The Travel Agent Next Door has hosted numerous virtual activities this year and its most recent initiative was the Holiday Joy campaign, which was launched in an effort to give back locally to their travel agent partners.

Understanding the hardships that the industry has faced this year, TTAND wanted to spread some Holiday Joy by supporting its agents. It was designed to be easy to apply — if you do not have anyone working full-time in your household you could apply if you felt you needed some support.

Initially, TTAND had planned to sponsor 10 families to help cover some expenses over the festive period. However, when the campaign launched on a live webinar, the generosity of other TTAND agents shone through once again, with TTAND agents, employees and supplier partners all asking how they could donate to the cause.

One agent donated $1,200 on a live webinar and another agent donated 10 food packages including turkey & full trimmings.  And TTAND suppliers learned of the campaign and personally donated money to support the TTAND family of agents.

TTAND founder, Flemming Friisdahl said: “We were overwhelmed by the response of the TTAND team, but we should not have been surprised knowing how generous our agents, staff and supplier partners are. Their support has been invaluable in making this happen.”

The Holiday Joy contest brought in 53 submissions from agents applying with all applications remaining private and confidential.

From the 48 qualifying applications, The Travel Agent Next Door was able to provide Holiday Joy to ALL those who submitted.

The Holiday Joy package includes $200 towards groceries to cover the holiday dinner, a $75 gift card for each family member in the residence to help towards gifts and even pets receive a $25 gift card.

Said Friisdahl: “Even through the hardest times, the travel industry has proved just how kind and giving they are. Wishing everyone Happy Holidays. On one hand I am so very happy we were able to support so many of the agents that just need a little support this year and at the same time, I am so sad so many of our partners are having such a tough time of it. This is why we also recued their fees till April 2022 and secured their tiering till the end of 2022, just to make sure they are less to worry about.”

He added: “We are much closer to the end of COVID-19 than to the start and we will make it through.”