About Aquila

In 1982, Beth Kelly Hatt arrived in Saint John, New Brunswick, and it’s never been the same since. In response to her struggle to find a tour to introduce her to her new city, Beth started her own seasonal tour business, offering mostly city tours to summer tourists. In just five years, Aquila had grown to the point that it required full-time management, offering receptive tour operator services for groups of travellers coming to Atlantic Canada, as well as offering outbound tour programs to Europe and eventually around the world.

Over the years, Aquila has grown to be recognized as an innovative leader in the tourism industry. Known for watching and responding to trends in travel, Aquila’s services over the years have included full receptive operator services in Atlantic Canada, as well as tour operator services for groups to destinations around the world. Today, Aquila continues to be the preferred tour operator for cruise lines operating shore excursions in Saint John, New Brunswick, and with over 25 years of experience in the tourism industry, they offer consulting services on both Cruise Excellence and the Travel Trade. They also continue to operate Voluntouring Programs so that travellers can give back and make a difference while travelling.

Each year, Aquila creates moving experiences for more than 65,000 travellers in Atlantic Canada and around the world. We provide memorable Aquila experiences for travellers, and we do it with enthusiasm and joy. In fact, our clients have a lot to say about the Aquila difference. To read some of Aquila’s fan mail, click here! And Aquila doesn’t just work hard to create moving experiences for our travellers. We also work hard in partnership with national, regional, and local industry to bring more travellers to Atlantic Canada, holding seats on various boards and taking active roles in partnerships geared to attracting travel trade, cruise lines, and a variety of other business to Atlantic Canada. Some of these entities and many others have recognized Aquila’s hard work, innovation and success with numerous awards and accolades over the years. To learn more about Aquila’s awards and accolades, click here!

But it’s not all work and no play for the Aquila Team. We are a team that works hard and plays hard - together. Clients often describe the Aquila team as spirited, enthusiastic, and fun. First-timers to Aquila often ask Beth whether our team gets any work done, or if we just laugh and have fun all of the time. But in truth, we do work very hard, and the proof is in the fact that Aquila continues to grow each year, even during times when the tourism industry as a whole is struggling. So what’s our secret? “No, we don’t spike the water cooler,” laughs Beth. Instead, Aquila has fostered a philosophy of happiness in the workplace and empowerment of the team, and the contagious Aquila team spirit that has resulted from this philosophy is the driving force behind our success. To meet our fabulous Aquila team, click here! And to learn how to create such an environment in your workplace, click here!

We are also a team that believes in giving back to the community in which we live, work and play. As a group, the Aquila team has been actively involved in the community by volunteering to projects such as Marathon-by-the-Sea, the Atlantic Coastal Action Committee’s Beach Sweeps and Creek Sweeps, the St. Andrew St. David Soup Kitchen, Run for the Cure, and Big Brothers/Big Sisters “Bowl for Kids”. Also, each year Aquila chooses specific organizations to which donations are made, with special attention given to issues that have touched the lives of those closest to us, and we often plan fundraisers to support these organizations. Examples include the ALS Society and Habitat for Humanity, among many others. Aquila also encourages our team members to get involved individually with community organizations as well, allowing company time to fulfill volunteer roles. Members of the Aquila team are currently involved not just with industry associations such as Hospitality Saint John and Enterprise Saint John, but with local events and organizations including the Multiple Sclerosis Society, ALS Society, Big Brothers / Big Sisters Mentoring Program, and many other community programs.

Aquila’s company memberships and accreditations include:

• National Tour Association (NTA)
• Team Canada
• Hospitality Saint John
• Saint John Board of Trade
• Tourism Industry Association of New Brunswick
• Tourism Industry Association of Nova Scotia
• Tourism Industry Association of Prince Edward Island
• Hospitality Newfoundland and Labrador
• Atlantic Canada Cruise Association
• Florida Caribbean Cruise Association

Aquila’s long and growing list of clients includes:

Carnival Cruise Lines
Celebrity Cruises
Crystal Cruises
Discover Mexico
Fred Olsen Cruise Lines
Holland America Line
Hospitality Newfoundland & Labrador
Norwegian Cruise Lines
Princess Cruises
P & O Cruises
Royal Caribbean International
Seabourn Cruises
Signature Attractions
Tourism Industry Association of New Brunswick
Tourism Industry Association of Nova Scotia
Tourism Industry Association of Prince Edward Island