It was a treat for travel industry friends to gather at the annual ACTA golf tournament on 13JUL.
For ACTA president Wendy Paradis it was doubly sweet.
With the worldwide pandemic easing last summer, ACTA was able to hold its yearly tourney for the first time since 2019. But Paradis was diagnosed with COVID-19 and had to skip the tournament, as did two other association employees.
“I tested positive the night before the tournament,” Paradis said in a one-on-one chat with Open Jaw. “So, it’s really great. It’s really great to be back to doing things that bring the industry together.”
Paradis welcomed a sold-out tournament crowd to Royal Ontario Golf Club in Milton, Ontario on a day that started with heavy overnight rains. Things cleared up shortly before tee time, much to everyone’s relief.
Following morning coffee, breakfast and vital industry networking, Paradis greeted the crowd alongside a singer and two dancers from Antigua and Barbuda, the event’s destination sponsor.
“It’s our 33rd annual tournament, and we’ve only had rain three times,” she said.
Jamie Fox, Senior Manager, Regional Sales for Air Canada, said the airline was proud to be the tournament’s title sponsor.
“We have a great partner in ACTA,” he said. “Golf and ACTA brings people together, fosters friendships, and develops great partnerships.”
Other sponsors included Manulife, Visit Jamaica, Allianz, Silversea, The Israel Ministry of Tourism, Club Med, WestJet, Visit Portugal, and Marriott.
“I really like that there are suppliers at each of the 18 tee boxes,” said Louise Gardiner from The Agency Solution, The Travel Agent Next Door. “It gives us a chance to talk with them for several minutes and to catch up or grab a business card.”
“It’s also nice that some have drinks or ice cream,” she added with a smile.
Some suppliers went all out. Barbados had flavourful rum punch with added spices, thankfully small cups so the golfers could concentrate. Miami had a roofless, shiny red Fiat that had been turned into a miniature coffee shop, with a barista serving cappuccino, lattes, and delicious frappuccino.
Air Canada had a putting game for prizes, such as AC suitcase packing cubes. They also served up cold, non-alcoholic drinks, fruit bars and bags of nuts.
It all took place on a gorgeous slice of golfing property just west of YYZ, with lovely lakes, deep green fairways and bunkers that probably swallowed the odd golf ball. Hoots and hollers – and the odd groan of dismay – echoed throughout the day.
Advisors and industry members gathered on the sunny porch at Royal Ontario for a nice barbeque lunch, then were treated to a splashy cocktail party, an indoor dinner, and, of course, plenty of great prizes.
(STAY TUNED FOR OPEN JAW'S MONDAY BRIEF for an update on ACTA’s advocacy efforts for Canadian agencies and advisors.)
