TORONTO — For the first time in 25 years, Contiki will not bring together its employees from around the world in 2016. Launching its groundbreaking ‘Virtually Unlimited’ product, the leader in youth travel canceled its global meeting to host a virtual reality conference to celebrate its groundbreaking VR itinerary.

‘Virtually Unlimited’ is the new, high tech way of travel for young Canadians, offering five guided three dimensional virtual reality experiences. Ten ‘Virtual Experience Centres’ (VEC’s) are opening across Canada today, offering three-hour virtual trips for $149 per person; some of the virtual destinations include Oktoberfest in Germany, Machu Picchu in Peru and Iguazu Falls on the border between Argentina and Brazil.

“We have been experimenting with virtual reality for over 18 months now and are proud to be the first travel company in the world to introduce complete virtual reality travel itineraries for all senses. It is such an important move that we decided to cancel our global conference and meet virtually instead. As people increasingly become time-poor and technology improves, Contiki is taking travelling to the next level. Our new ‘Virtually Unlimited’ product is the future of travel and a disruptor to the entire tourism industry, especially for airlines and accommodation providers,” said Brad Ford, president of Contiki Canada.

For just $149, Contiki is offering young Canadians the opportunity to experience five bespoke virtual holidays with its experienced guides. Guests can expect to experience Oktoberfest in Munich, paraglide in Sweden, climb Peru’s Machu Picchu, cycle through Vietnam and discover the Iguazu Falls in Argentina and Brazil.

“One of the main benefits of our ‘Virtually Unlimited’ itineraries is that travellers get the high of travel without the investment. They don’t have to leave the country, don’t need to take weeks of vacation and don’t have to save up for flights and accommodation, and we predict this is the way people will ‘travel’ in the future. All it takes from now on is a three-hour visit to one of the ten Contiki ‘Virtual Experience Centres’ in Vancouver, Edmonton, Calgary, Saskatoon, Winnipeg, Toronto, Ottawa, London, Montreal and Halifax,” added Ford.

To complete the real wanderlust feeling, Contiki offers three-dimensional VR itineraries activating all senses; additionally to the VR glasses, young travellers will experience the physical aspects of their destination from climbing, to feeling and smelling their surroundings.

Young Canadians can be among the world’s first travellers to experience the new ‘Virtually Unlimited’ itineraries by booking a three-hour journey at their closest ‘Virtual Experience Centre’ (VEC) through Contiki’s new microsite contiki.com/virtually-unlimited.