiing: the stopovers, the add-ons, the cultural immersion and the natural beauty,” he says. 

“They’re open to new itineraries, destinations and experiences, which creates a real opening for advisors to guide them towards options that benefit local communities.” 

Seasonality matters, too. Walker sees March and April, particularly Easter, as a chance to spread demand beyond the Christmas and January peaks.  

Turning purpose into practice 

Walker’s decision to join Destination Canada Australia’s Strategic Advisory Group was driven by the destination’s commitment to supporting the people, places and businesses that make Canada special.  

“Canada is a core destination for Australian skiers, and Destination Canada has been a market leader in taking a regenerative approach to tourism, particularly through its 2030 Roadmap,” he says. 

“Responsible travel matters for the destination, for its people and for the visitor experience, so I didn’t hesitate when I was asked to join. I’m very proud of what the Strategic Advisory Group has achieved so far.” 

Walker says the benefits have flowed both ways.  

“Sno’n’Ski Holidays has taken away fresh ideas on new destinations, experiences and Indigenous tourism that we’re now building into our itineraries,” Walker says. 

And advisors needn’t reinvent the wheel. Many are already encouraging clients to travel outside peak periods, explore lesser-known regions and experience Canada’s First Nations culture. 

“Our goal is to make those conversations more proactive, identify new trade-ready options and give advisors the resources to compare and book them.” 

For Walker, the commercial case is just as important as the community benefit. Thoughtfully designed itineraries can introduce clients to new experiences, encourage longer stays and build loyalty. 

“The result is a better trip for the client and one that supports Canadian destinations and operators,” he says. 

Together for Impact Virtual Summit 2026

Walker will bring these insights, and more, to Destination Canada’s Together for Impact Virtual Summit 2026, sharing practical ideas for incorporating regional destinations, shoulder-season travel and experiences beyond skiing into Canadian itineraries. 

He will join Helloworld Travel group general manager – marketing, Melissa Warren; Intrepid Travel managing director ANZ Brett Mitchell; and Adventure World managing director, Neil Rodgers for an expert panel exploring how a regenerative approach to tourism can translate into stronger products, more meaningful client conversations and new commercial opportunities for travel advisors.

Date: Thursday 5 November 2026

Time: 10:00am AEST

Format: 90 minutes live, plus exclusive on-demand content

Registration is free and open to Australian travel professionals looking to shape the future of travel to Canada.