VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA, CANADA (January 8, 2007) – Vancouver-based Rocky Mountaineer Vacations (RMV), owners and operators of the world-acclaimed Rocky Mountaineer train, is proud to announce that the organization has ranked 23rd on the annual Globe and Mail’s Report on Business magazine/Hewitt Associates’ 50 Best Employers in Canada for 2007. Rocky Mountaineer Vacations is the top ranked Vancouver-based business on the list and has the third highest ranking in British Columbia.

“We recognize that we can’t be a Best Employer without highly talented employees. The passion and dedication to excellence that this survey recognizes is the same fundamental culture that drives our world-renowned guest service – and we have our employees to thank for that,” says James Terry, Executive VP and Chief Operating Officer, Rocky Mountaineer Vacations.

The results were based on companies completing confidential opinion surveys in three main areas: Employee Opinion, Leadership Team and Human Resources. However, the lion’s share of the ranking is a direct result of employee feedback or high employee engagement – gauging the emotional and intellectual commitment employees demonstrate for the organization for which they work.

“At its core, the prestigious Top 50 study measures how engaged employees are or how passionate, motivated and excited they are to come to work. This is an award that recognizes how well we work together and how much we enjoy working with one another,” says Paul Dyck Vice President, Human Resources & Corporate Administration at Rocky Mountaineer Vacations. “We have long recognized that our employees are the foundation of our team, and as such we strive to be an employer of choice by attracting, training, supporting and retaining the very best people.”

According to Hewitt Associates the 50 Best Employers have lower turnover, receive more applications for job openings and experience better business results. Hewitt also examined how closely employees’ and leaders’ goals are aligned, and whether workplace practices and programs reinforce corporate vision. The Best Employers ranking has become a recognized Canadian and international business award.

Rocky Mountaineer Vacations, owned and operated by Armstrong Group, offers year-round vacation packages to the most unique regions of Canada and four spectacular rail routes through British Columbia and Alberta. Best known for the world-acclaimed Rocky Mountaineer train, a two-day all daylight rail journey between Canada’s West and the Canadian Rockies, the company also offers trips onboard the new Whistler Mountaineer train, which is a daily three-hour experience between North Vancouver and Whistler, B.C. Since its inception in 1990, the company has grown to become the largest privately owned passenger rail service in North America and has hosted over 900,000 guests from around the world. In 2006, RMV was honoured with a World Travel Award as “World’s Leading Travel Experience by Train” for the second consecutive year. Armstrong Group, one of Canada’s leading tourism providers also owns Gray Line West motorcoach operations in Banff, Alberta and Vancouver, Whistler and Victoria, British Columbia.

Contacts:

Michelle Dunn
Manager, Communications
Rocky Mountaineer Vacations
(604) 606-7324
mdunn@rockymountaineer.com

www.rockymountaineer.com
www.whistlermountaineer.com