From Coast to Rockies - Business Focus
Jason Jamie Chanis an independent travel advisor who designs tailored luxury experiences in Alberta and British Columbia. He was born and raised in Calgary and later moved to Vancouver, which gave him a. . .
Jason Jamie Chanis an independent travel advisor who designs tailored luxury experiences in Alberta and British Columbia. He was born and raised in Calgary and later moved to Vancouver, which gave him a natural personal and professional foothold in both worlds. Instead of relying on mass-market booking engines or big global hotel chains, he has spent over 20 years building direct, personal relationships with independent boutique hoteliers, local chefs, and wilderness outfitters throughout Western Canada. This close-knit network helps him create seamless, multi-destination vacations that connect travellers directly to the authentic culture and geography of the West. Whether securing private aviation, planning a regional food tour, or arranging exclusive wilderness access,Jasonuses his knowledge of local hospitality to create custom itineraries. Splitting his time between Calgary and Vancouver keeps him constantly plugged into the region’s culinary scenes, sports culture, and hidden travel gems. – – – –Q: How do you define luxury travel in Calgary and Vancouver?Jason Jamie Chan:It’s no longer about flashy excess or just staying at a big, predictable five-star hotel chain. Travellers value their time and privacy above everything else. In Western Canada, real luxury means getting exclusive, seamless access to the local culture. It’s things like a private, after-hours tour of a local art gallery, a chartered helicopter taking you to a remote alpine ridge for a customized lunch, or having a boutique backcountry lodge entirely to yourself. True luxury is about making the logistics invisible so the traveller can just focus on the experience. Q: How do you maintain operational trust in multiple provincial borders?Jason Jamie Chan:By skipping the typical, transactional agency mindset and treating local operators as real partners. Because I split my time between Calgary and Vancouver, I’m physically on the ground in these places year-round. I spend time with the lodge owners in B. C, boutique hoteliers downtown, and ranch operators in Alberta. Having that direct line of communication means we trust each other completely. If a flight gets delayed or mountain weather changes suddenly, we can fix the plans behind the scenes instantly. Q: How does the local culinary culture impact how you design your itineraries?Jason Jamie Chan:It’s often the anchor of the whole trip, not just an afterthought. Western Canada is having a massive food renaissance right now because we have incredible raw ingredients and brilliant local chefs. In British Columbia, I love connecting clients with the micro-seasons of the coast, like arranging a private dinner featuring ocean-to-table menus or getting them into private estate wineries that aren’t open to the public. In Alberta, the experience transitions to incredible regional agriculture, open-fire cooking, and the amazing urban dining scene in Calgary. It’s all about tasting the geography of where you are. Q: How do you handle the logistics of moving clients between coastal and mountain environments?Jason Jamie Chan:You have to respect the geography and always have a backup plan. When you’re dealing with floatplanes, private flights, and remote wilderness travel, coastal fog or mountain pass closures are just part of the deal. My team and I monitor regional conditions in real time, and we build secondary and tertiary routes into every single trip before the client even leaves. More importantly, we design itineraries with a relaxed pace. We build in comfortable buffer zones so that if we have to pivot due to weather, the change is seamless and the client never feels rushed. Q: Where is the biggest growth opportunity for independent hospitality operators in the West?Jason Jamie Chan:The biggest opportunity is leaning into low-density, high-value tourism. Western Canada has some of the most pristine, untouched environments left on earth, and travellers are way more likely to pay a premium to experience them in a quiet, meaningful way. Independent operators don’t need to chase high volumes. Instead, they should focus on smaller guest counts, excellent staff-to-guest ratios, and protecting the local environment. My goal is to connect these incredible, sustainable properties with travellers who truly appreciate that style of travel.