Lina DeCesare, Paul Simier & Monique
Audet
Air Canada rouge flight attendants welcome guests with a
glass of bubbly
Award recipients Éric St-Pierre, RCI & Julie
Carpentier, Voyages Mille et Une Nuits
The Quebec travel industry showed ROC how to do a do with a red
carpet gala that brought out a who's who of the Belle Province. It was
the 3rd edition of the Gala Uni-Vers, an awards event hosted by the Quebec
Association of Travel Agents (AAVQ) - (an association which grew out of
dissatisfaction with the ruling ACTA party).
The annual event aims is to recognize and honour the Quebec
travel industry's best and brightest for the current year. Consumers were
invited to vote for their favourite airline, cruise line, resort chain and
destination on the AAVQ website over a 2 wk. period, following an
advertorial published in La Presse, one of the event's major sponsors. Travel
professionals were also invited to vote.
This year's gala was particularly glamourous, with a red
carpet leading to the Rialto Theatre's entrance where Air France and Air Canada
rouge crews welcomed the 300 attendees. Guests were welcomed with a glass of
Drapier champagne, sponsored by Atout France.
Recently voted one of the best chefs in the world Jerôme
Ferrer (owner of Ferrera in Montreal) was in charge of the food,
compliments of Air Canada. A great band, singers and dancers entertained
throughout the evening adding to the festive atmosphere. Following the award
ceremony, 3 industry pioneers were inducted into the Transat Travel Industry
Hall of Fame; Monique Audet (for her crucial role with the recognition of the
value of travel counsellors); Lina Di Cesare (for her role in building Transat
to where it is today) and travel journalist Paul Simier (recognizing his
passion for travel throughout his 40 yr. career).
The winners voted by consumers are:
Airline of the year : Air Transat
Finalists: Air Canada, Air France, Sunwing & WestJet.
Cruise Line of the year : Royal Caribbean International
Finalists: Celebrity Cruises, MSC Cruises, Norwegian Cruise
Line & Princess Cruises.
Hotel chain of the year: RIU Hotels & Resorts
Finalists : AMResorts, Bahia Principe Hotels & Resorts,
Iberostar Hotels & Resorts & Melia Hotels & Resorts.
Destination of the year: Italy
Finalists: Cuba, Jamaica, Mexico and the Dominican Republic.
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Awards voted by travel professionals
Sales Representative of the year: Eric St-Pierre,
Royal Caribbean International.
Finalists : Christopher Jeffrey-Racine, Transat Tours &
David Côté, ACV.
Travel Counsellor of the year: Julie Carpentier, Voyages
Mille et Une Nuit
Finalists : Nathalie Ettesone, Voyages AML & Nathalie
Lahaie, Voyages Arc-en-ciel
Travel Agency of the year : Voyages Marinair Club Voyages
Finalists : Voyages Excellence & Voyages Laurier Du
Vallon.
Corporate Agency of the year : Vision Travel Solutions
Finalists : Groupe Encore Travel &Groups Mondesa.
Speciallty Agency of the year: Voyages Louise Drouin
Finalists : Voyages Gendron & Voyages Sindbad.
Tour Operator of the year: Transat Tours Canada
Finalistes: Tours Chanteclerc & Air Canada Vacations.
Travel related services provider of the year: Manulife
Insurance
Finalists : Transat Insurance & Blue Cross Insurance.
