A First For TDC

Transat Distribution Canada (TDC) recently held its ground-breaking LGBTQ Destination Wedding fam in Puerto Vallarta with 35 TDC agents from across Canada attending.

The fam was an industry first — and exclusively offered by Transat Distribution Canada to its network of travel professionals – as TDC continues to be an industry leader in offering educational forums for its travel professionals that respond to the latest consumer trends.

The Destination Wedding fam included comprehensive training on LGBTQ destination weddings and the special requirements of the LGBTQ wedding market – including site inspections, mock LGBTQ destination weddings and in-class training.

The program was developed in response to the growing demand for LGBTQ destination weddings following valuable consultation with LGBTQ wedding expert, Bernadette Smith, CEO, the Equality Institute.

“Our 2018 wedding survey of engaged and married LGBTQ couples tells us that nearly 50% of these couples fear discrimination when wedding planning. TDC agents now have the tools and expertise to guide these couples towards a safe and joyful experience as they plan their weddings and honeymoons. This creates a win for everyone,” said Bernadette Smith, Equality Institute.

The week included mock weddings which were a highlight as the participants were able to experience LGBTQ destination weddings firsthand, giving them a glimpse into current trends and offerings to better support their couples.

Justin M. Clarey, Marlin Travel Port Hope, commented: “Attending this LGBTQ-focused Wedding FAM was an incredible experience and one that made me profoundly proud to be part of the TDC network.

Clarey continued: “For some LGBTQ couples, choosing a destination wedding comes with a lot of anxiety. It is important as Travel Professionals to be well trained to ensure all of our couples feel included and valued. It is truly touching to see Transat develop this initiative demonstrating their support of the LGBTQ community.”