TORONTO — There was lots of energy, big smiles and high-fives as both teams gave it their best at yesterday’s 25th annual Goway & Air New Zealand Cricket Match.

It was a picture-perfect day for the event, held at the Toronto Cricket Skating and Curling Club, the oldest cricket club in North America, established in 1827. 

The day included a media mixer and cricket tutorial on cricket by Anthony Saba, Goway’s VP South Pacific, proud Australian and one of the chief organizers of the event. Following the game, there was a lively networking session over cocktails and appetizers leading up to a sit-down dinner for 130.

Fun fact, courtesy of Saba: cricket is the second largest sport globally behind football, with significant participation in Commonwealth countries. The first cricket match was reportedly played in 1844, in New York, between Canada and the USA – and  Canada won.

So who was victorious in yesterday’s match? The Air New Zealand team, with 8.2 runs, topping the Goway team’s 7.7 runs. The day’s MVP was Alice Teramoto, Goway Destination Specialist.

Ask Goway’s President and Chairman, Bruce Hodge who’s won the most games across the annual event’s 25 years, and he said, hands down, “Goway.” A quick check confirmed Hodge was right: more than half were won by Team Goway.

“For 25 years now, the Goway vs. Air New Zealand cricket match has been a highlight event on the Goway calendar,” said Saba. “Cricket has been central to Australian and New Zealander culture for over 150 years, and it’s growing in popularity across North America. Nothing speaks to Goway being No. 1 to Downunder, and its global roots, like playing an annual cricket match in Canada. It also highlights the strong partnerships that Goway has forged over the past 56 years, such as our lasting relationship with Air New Zealand.”

Mason Spencer, Account Executive at Air New Zealand, added: “Goway Travel and Air New Zealand share a special trade relationship that dates back many decades, and a big part of that close partnership is the annual Goway vs Air New Zealand cricket match, played in Toronto each year. It’s a tradition that captures the friendship and mutual respect between Goway and Air New Zealand, both on and off the field, and one Air New Zealand looks forward to being part of for many years to come.”

EUROPE SALES “EXCEPTIONAL”

Travelweek had a chance to sit down with Hodge along with Craig Canvin, Goway’s Senior VP Sales (Trade). 

Goway’s Europe sales this year have been “exceptional,” said Hodge.

Goway is also very big on groups, with upwards of 700 groups in 2025. “Not only do Groups book up to a year or more in advance, they’re also good repeat customers,” said Hodge.

“We have some ICs who are doing incredible business with Groups,” added Canvin. “Once they start, they just build on that year after year. They’re giving us 20 groups a year. It’s all word of mouth and they’re Pied Pipers. They’re going out, they find the group, they create the group and they’re the tour leader.”

Overall Goway’s top three destinations are Europe, followed by Australia, followed by Japan. The company has almost 70 staff dedicated to Europe only.

Goway is also seeing higher trip spend over the past several years, ever since the pandemic. In high demand: authentic experiences, and fully customized FIT. The company counts more than 115 destinations in its portfolio.

Lead image caption: Goway’s President and Chairman, Bruce Hodge, and Craig Canvin, Senior VP Sales (Trade) (all photos courtesy Annie Cicvaric and Aaron Li)