Friends In Travel: Industry insiders kick off summer in style

It started as a simple idea over happy hour cocktails: reconnect, celebrate the travel industry, and enjoy a summer evening among friends.

On Thursday evening (June 5), that idea came to life high above downtown Toronto, where around 80 travel professionals gathered on the scenic outdoor terrace of Maxine Gundermann’s condo building.

With soaring views, the terrace was the perfect backdrop for a lively, agenda-free evening of connection, laughter, and a shared love for all things travel.

The brains behind the bash? Jenni Berg, director of sales and national accounts at TTC Tour Brands, and Gundermann, newly-appointed director of commercial development at PortsToronto.

Longtime colleagues and friends, the duo bonded years ago at a similar industry event in the summer of 2016. Nearly a decade later, their mutual desire to reconnect with peers and spark fresh connections in the industry led them to create Friends in Travel — a social gathering designed “just for fun.”

“We’re all in this industry for a lot of reasons,” Berg told PAX. “But one of the best parts is definitely the people.”

What started as a casual idea turned into a full-scale event, thanks in part to the help of industry sponsors who eagerly jumped on board.

Headlining sponsors TTC Tour Brands, Crystal Cruises, and Uniworld were joined by guest sponsors Holland America Line, Royal Irish Tours, Goway, and Celestyal to curate an invitation list of travel advisors, account executives, and supplier reps.

As the night go underway, attendees toasted the start of summer with drinks, shared stories from the road, and snapped selfies.

“We all have so much in common, and connect through our passion of travel and people,” Gundermann said. “It’s nice to be able to celebrate the relationships that we have made through working together over the years!”

As for whether Friends in Travel will become an annual affair? “We shall see…” said Berg.

If the night’s energy was any indication, Toronto’s travel tribe is more than ready to make this a summer tradition.

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