“It’s a very fun day”: B.C.-based BDMs go carolling at travel agencies, support food bank

Travel agencies in British Columbia were treated to some festive carolling on Friday (Dec. 15) as business development managers in the province got together, donning Santa hats and reindeer ears, to spread some holiday cheer.

For the first time since 2019, nearly a dozen BDMs loaded into a bus and visited offices in Langley, Coquitlam and Burnaby to celebrate the holiday season with song and accept donations for the Lower Mainland food bank.

“It’s a very fun day and it’s a really nice way to end off the year with lots of laughs and good cheer with our industry friends,” Freddie Marsh, Playa Hotels and Resorts’ BDM for Western Canada, told PAX.

Joining Marsh on the B.C. tour were BDMs Fiona Schonewille of Holland America Line, Joel Danyluk of Carnival Crusie Line, Carlos Peralta of Meliá Hotels International, Cindy Chau of Exoticca, Paula Rizos of The Travel Corporation, Coin Price of Azamara, Angela Cain of The Walt Disney Company, Tom Steer of Holland America Line, Emily Spadafora of Sandos Hotels and Resorts and Irene Wong of WestJet Vacations.

The group is extending a special thanks to the team at Odenza Vacations for their generous cash donation of $1,500 to the Vancouver Food Bank.

“Thank you to everyone who contributed. All of the donations were very much appreciated by the food banks,” the group said in a joint statement. 

A holiday poem

In celebration of the fun and successful day, Fiona Schonewille from Holland America wrote the following poem:

'Twas 10 days before Christmas,
when all through the town,
all the agents were stirring to lock those trips down.
The bookings were closed by the agents with care,
in hopes that their clients would soon be cruising or off in the air.
Their clients were ready all warm and snug in their beds,
while visions of their vacations danced in their heads.
 When outside the agency there rose such a clatter,
Travel advisers sprang from their desks to see what was the matter.
They ran to the window as quick as a flash,
They tore open the door to see a bus filled with Sass!
The bus door flew open and what did they see,
but a bunch of fabulous BDM’s filled with holiday glee!
 With a jolly little driver, and a bus with Reps Carlos, Angela, Emily and Tom Steer,
Off to visit agencies and spread Christmas cheer.  
Now, Freddie, Now Colin, now Fiona, and Joel,
Ready to sing the First Noel
On, Cindy, and Paula, all ready to scream
and let’s not forget our friend Irene!
This joyous bus load of visitors, BDM strong,
can’t wait to join you for a holiday sing along!
To the top of Grouse Mountain
to the Agency’s in Langley and Burnaby mall
Now Dash away Dash away Dash away all.

BDMs in Calgary, AB, will be doing a similar travel agency crawl on Monday (Dec. 18). Stay tuned for pics!

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