Sunwing & WestJet Vacations combine trade sales teams

Last week, a team-building workshop marked the official coming together of WestJet Vacations’ trade sales team and the existing Sunwing Vacations team united under the leadership of Deana Murphy, vice president of sales and business development for Sunwing Vacations Group.

Travel advisors will keep working with their familiar contacts at both brands, which will continue to operate independently and offer their own unique products, reads a press release.

Shannon Cunningham, director of sales for WestJet Vacations, Graeme Franklin, director of sales for Western Canada, David Wright, director of sales for Ontario and Atlantic Canada and Gustavo Moor, business development manager for Quebec, now all report to Murphy, with their respective teams continuing to report to each director.

"It was wonderful having the whole team from across Canada come together for the first time," said Murphy in a press release. "Everyone thoroughly enjoyed getting to know each other during the events. I’m confident the travel advisors will continue to enjoy working with all of their favourite WestJet Vacations and Sunwing Vacations team members as we continue to differentiate and uniquely promote the two brands."

The two-day workshop kicked off with a hands-on culinary experience at Chef Upstairs in Vaughan, where teams prepped and cooked a six-course meal together.

This was followed by a full day of strategic planning meetings at the Sunwing head office, concluding with an evening with the Blue Jays at the Rogers Centre.

“This integration marks a milestone in the WestJet Group's tour operations strategy, creating a unified sales force that positions the combined entity as Canada's leading tour operator while preserving the unique strengths of both vacation brands,” the company said.

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