Sunwing

On National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, we at Sunwing acknowledge the history and stories of Indigenous communities and honour the victims and survivors of residential schools, along with their families. We proudly stand by First Nations, Inuit and Métis communities across Canada - we remain committed to our own education of past and present events that contributed to the inequalities that still exist today, including providing employees with learning resources and soon, volunteer educational opportunities in collaboration with The Canadian Library, to support the preservation of Indigenous history, cultural heritage and resiliency. #NDTR

Representing the passionate, entrepreneurial and innovative values that drive our business forward, this week over 150 leaders across Sunwing Vacations Group's six powerhouse vacation and retail brands gathered together at our second annual leadership event, Amplify, for a day of celebration and learning about key business, brand and strategic updates that are positioning the group for continued future growth.    To drive the vacation vibe home, every presenter donned matching tropical shirts emblazoned with flamingos and palm leaves that elevated the energy of the event to incredible heights (see photos for proof!) and reflected who we are as a team. We're so proud to work alongside such devoted leaders at Sunwing Vacations Group, and look forward to another 365 of making vacation dreams come true!   Thank you to our special guests Alexis von Hoensbroech, WestJet Group CEO, Armin Kaestner of RIU Hotels & Resorts and Luisa Oyarzábal Gómez-Reino from NexusTours.com for joining us in these celebrations.    Photo credit: Navy Nhum, Sunwing Vacations Group.

We recently hosted our annual Pride Brave Space Conversation, where four members across Sunwing shared their unique experiences as members of the 2SLGBTQ+ community. Among many invaluable takeaways, including how our company can continue to create and improve upon a safe and inclusive workplace, our speakers expressed their appreciation for the support they've received from colleagues and leadership alike – a sentiment that aligns deeply with our core values.   We're grateful for the vulnerability and honesty our colleagues shared, and for the opportunity to continue learning from their firsthand perspectives and diverse backgrounds. Thank you to all who engaged in this important discussion and show pride for our colleagues, day in and out!

🌟 Award Alert 🌟 We are thrilled to announce that Sunwing Vacations was honoured with two prestigious awards at Baxter Media’s 2024 Agents’ Choice Awards Gala held at The Carlu in Toronto last week! 🏆🎉 Sunwing's STAR Points program was awarded the Favourite Travel Agent Loyalty Program. Plus, Lorraine Brisbois, Senior Business Development Manager for Sunwing, was one of the esteemed award recipients in the Favourite Supplier Representatives category! We would like to extend our heartfelt thanks to all those who showed support by voting, and congratulate our amazing teams who work with our travel advisor community to make our mutual customers’ vacation dreams come true!

On National Indigenous Peoples Day, we recognize the diverse cultures and outstanding contributions of the First Nations people, Inuit and Métis in our communities across Canada. Honoured by Canadians in June and Americans in October, these celebrations mark the spiritual significance of the summer solstice for Indigenous peoples and the impact of their heritage on the land and culture in North America. As we continue moving our company forward with our DEI strategy at the forefront, we’re committed to education, acknowledgement and celebrating the First Nations’ history not just on these given days, but every day ahead.

Team win alert! We’re thrilled to share that Sunwing was awarded Canadian Mass Market Tour Partner of the Year at this year’s Power of Partnership awards. Held at the recent Travel Leaders Network national conference, agencies and suppliers within the travel industry were honoured for exhibiting exemplary dedication and partnership. Our Director of Sales, Dave Wright was on site to accept on behalf of this award-winning team and we couldn’t be prouder of everyone involved!

Today is Juneteenth, and we at Sunwing are recognizing this monumental day that celebrates the historic progress towards equality. This day marks a pivotal moment for Black Americans in 1865 who were freed from slavery through the end of the civil war, and honours the efforts and accomplishments of Black communities around the world as they continue the fight for equal rights. For an in-depth exploration into the history of Juneteenth and for ways to celebrate the occasion, visit www.juneteenth.com.

We were thrilled to be in Calgary last week for the annual WestJet Group Leadership Summit, where leaders came together to share strategic updates, celebrate the group’s successes and inspire a greater sense of purpose.   Sunwing Vacations Group President Andrew Dawson and Chief Marketing & Digital Officer Samantha Taylor took to the stage for the Executive Leadership Team panel, followed by a Sunwing Vacations Group update, where they shared more about the strategic vision for the vacation division and what they’re most passionate about when it comes to the vacation journey, from product and our ongoing resort partnerships to in-destination excursions, resort cuisine and more.   A huge shoutout to the entire Sunwing Vacations Group team, whose passion and dedication fuels us to make Canadians' vacation dreams come true!

The sun came out this week as our Sunwing family in Toronto and Laval celebrated the arrival of summer with a Beach Bash full of fun giveaways, ocean-themed décor, mouthwatering snacks and even an ice cream truck stationed outside our Toronto office! Huge thanks and kudos to our amazing Product and Finance teams who orchestrated such memorable events, and to our colleagues who showed their support and brought the heat to yet another successful Sunwing Days event! Thank you again to our fantastic Product and Finance teams, as well as our epic partners who helped bring the Beach Bash to life: Iberostar Group, Jamaica Tourist Board, HIC Hotels, Manulife and Mr. Patty. 

Happy Pride Month! At Sunwing, we're celebrating Pride in full colour with a number of initiatives planned by our DEI Committee for this month and throughout the year. From our insightful and important Brave Space Conversation later this June to providing employees with assets and helpful resources, and an upcoming partnership we're thrilled to share more on soon, we are honoured to be an ally to our 2SLGBTQ+ coworkers, friends, families and communities.