Destinations Magazine - November/December 2017 - 88

REAR VIEW
Brewster Travel Canada is
a leader in the Canadian
tourism industry, welcoming
1.5 million people annually.

In 1916, Jim Brewster
acquired five overland
motorcoaches to replace 70
horsedrawn carriages.

The Brewster Boys of Banff
How two small boys launched a big business

DESTINATIONS

/ NOVEMBER-DECEMBER 2017

BREWSTER TRAVEL CANADA.

point for tours onto the Athabasca Glacier, the most-visited
o say that hospitality runs in the Brewster family is an
glacier in North America.
understatement. It began over 100 years ago in 1892,
In 1916, a time when even personal automobiles were far from
when brothers Bill and Jim Brewster launched a busicommon, Jim Brewster made the decision to replace the comness leading guests of Canada's Banff Springs Hotel
pany's 70 horse-drawn carriages used for sightseeing excursions
to the area's best fishing spots and scenic views. At the time, they
with five overland motorcoaches. As the company
were 12 and 10, respectively.
approached the midcentury mark, it continued to
In 1900, the Brewster brothers formally
expand the number and variety of its scenic tours
established an outfitting company that proand upgrade its motorcoach fleet. (Viad Corp.
vided guide, horse packing, and livery services
Bill and Jim
purchased Brewster Transport Company, now a
throughout the Banff area. This proved an
invaluable and highly popular service in a part
Brewster were publicly traded company, in 1996.)
Later came the addition of the Columbia Icefield
of the Canadian Rockies that was both beautiful
just 12 and
Snowmobile Tours, all-terrain Ice Explorers for
enough to draw visitors and treacherous enough
10 when they
carrying passengers onto the Athabasca Glacier,
to be hazardous without knowledgeable guides
launched
their and the Banff Gondola, one of Western Canada's
and sufficient provisions.
first family
two largest tourist attractions and the only bi-cable
But the "boys"-now men with growing families-
business in
gondola on the continent. Most recently, Brewster
were always thinking bigger. There was so much to
Travel Canada purchased Banff Lake Cruise of
experience here and so much opportunity. And the
1892.
Banff National Park and, in 2016, the Malgine Lake
more services they offered, the more visitors they
Cruise in Jasper National Park.
drew. It didn't take long before the family opened
Today, Brewster Travel Canada is a diverse
the Brewster Trading Store in Banff, started livery
company employing more than 300 people, all of
and outfitting services at Lake Louise and Field, and
whom are passionate about helping their more than
purchased the original Mount Royal Hotel in Banff.
1.5 million guests every year discover the best that Banff and the
Now it was time to spread the word about Banff and the Brewster
Canadian Rockies have to offer. It is a 100-plus-year legacy that
businesses throughout North America.
began with two enterprising, visionary young boys-and continues
Not surprisingly, the company grew, adding a lodge at Sunshine
to grow. -Robert Bittner
Village Ski Area and purchasing the Glacier View Inn, a gathering

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Destinations Magazine - November/December 2017