More than fifty Travel Masters experience specialists, franchise partners, Support Team members and their guests attended the Annual Impact Awards and Christmas Party, this year held at a venue kept secret until the day before. The H.R. Macmillan Space Centre in Vancouver proved to be a dynamic venue accommodating the performances, games and award ceremony.

Surprises unfolded throughout the evening. During the opening remarks, James Shearer (COO) was interrupted during a prize draw by Conni Smudge and Carlotta Gurl, two drag queens, who were the surprise guest hosts.

Travel Masters celebrates its team through an on-going program known as Impact Awards. Annually an award ceremony recognizes the best of the best. The 2015 Impact Award winners are:

  • Amber Taylor (Calgary) received the Business Growth Award after a year of solid growth in sales, commissions and increasing the team working directly with her.
  • Sharleen Dickson (White Rock) was the recipient of the Marketing Success Award thanks to very tangible results achieved through marketing female-focused travel services.
  • James Shearer (Support Team) received the Community Hero Award based on his long standing commitment to pre-hospital emergency care and leadership role in St. John Ambulance.
  • Coreen Calvert (Calgary) was awarded the Franchise Partner of the Year based on her enthusiasm, focus on growth and willingness to try new ideas.
  • Marielle Benson (Support Team) was recognized for her professionalism and customer service with the Support Team Member of the Year.
  • Alyssa Jimenez (Vancouver Downtown) received the Experience Specialist of the Year award in recognition of her tremendous customer service and overall commitment to the company and its progress.

Food and wines were in plentiful supply, provided by Potluck Catering, an award winning Social Enterprise designed to create jobs in Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside.

“The venue, caterer, and hosts were all easy choices for us,” recalled Shearer. “Our people create lasting memories for their clients every single day. This was our opportunity to create an event like no other and show our appreciation for their dedication to Travel Masters. I feel we really showcased the passion in our company and how we combine wit with creativity to produce a real impact. ‘Take A Break From Ordinary’ is what we are all about.”

Last December, Travel Masters supported a charity called Kiva which loans money to individuals in developing countries enabling them to start a new endeavor or support an existing small business. This year, with much of last year’s loan money already repaid, donations from party attendees raised another $500 which will be added to last year’s growing pool of funds available to loan.

More than twenty travel industry suppliers stepped up to donate prizes that were awarded throughout the event.

Here are some photos from the event!

About Tuck Entertainment 
Tuck Entertainment provides a one-stop shop to the most amazing drag queens located in Vancouver, BC Canada. Tuck Entertainment’s Drag Queens will entertain you at private parties, corporate functions, fashion events, nightclubs, casinos, cruise ships, birthday parties, weddings, social events, and fundraisers. Tuck Entertainment prides itself on giving back to the community, and we are dedicating part of our business to support charities. To learn more about Tuck Entertainment, visit www.tuckentertainment.com.

About Potluck Café Society 
As an award winning Social Enterprise, the mission of Potluck Café Society is to transform lives by creating jobs and providing healthy food for people living in Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside (DTES).
Potluck Café Society operates Potluck Café & Catering to earn revenue to support its community programs and create jobs for neighbourhood residents with barriers to traditional employment. To learn more about Potluck Catering, visit www.potluckcatering.org.

About Kiva
Kiva is a non-profit organization with a mission to connect people through lending to alleviate poverty. Leveraging the internet and a worldwide network of microfinance institutions. To learn more about Kiva, visit www.kiva.org.

About H.R. Macmillan Space Centre
The H.R. MacMillan Space Centre is a non‐profit community resource that brings the wonders of space to Earth, while providing a personal sense of ongoing discovery. Through innovative programming, exhibits and activities, our goal is to inspire sustained interest in the fields of Earth science, space science and astronomy. To learn more about the H.R. Macmillan Space Centre, visit www.spacecentre.ca

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James Shearer

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