Niagara Falls Trip Provides Experiential Learning Opportunity for Tourism Students

Accompanied by Professors Diane Keefe, Anke Foller-Carroll, and Liz Stevenson, Tourism - Travel Services Management students embarked on a field trip to Niagara Falls to explore a top international tourist destination. This experiential learning opportunity aimed to familiarize the students not only with the Falls from a customer perspective but also to showcase the contributions of various tourism sectors, which had been discussed throughout the semester, including enthusiastic selling through a multimedia approach, which was part of their assignment.

Niagara Parks extended a warm welcome to the group, providing lunch and an opportunity to experience the Niagara Parks Power Station and Tunnel, which opened last year. The Power Station's interactive exhibits offered visitors insights into the history of Niagara's power generation, and the 1km tunnel led to an observation deck at the base of the Canadian Horseshoe Falls, proving to be a highlight and unofficial favourite for the students.

The weather cooperated, providing clear skies and creating magical rainbows over the Falls, resulting in picture-perfect memories and Instagram-worthy posts. Abbie Arnott, Manager of Domestic and Leisure Trade Sales at Niagara Parks Commission, played a key role in making the visit a success by sharing her professional insights on increasing visitation to the Niagara Parks area from Canadian and international markets.

The group also took a short drive along the Niagara Parkway and stopped at the Niagara Whirlpool on the way back, concluding a highly successful and enriching road trip. The experiential learning opportunity provided students with firsthand exposure to the tourism industry and its various sectors, enhancing their understanding of the subject matter discussed in class and providing practical insights into real-world tourism operations.

Professor Diane Keefe expressed her appreciation for the support from Niagara Parks and Abbie Arnott, noting that the field trip was a valuable experience for the students, enabling them to connect theoretical concepts with real-world applications. She further emphasized the importance of experiential learning in the field of tourism and hospitality, providing students with a well-rounded education that combines theoretical knowledge with practical exposure.

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