On Location: Ready, set, explore! Air Canada Race takes Barbados by storm

“It's a celebration. We're celebrating partnerships – and bringing travel agents together.”

That’s how Edna Ray, senior manager of sales at Air Canada, describes the biennial Air Canada Race that unites Canadian travel advisors in a unique destination for some friendly competition in a day-long game, packed with challenges, inspired by TV’s The Amazing Race.

Previous Races have been held in locations such as Switzerland, Portugal, Britain and Scotland, and this year, it brought agents from across Canada to Barbados – the first time the event has been held in the Caribbean.

“Barbados was chosen because they were so committed – they were aligned with what we wanted to do,” Ray told PAX, which covered the competition on location. “Air Canada and Barbados, we have a partnership that has lasted for more than 75 years. It's a long-standing partnership. They have a great product here.”

The Air Canada Race is not your ordinary FAM—it’s a hands-on learning opportunity, presented as a scavenger hunt, that helps agents truly understand a destination, so they can better share and recommend it to their clients.

And Barbados is an ideal match.

Canadians love Barbados,” said Rimon Tawfik, an inside sales manager at Air Canada. “It’s the first route that we started in the Caribbean and we’re still here,” Tawfik said.

Ready, set, explore!

This year’s Air Canada Race kicked off with a bang, on Friday (Nov. 21) at Barbados Ninja Throwdown, which saw participants compete in an obstacle course reminiscent of the television series American Ninja Warrior.

Travel advisors were timed as they tackled a course consisting of ziplines, balance beams and a wall climb.

From there the teams were given a series of clues hinting at their next location with each hint paying tribute – or offering a nod – to some kind of cultural or historical fact about Barbados.

One of the stops was the Lion Statue at Gunn Hill. Once a strategic military outpost, this site played a significant role in Barbados’ history and today stands as a popular attraction for visitors.

The statue was hand carved in 1868 by military officers posted at the base.

Another stop saw the teams race to Bathsheba, a fishing village in the parish of Saint Joseph on the east coastline of Barbados.

There, the racers were tasked with making a classic Shandy, a mix of local beer and lemon soda and a popular drink on the island.

Another challenge had racers posing in the shape of a windmill at The Morgan Lewis Sugar Mill in St. Andrew - the island’s last surviving sugar windmill.

Built in 1727, the mill crushed sugarcane to produce juice. It ceased operation in 1947 but is preserved by the Barbados National Trust.

Then there was the stop at Speightstown, the most northern town in Barbados, where a lucky member from each team got the chance to ride in a water taxi.

But this wasn’t your average water taxi, my friends. This tricked-out vessel gave Fast and the Furious race car vibes as it zipped across the waters at lightning speeds.

The race culminated at Golden Square at the heart of the capital city, Bridgetown, before attendees were treated to a sunset catamaran ride where they dined, snorkelled, relaxed and mingled.

The perfect end to a frantic and fun-filled day.

“I've never been on a FAM like this”

“I've never been on a FAM like this before that had so much excitement and adventure,” Winnipeg-based Brittany Uskoski of BCD Travel told PAX.

For her, it was an amazing way to experience so much of Barbados. “Everything is so accessible. We went around the entire island and it didn't feel like a lot of travel time.”

For Mishell Garcia of The Travel Group based in Vancouver, the Race was a great way to learn about the island.

“It was the culture and the history...the places they sent us that I really enjoyed,” Garcia said.

For Ontario-based Sonia Lawrence, a travel advisor with The Travel Agent Next Door, the experience was a great way for her to get intel to take back to her clients.

“I wanted to see Barbados again,” she said. “I have a harder time selling it because I haven't experienced many of the hotels, so it's nice to be able to go and see other places. I'm looking forward to taking this back.”

Hosting attendees this year was the Wyndham Grand Barbados Sam Lords Castle, an all-inclusive resort on the southeastern coast of Barbados.

Perched on a cliff overlooking the Caribbean Sea, the property is steps from the beach and next to a majestic 19th century castle.

Another thing Lawrence observed was how easy the roads were to navigate.

“Sometimes you go to some islands and it can be rough terrain,” she said. “Here, they’re wide and safe, so even if you don’t want to do an all-inclusive, you can easily rent a car and get around the island.”

Aside from the information collecting and the thrill of competition, for the advisors, the big takeaway was the sense of camaraderie between all the competitors.

“Everybody working, joking and playing together…even though we're competing against each other, it was amazing. Everyone pushed themselves to the limit,” said Uskoski. “It was great to see everyone having such a great time together while we were competing.

Lawrence noted how the obstacle course was a little daunting at first – “but I loved how everybody came together, and people of all athletic ability were able to do it. The day had something for everyone,” she said.

And it wasn’t just teammates cheering each other on – the locals felt the spirit of the day as well.

“One of the first things that comes to mind is how everyone welcomed us here. We were running through the streets like maniacs and random people who didn't even know what we were doing were cheering ‘Go, go, go! I hope you win the scavenger hunt!’ Lawrence said.

“They didn't even know what was going on, but they were enthusiastic for us and cheering us on.”

And the winners are...

For Air Canada, that was one of the deciding factors in choosing Barbados for this year’s race.

“We needed a destination that was going to be exciting for the agents and deliver a memorable experience,” said Ray.”

Speaking with PAX later on, Tawfik called the Race “amazing.”

“Everyone was very excited and they had a lot of energy,” Tawfik said. “What a way to explore the island. Everyone was excited and impressed about what the country can actually offer you.”

This year marked the 19th edition of the Air Canada Race, which means the next one, now set for 2026, will be a milestone year for the experience.

Edna Ray promises it will be one for the books.

“We are working on it already,” she said. “We have several destinations that have come forward. It’s going to be pretty special.”

As for who won the 2025 edition, that award goes to Team Bajan Gems, made up of Nicki Clarke (Flight Centre), Karla Hatfield (Maritime Travel), Marta Perez (American Express GBT), Marie Joseé Girard (Voyages Synergia) and Sonia Lawrence (The Travel Agent Next Door).

Congrats to all!

Stay tuned for more of PAX's coverage from Barbados.

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