"I think it is one of the best planned supplier exhibits that I've ever attended. It is great to have a quality one on one time suppliers to either catch up or discover new products. "
"Trailblazers" is a unique educational marketplace where the attendee lives the incentive experience of the host destination. All selected participants are senior employees of North America's most qualified incentive and meeting planning companies as well as select corporate end users and have the ability to influence site selection with corporate clients.
Trailblazers is organized like an actual incentive program, but the schedule also includes several marketplace sessions during which the supplier-partners & NTO's (National Tourist Organizations) can promote their products and services to the invited buyers. All appointments are scheduled.
Attendance is by invitation only and all applications are subject to review by the Trailblazers committee.
"I feel reenergized and ready to present some interesting new destinations/itineraries. "
The event began in cosmopolitan Toronto in 1994 under the name "Five Star Edge", where five destinations hosted the program. In 1995 it was held in beautiful Montréal and 1996 took place in sunny Phoenix.
1997 brought a change of partners and a name change as well, "Headliners" was launched in the city on the ocean - Vancouver. "Headliners" was hosted at the majestic mountain resort of Whistler in 1998 and went back east to historic Québec City in 1999.
In 2000 the marketplace was held on the Rocky Mountaineer train while traveling through the Rocky Mountains between Vancouver and Banff (where the "Trailblazers" name was born).
In 2001, based on previous success, the program returned to Montréal.
In 2002 Trailblazers was hosted in Las Vegas - the city of entertainment.
In 2003 Trailblazers went offshore for the first time to London, England, with an exciting post-trip on the famed Orient Express to Edinburgh.
In 2004, the program returned to North America and was held in Victoria, British Columbia, on Vancouver Island, a.k.a “Fantasy Island”
In 2005, Trailblazers returned to Europe, taking place in Copenhagen, Denmark, and in 2006 the event was held in the Principality of Monaco.
Trailblazers 2007 took place in Dublin, Ireland with a wonderful post-trip to Killarney and Adare.
Trailblazers 2008 was held in Québec City with a post trip to Charlevoix.
2009 saw Trailblazers welcome Germany as a new partner, celebrate its 15th anniversary and return to the place of its “birth”, Toronto, Canada, with a post tour to the Niagara on the Lake region.
In 2010 the event was hosted in Geneva, Switzerland and the post tour took participants to Lausanne and Zurich.
In 2011 Trailblazers was once again back in British Columbia, the main event being held in Whistler with a post-tour taking participants to Vancouver and Victoria.
Britain, Canada, Ireland, Monaco, and Switzerland look forward to welcoming you to Edinburgh for Trailblazers 2012.
