Western BDMs come together for the holidays with annual carolling tradition

Western Canada’s BDMs are getting into the holiday spirit, with reps in both Alberta and British Columbia doing a bit of carolling for a good cause in their respective territories.

In Edmonton, the carolling tradition brought together a number of local reps, who visited local travel agencies collecting food bank donations. According to Trafalgar’s Alberta Sales Manager Jodine Clement, the carolling has been an annual tradition in Calgary for more than 10 years, with the group returning to Edmonton this year after a few years off.

Participating BDMs included:

• Brad Gibson – Insight
• Jason Gignac – Iberostar
• Jeff Carpenter – TravelBrands
• Jen Bradley – Transat
• Jodine Clement – Trafalgar
• Joel Danyluk – Contiki
• Judy Bunkall – Manulife
• Keltie Martell – Sunwing
• Kent Phillips – Exodus
• Paul Durand – Auto Europe

The group also put their own spin on the Twelve Days of Christmas, which was sung to the agencies:

On the Twelfth Day of Christmas, my true love gave to me:

Twelve Feet of Legroom (Insight)

Eleven Insurance Policies (Manulife)

Ten Reps a Carollling

Nine Travel Styles (Trafalgar)

Eight Sandy Beaches (Sunwing)

Seven Europe Long Stays (TravelBrands)

Six Option Plus (Transat)

Five Steins of Beer (Contiki)

Four Walking and Wine Tours (Exodus)

Three Car Leases (Auto Europe)

Two new Iberostars (Iberostar)

And the Best Reps in the West!

The caroling follows last week’s participation by The Travel Corporation’s Calgary sales team and several local travel agents in helping out The Mustard Seed, a local Calgary charity that serves people experiencing poverty and homelessness in Alberta. The volunteers helped out by sorting the many donations that are received by the organization.

Vancouver reps sing their hearts out

Not to be outdone, 20 Vancouver BDMs got together on Dec. 17 to sing at 11 travel agencies across metro Vancouver, collecting food and money donations for local foodbanks. According to Freddie Marsh, Playa Hotels & Resorts’ business development manager for Western Canada, the group was inspired by the Alberta BDMs’ annual carolling.

In Vancouver, participating reps included:

• Afra Davis – TravelBrands
• Ana Vasquez – Air Canada Vacations
• Bruno Munoz – Transat
• Carlo Trinidad – AMResorts
• Cindy Chau – Carnival Cruise Line
• Christy King – RIU Hotels & Resorts
• Dave Emery – Realistic Asia
• Emily Spadafora – WestJet
• Fatima DaSilva – Norwegian Cruise line
• Fiona Schonewille – Holland America
• Freddie Marsh – Playa Hotels & Resorts
• Kat Houseman – Iberostar Hotels & Resorts
• Leanne Hill – MSC Cruises
• Lisa Willey – Uniworld
• Miles Walker – Blue Roads Touring
• Oben Sert – Trafalgar
• Shane Buksh – Royal Caribbean
• Sofia Ferreira – Sunwing
• Tom Steer – Holland America
• Wade Mernard – Princess Cruises

Marsh also shared a Christmas poem sent out to the agencies before the group arrived:

'Twas the week before Christmas,

When all through the town,

All the agents were stirring to finally slow down.

The bookings were closed by the agents with care,

In hopes that their clients would soon be in the air.

Their clients were all snug in their beds,

While visions of their vacations danced in their heads.

When outside the agency there rose such a clatter,

Travel advisors sprang from their desks to see what was the matter,

Away to the window as quick as a flash,

They tore open the door to see a bus arrive filled with Sass!

Out they went to see,

But 20+ BDM’s filled with glee.

With a little driver taking them all around here,

visiting agencies and spreading Christmas cheer.

Now Freddie, now Fatima, now Fiona, Cindy and Wade!

On Kat, Emily and Afra, and who could forget Shane?

With 20+ BDM’s leading the way strong,

We look forward to visiting you this day and having a sing along!

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