25th Annual Golf Tournament Kicks Off in Jamaica
Let the games begin!
Close to 100 travel agents, tour operators, airline reps and travel agency personnel are on location at Sandals Ochi Beach Resort for the 25th annual Canadian Travel Industry Golf Tournament presented by Sandals Resorts and Baxter Media.
The festivities kicked off last night (Nov. 28) with a dinner and cocktail reception hosted by Gary Sadler, Sr. VP of sales for Unique Vacations, Inc., affiliate of the worldwide representative of Sandals and Beaches Resorts.
“I remember 25 years ago when we had our first golf tournament and we started something that we believed was the right thing to do for the Canadian travel industry, which is to get a bunch of people, take them down to Jamaica, they come down on a Thursday, they get drunk and disorderly,” Sadler said, addressing the crowd. “The concept at the time, 25 years ago, was actually quite simple — recognize Canadian travel agents, take them to a Sandals, partner with the premiere travel publication in Canada and you will have some sort of a chemistry and a magic. Travel agents continue to be the most important part of our distribution chain.”
The 25th annual Canadian Travel Industry Golf Tournament is officially underway in Ocho Rios, Jamaica. 🇯🇲#back9bybaxter #sandalsgolf pic.twitter.com/u7WC88phla
— Baxter Media (@CdnTravelPress) November 29, 2019
In addition to two days on the green, the schedule includes an excursion to Beaches Ocho Rios and culminates in an awards ceremony for the winning teams.
The Canadian Travel Industry Golf Tournament is the longest running travel industry tournament hosted by Sandals Resorts.
“Both Sandals and Baxter know the value of travel agents and want to recognize that,” said Wendy McClung, executive VP operations, Baxter Media. “Over the 25 years that we have been hosting the golf tournament at Sandals Ochi, we have been able to say thank you in person to all. We look forward to continuing to build on existing relationships and creating new ones.”
Reflecting back on the evolution of the tournament, Edith Baxter, editor-in-chief, Baxter Media, said it’s hard to believe that Sandals and Baxter have been hosting the tournament for a milestone 25 times.
“It is an event that our agency partners look forward to each and every year and it has always been an opportunity for good friends and good partners to gather and show off their skills on the links,” she said. “Enjoy the camaraderie of good company. Experience Sandals’ great hospitality and simply have a good time.”
Follow along at: https://www.travelpress.com/jamaica-golf-2019/ .
In the photo (above):
Pictured at the opening event are David McClung, Baxter Media; Maureen Barnes-Smith, UVI Canada; Wendy McClung, Baxter Media; Gary Sadler, UVI; and Sandra Scott, the former deputy director of the Jamaica Tourist Board.
In the photo
Jamaica Tourist Board’s Angella Bennett and Baxter Media’s David McClung.
