TORONTO — From the ashes of Young Travel Professionals (YTP) rises a new networking group in Toronto called PropelTO, giving the travel industry a place to network, connect and share ideas.
The sold-out launch event, sponsored by Tour Radar and Sherpa, was held last night at the Toronto Island Marina & Yacht Club and successfully brought together over 100 industry professionals of all ages.
“When YTP disbanded all its global chapters in April, the Toronto board still saw an undeniable need to provide a venue for community and networking in a relaxed setting, for those of us who are passionate about driving the industry forward, “ says Iris Serbanescu, PropelTO board member and TourRadar’s director of partnerships.
The main difference between YTP and PropelTO is that it intends to be more inclusive, welcoming all ages. Added Annie Ewing, PropelTO board member and TTI luxury travel advisor: “Rather than focusing on an age cohort, we are building a membership that is enthusiastic and forward-thinking about the future of the travel industry at any age.”
The vision for PropelTO is to continue having causal networking events, like the launch event on the island, but also to incorporate roundtable discussions and leading edge speakers into the event series. PropelTO intends to be a voice of the travel industry and would like to be a collaborative association, getting ideas from its members and focusing on community engagement.
At the event last night, travel professionals had the chance to network, enjoy food and beverages and take in the beautiful views of the Toronto skyline. Also, an open mic session allowed guests 30 seconds to promote their brand and job openings or share anything that might be relevant to the group. This will be a staple of events going forward, with the next event planned for September.
“The event was awesome and I was able to meet a lot of different people within a short period of time. When the age limit was lifted, it seems like there were a lot more people in attendance and it was a great opportunity for me to connect with many different people across the industry,” says Kate Ivchenko, Wheels Up Network content manger and PropelTO member.
Here’s how you can get involved in PropelTO:
• Become a member and get notified of future events by signing up at propelto.org/#join-us
• Volunteer to be an Ambassador and help recruit attendees for future events
• Follow us on Facebook and use #PropelTO in social media posts
PropelTO is also seeking corporate event sponsors. Like-minded travel businesses can benefit from connecting with PropelTO’s membership base in person. Sponsors would commit to covering all or some of the cost of drinks and snacks in exchange for a chance to scout potential new hires, increase brand awareness and receive marketing privileges.
“We all love working in the travel industry and know that there is a lot of passion, knowledge and ideas floating around the community. We intended to bring together all individuals that are committed to creating an even better industry for the future, as well as continuing to build our industry friendships” says Devin Kinasz, board member and Travelweek publisher.
For more information contact PropelTO at propeltoorg@gmail.com.
