Indigeno Travel is not your typical travel agency. Majority Indigenous-owned, and operating from their Portage Ave. office, the company views its part in the travel industry as one of a higher, relationship-building purpose.
“We’re mission-based,” says Pearl McCallum, Indigeno’s CEO. “We’re not like any travel agency down the street. Our goal is to accomplish Reconciliation through travel.”
Specifically, they seek to fulfill the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s 92nd Call to Action: Reconciliation through business. By hiring Indigenous employees, engaging with Indigenous tour operators, and awarding student bursaries, Indigeno helps keep valuable tourism dollars within First Nations while opening up the world to people with limited travel opportunities.
“So many Indigenous communities have been very isolated,” McCallum explains. “Some young people have never left their communities and don’t realize what’s beyond where they live. There’s an opportunity for us to open the world to them and show them what’s possible.”
Indigeno also functions as a full-service corporate, leisure and adventure travel agency and is proud to serve Indigenous and non-Indigenous people alike.
“Through Great Canadian Travel, a division of Indigeno Travel, we were sending people to Iceland long before it became trendy,” McCallum says. “We enjoy the opportunity to assist our clients in experiencing unique destinations.” She cites Great Canadian Travel’s tour of the country of Georgia that made 2015’s National Geographic top-50 list.
McCallum also points out that Indigeno Travel is committed to responsible tourism, regarding both traveller safety and the well-being of the destination. For example, she says that instead of sending someone on vacation to Venice, she might recommend a day trip to the city and accommodations in a little town nearby.
“We have some great contacts in those off-the-beaten-path places, and in a lot of cases it makes for a nicer experience,” she says. Those contacts, as well as destination experience, knowledge of document requirements, and 24-hour customer service are just some of the benefits of booking through an agency like Indigeno. In fact, while some have long predicted a decline in travel agencies, more and more people are turning to them for expertise, including young people.
“For years, the ‘death of the travel agent’ has been forecast,” jokes McCallum. “But we’ve found the opposite is true. People, including the younger generation, are turning to travel agents. Part of the reason is the abundance of information online; people no longer know what to trust, what is real. They want an expert, somebody who has been to a destination and seen the sights for themselves and can make professional recommendations.”
She adds that AI-generated images add a particularly tricky component to informed travel shopping. Plus, in the event that a problem arises while travelling, people can rely on their travel agent to help them navigate it.
McCallum also provides some basic pointers, such as not carrying your passport while touring and respecting the destinations visited.
“When you’re planning your trip, have you covered all the bases?” she asks. “Have you thought about travel insurance, and do you understand the type of insurance you may need? If you’re relying on credit card insurance, there may be a huge gap in what’s covered. Do you understand how travel works in countries across the ocean? Things are done differently sometimes and a professional can guide you in what to expect and what you might face when you’re travelling abroad.”
At the end of the day, she says, travel can be for everyone, and Indigeno Travel can serve every traveller – from Indigenous youth to corporate managers, from community elders to adrenaline junkies.
“We can give you reliable information about destinations and travel products,” McCallum says. “It’s nice to have the back-up of a travel agent.”
Indigeno Travel can be reached by calling toll-free, 1-888-202-8262. Further information can be found at indigenotravel.com.