TTAND and friends throw surprise retirement party for Penny Martin

Last night (July 31), travel industry colleagues and friends gathered at the Sheraton Centre Hotel Toronto to celebrate Penny Martin’s official retirement from The Travel Agent Next Door (TTAND).

Announced last November, Martin’s retirement from her role as vice-president of agent experience comes after a decade-long tenure with the company, where she worked tirelessly alongside president and founder, Flemming Friisdahl, to build the company from scratch.

At that time, Friisdahl recalled the incredible impact that Martin had on TTAND’s overwhelming success.

“Penny has been by my side from well before we even opened our doors and I could not have built this company without her and she has been a key member of our team and instrumental in our growth,” he said. “Timely and complete support for our agents is one of the key pillars at The Travel Agent Next Door and Penny has overseen this area from the beginning, ensuring our agents had everything they needed to sell travel and be successful.”

Friisdahl added: “Many people often would joke that Penny was my work wife and Rhonda was my home wife. I’m not sure who was the lucky one but without both these ladies The Travel Agent Next Door would simply not be the company it is. I am VERY happy for Penny as she moves into this new phase in her life.”

As tears flowed, mostly from Penny, heartfelt words from Flemming Friisdahl, vice-president of talent development Rhonda Stanley and Michael Friisdahl were spoken about her kind spirit, determination and indelible mark she is leaving on the company and the people she worked with during a career that spanned 30 years in the travel industry.