The stunning Lady Sandals
Linda Wright of Thomas Cook and Merit Travel's Brenda Kyllo
Lindsay Cavan, Robert Reid and
Cheryl Isaacs of the Thomas Cook Canada business development team
I must be blessed. I’ve just been treated to a cruise aboard the Lady Sandals – for the second time in three months.
This time around, the folks at Thomas Cook Canada teamed up with the Sandals/Beaches team to host a delightful dinner cruise in Toronto harbour. And it was the perfect evening, with the 160’ yacht surrounded by boats with sails flashing white in the setting sun. I could get used to this.
My 50 fellow cruisers comprised Sandals & Beaches staff, sales folks from Thomas Cook and key travel agents and retail head office staff. Spotting soaking up the luxe atmosphere were Brad Miron of iTravel2000, Penny Martin of TPI, Ensemble’s Chris Lackstrom, Brenda Kyllo of Merit Travel, Christine James of Vacation.com and Advantage’s Jennifer Armstrong. Oh, and Binod Singh, who told me that among his various business enterprises, he now owns a bingo hall.
As we dined on lobster salad and chicken with Portobello mushrooms, the chat turned to the coming winter. All report good sales, perhaps not as strong as they’d like (no surprise) – with many crediting the beautiful summer weather as a deterrent to thinking of the cold and snow to come. It’s tough when you work in an industry which relishes a gloomy, rainy summer.
Sandals’ Omar Josephs gave the group an update on the resorts (including news that there will be a Greg Norman golf clinic this fall at Emerald Bay in Great Exuma) while Amr Younes of Thomas Cook thanked everyone for their support and reminded them that their new airline, Thomas Cook by Jazz features 31” pitch and lots of optional upgrades including access to the VIP lounge at Pearson.
As we reluctantly stepped ashore, it was a moment to reflect that yes, in this business there are times when we are made to feel very special. Many thanks, all.
