About Aquila

In 1982, Beth Kelly Hatt arrived in Saint John, New Brunswick, and it’s never been the same since. 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.

Aquila has added partners Danielle and Melanie who are taking over the day to day operations of the business. Today Aquila, with almost 30 years of experience in the tourism industry, continues to be the preferred tour operator for cruise lines operating shore excursions in Saint John, New Brunswick, and Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island. They also offer consulting services on both Cruise Excellence and the Travel Trade and have just announced a new Tour Guide Excellence Certification Program, an online training program for Tour Guides worldwide.

Each year, Aquila creates moving experiences for almost 100,000 travellers in Atlantic Canada. 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 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!

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.

Aquila’s company memberships and accreditations include:

• 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
Norwegian Cruise Lines
Princess Cruises
P & O Cruises
Royal Caribbean International
Seabourn Cruises