Delta hosts partners at Taste of Toronto

Delta Air Lines was dishing out some of its signature hospitality at the 2nd annual Taste of Toronto on July 3, inviting travel trade and corporate partners to enjoy champagne, good company and tiny packages of peanuts from its VIP lounge as part of its sponsorship for the event.

“The inspiration [for sponsoring Taste of Toronto] was to showcase the Delta difference in a way that was meaningful to Toronto, and we thought that this event was a really great way to extend the Delta brand,” Steven Larkin, director of sales, Canada for Delta told PAX.

The company's lounge was decked out in white sofas, red velvet ropes and had the Delta logo emblazoned on its throw pillows, with brand ambassadors on hand to meet and greet with guests. According to Larkin, who joined Delta's corporate team 10 months ago, the informal atmosphere inside the VIP space was intentional.

“The Delta difference is the people,” he said, referring to the flight attendants and corporate staff who were in attendance for the duration of the evening, mingling with guests over cocktails and snacks. “We just wanted to give our trade partners an opportunity to come in and meet [the Delta team] in a casual setting. Tonight is about enjoying the Taste of Toronto.”

The annual event featured menu items, master classes and presentations from the city’s most popular restaurants and chefs, and ran from July 2-5, 2015.

PHOTO: Of Delta: Charles-Oliver Defaud, district sales manager; Adeline Peikham-Hseih, general sales manager, Canada; Pedro Thomas-Almonte, flight attendant; Steven Larkin, director of sales, Canada & Maxine Okata-Olsen, flight attendant