TRAVELBRANDS, PARTNERS RAISE $553,000 FOR SICKKIDS

It was a day of good shots, bad shots, fun and games, but mostly a day about charity as TravelBrands hosted the sixth instalment of its Annual Golf Classic last week – raising funds for SickKids – at Eagles Nest Golf Club in Maples, Ont.

Last year, TravelBrands surpassed its five-year goal of exceeding the $1-million mark raised. This year’s goal was to raise another $275,000 for SickKids, which was easily done, thanks to the generosity of participants. Funds were raised through entry fees, live and silent auctions, a 50-50 draw and donations. TravelBrands raised $278,000 for the SickKids Cardiac Operating Room. CP, a rail-based transportation company, agreed to match TravelBrands’ donation up to $275,000, creating a total of $553,000 for SickKids.

“After we reached our million dollar goal, our team wanted to make sure this year was just as memorable.

I am so thrilled that CP agreed to match our donation allowing us to give back even more to such a meaningful cause,” said TravelBrands president and CEO Frank DeMarinis. “I would like to thank our dedicated partners, suppliers, staff and CP for making this year’s golf tournament a huge success. It is with your help that this is possible. I cannot wait to see what next year holds.”

DeMarinis also set a new goal of raising $2 million for SickKids.

“It’s a great cause, and not just for Canada. It [SickKids] is renowned worldwide.”

Special guest emcee for the evening’s gala dinner was Jack Armstrong, former basketball coach and Toronto Raptors sportscaster.

But the star of the show was special guest Ava, a SickKids heart transplant recipient who was on hand with her mother.

Other highlights of the tournament included a putting contest, mechanical bull ride, Caesar Station, Barbados Rum Tasting, Whiskey Tasting, Jamaican Jerk Chicken Station, Food Truck and an ice cream truck. The day also featured a BMO Million Dollar Shootout (not won) and helicopter ball drop (with one lucky golfer winning a trip for two).

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LUXURY GOLD LAUNCHES eLEARNING PROGRAM

Created with travel agents in mind to help increase their earning potential, Luxury Gold has launched a new eLearning program, the Luxury Gold Masterclass, offered through The Travel Corporation’s Travel Agent Academy.

The program has been designed with an interactive suite of user-friendly modules, providing agents the knowledge and tools to better sell its luxury guided journeys in a time efficient manner, while thanking them for their dedication with exciting rewards.

“Our new Luxury Gold Masterclass offers travel advisors the opportunity to become a Luxury Gold Expert and increase their sales through up-to-date information on our offerings and in-depth knowledge to delight their clients with,” said Brad Ford, president of Luxury Gold Canada. “Ultimately, we created the Masterclass with our loyal advisors in mind to help them sell journeys beyond the ordinary, and we’re rewarding them for their commitment by offering eligibility for fam trips and opportunities to earn discounts on our journeys.”

The eLearning platform is divided into three levels, and agents can access the first level, Sapphire, which is available now. The modules cover an introduction to the brand, the Luxury Gold difference, tools for selling the journeys and information on the brand’s one-of-a-kind Chairman’s Collection consisting of exceptional VIP experiences, personally curated by The Travel Corporation (TTC)’s chairman, Stanley Tollman.

Agents can register at https://bit.ly/2mgDd80, offering three simple steps towards success after registering through the TTC Academy and receiving a welcome email to sign up and begin the Luxury Gold Masterclass.

www.luxurygold.com/ca

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To celebrate TravelGenie being offered through GDS systems, TravelBrands hosted a giveaway for travel agents and on Sept. 10 surprised contest winner Bonnie Oxby with the grand prize of $10,000 for herself and $10,000 for her agency, Arthur Travel Services. “We are always com-mitted to supporting our travel agent community and showing our appreciation when we can,” said Frank DeMarinis (pictured above), CEO, TravelBrands. “TravelGenie is a fantastic tool to build custom packages, saving time and money for both agents and their clients. This giveaway was a great way of showcasing TravelGenie’s capabilities, while rewarding a lucky agent with a prize.”

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