A new Sales Representative at Toundra!

Bethea Clarke has made a remarkable entrance into the ranks of Toundra Voyages. And rightly so: she’s in charge of our agency’s international development! To get to know her more, we asked her a few questions about her role at Toundra. Here’s what she told us!

Hello Bethea and welcome to the team! Can you tell us more about your arrival among us?

Yes, of course!

My recruitment is linked to Toundra’s new 2024 objectives to develop non-French-speaking markets. Therefore, I’ve joined the team as Business Development Manager for International Markets, including Europe, the USA, and English-speaking Canada.

Before setting off on a European tour in April to meet with agencies, I’ll be starting some groundwork here at the office. Travel habits differ from country to country, so I’m organizing calls with the agencies to really understand what they want in terms of type of accommodation, activities, and what their clientele prefers. Little by little, I’m going to start working hand in hand with our purchasing/production department to have a comprehensive offering in this regard.

What is your background in the industry?

I’m originally from near Rigaud, not far from Montreal, and I grew up in an English-speaking family. Nonetheless, I’ve been speaking French since I was 4 years old, because I attended school in that language.

I studied Political Science at university; however, I quickly took a different path. I’ve been working in the tourism industry since 2006, and I absolutely love it! It’s a world of passionate people, which is very enjoyable. In Canada tourism is a seasonal sector, and I’ve had the opportunity to do many things like ski instruction in British Columbia and managing a lodge in Alberta.

I’ve also had the opportunity to work internationally, for example, on cruise ships, and I’ve traveled extensively in my free time. A love of travel is definitely a common denominator among tourism industry professionals! (Laughs).

I understand you previously worked for Windigo, one of our sister brands. What made you want to join the adventure at Toundra?

Yes, absolutely, I worked for a guide for Windigo for two years, and then I was Operations Manager from 2018 to March 2020. You know, during the health crisis, we all made decisions and choices because the situation was complex. We asked ourselves: will the industry recover, or should I change my career? For my part, I decided to go back to university to do an MBA and thereby discovered the world of consulting.

I was hired by a Parisian strategy consulting firm with an office here in Montreal. After two years, I really missed the tourism industry. As luck would have it, I had a conversation with Charles (note: the founder of Windigo) some time ago who said: “Hmm, you know, I might have something that could interest you…”.

You know the rest! (Laughs).

You definitely had all the prerequisites to successfully lead Toundra’s international development. What do you consider your strengths?

First of all, there’s my overall experience in the Canadian tourism industry for over 15 years. I know my country really well; having guided in eight of the ten provinces! And of course, I’ve explored it with my family, as well as the United States.

As an English speaker, I’ve worked with an international clientele on all my trips and throughout my career. I’ve had the opportunity to see the destination through their eyes and understand their expectations.

Finally, I’ve been fortunate to travel to around 70 countries. I’ve spent quite a lot of time in Europe, especially in Germany and the UK. This gives me a real understanding and appreciation of those regions and their culture.