TORONTO — The Travel Agent Next Door is putting Essential Workers first with a new contest that includes two free trips to Cancun.

The contest, launched earlier this week, awards one trip to a frontline worker and the other to a first responder. Prize includes roundtrip economy airfare on WestJet for up to two adults (one of whom must be the winner), from any Canadian gateway that WestJet currently serves, and seven-night standard accommodations at any all-inclusive Palace Resort (excluding Le Blanc Spa Resort).

TTAND agents will promote the country across Canada. The contest is open to all legal Canadian residents (excluding Quebec); no purchase is necessary.

After thanking partners WestJet and Palace Resorts in Cancun for making this contest possible, TTAND founder Flemming Friisdahl said: “We wanted to offer our agents a way to engage clients and to reward the hard-working frontline workers and first responders who have provided essential services to us all.”

Frontline workers include anyone working in an industry that was deemed essential during lockdown, such as grocery store workers and bus drivers. First responders range from doctors, EMT and hospital personnel, to fire fighters, nurses, paramedics and police officers.

Anyone can nominate an individual who “went above and beyond for them or a family member” during the COVID-19 crisis. Nominations can be made up to Aug. 16 on any TTAND agent or agency website.

The winners will be chosen by a committee of TTAND agents who will review all entries. Entries will have an ID only when being reviewed in order to avoid any biased decisions being made. The committee will choose the top 10 submissions, which will go to a vote. All agents will then have the chance to vote for their favourite story. The two entries with the most votes will be declared the winners and will be notified by Sept. 1, 2020.