This year’s unprecedented pandemic didn’t stop the travel industry from stepping up during the holidays to help the less fortunate and give back to local communities. From Sandals to The Travel Agent Next Door, here’s just a few of the notable successes of the season:
SANDALS
Nearly 11,000 children across Bahamas, Jamaica, Turks and Caicos, Antigua, St. Lucia, Grenada, and Barbados received a Christmas gift this year, courtesy of the Sandals Foundation.
New toys and games were donated by the non-profit arm of Sandals Resorts and Beaches Resorts as part of an annual Christmas toy drive that has been in place for more than 10 years and includes partner, Hasbro.
Support for the initiative also comes from staff at Sandals and Beaches, resort guests, and travel industry partners. The Salvation Army, police, schools and local community groups all help with delivery logistics.
“Christmas is a magical time for children and this year should be no different. Because it has been such a tough time for families across the Caribbean, it was even more important for us to do what we could to help bring joy and, of course, a sense of hope through the delivery of these gifts,” says Heidi Clarke, executive director at the Sandals Foundation, adding that this year’s challenges made it even more critical to maintain a semblance of normalcy during the holidays.
THE TRAVEL AGENT NEXT DOOR
Nearly 50 The Travel Agent Next Door members who found themselves in need this holiday season got a helping hand through the organization’s “The Holiday Joy” campaign. Packages that included $200 towards groceries to cover their holiday dinner, a $75 gift card for each family member in the residence to help towards gifts, and even a $25 gift card for pets, were given to help qualifying members with expenses.
The response to the initiative far surpassed TTAND’s expectation of sponsoring 10 families that had no working members in the household on account of the pandemic (submissions were confidential).
One agent donated $1,200 on a live webinar and another agent donated 10 food packages including turkey and full trimmings.
“We were overwhelmed by the response of the TTAND team, but we should not have been surprised knowing how generous our agents, staff and supplier partners are,” said TTAND founder Flemming Friisdahl. “Even through the hardest times, the travel industry has proved just how kind and giving they are.”
TRAVELBRANDS
TravelBrands reports that it raised $5,000 to Food Banks Canada this year – a tally that was further matched with a personal donation by company CEO, Frank DeMarinis.
“Our team always looks for new ways to give back to communities in Canada and this year was no different. We’ve seen the amazing work Food Banks Canada has accomplished across Canada and I hope our donations will help support their goals and help Canadians in need,” said DeMarinis.
Over the years, TravelBrands has supported multiple charities and organizations including SickKids, the Mississauga Food Bank, local shelters and youth services, and more.