l-r: Andrew Dawson, Sunwing Travel Group; Susan Bowman, Transat Distribution Canada; Suzanne Christie; Sarah Dawson & Pierre LePage, CATO
Disney people from l-r:
Leeanne Gidwani; Ann Bellotto;
Marlie Morrison & Hayden Yates
Ivanna
l-r: Penny Martin, TPI; Nina Slawek & Stuart Morcombe, Not The Status
Quo Inc.
It was in a sea of pink and with a wave of warm best wishes that Open Jaw recently celebrated its 10th birthday. How time flies!
100 of the who’s-who of the industry convened at the fashionable Capitol Event Theatre in the Toronto’s leafy mid-town to sip champagne (pink, naturellement) and congratulate Open Jaw’s legendary ladies, Suzanne Christie and Nina Slawek, and the entire Open Jaw team. Making a rare – but spectacular – appearance was Open Jaw’s own Ivanna Gabbalot. (Her hair is pink. Who knew?)
The evening gave many guests the chance to reminisce about the past 10 years. Spotted in the crowd were Sunwing’s Lawrence Elliott; Zeina Gedeon of ACV; Doreen Lynch, now a part of the Thomas Cook group; Chris Lackstrom and Federica Maraboli of Ensemble; Nieves Ricardo of the Cuba Tourist Board and her husband Rick McCauley of Barcelo; Mrs. Anguilla Dale Pusching; and many, many more.
While pink feather boas were handed out to all guests, it was lovely to see how many came prepared to celebrate the event wearing pink duds.
The event also saw the awarding of the first Pinky Awards, given to Open Jaw’s most treasured partners from their early days. The winners were:
For Overlooking First Impressions: To Wolf Paunic, then the Director of Marketing for Globus, who showed up at Open Jaw’s then “office” (Nina’s home) to be greeted by her husband, fresh from the shower and wrapped in a towel. Wolf signed the advertising contract anyway.
For Most Surprising Early Partner: To Disney (“the biggest fish”), for trusting a start-up on-line publication, because back at the turn of the century Nina and Suzanne were constantly being asked whether travel agents used the internet.
For Most Innovative: To Dean Dacko, then with ACV, for chipping in $10,000 to help start up Open Jaw’s now hugely-successful Fax Board (and saving countless trees in the process).
For Best Listener: They say women are the best listeners but in Suzanne and Nina’s mind this one is a man: Michael Friisdahl of the now Thomas Cook group. “Not only did he take us seriously, he provided some much-needed direction on how to finance the shindig,” said Suzanne in her tribute.
And what will the next 10 years hold for Open Jaw – and the industry? All of us in this business would sure love to have a crystal ball, but I think it’s safe to say that in 2021 there will be more pink champagne, more folks clamouring to get a higher profile via the pink couch, and Ivanna will still be as delightfully politically incorrect. Bless her.
Happy Birthday, Open Jaw!
Anniversary Wishes from readers
