Man Overboard! Canada’s largest women’s travel company ‘launched’ on weekend

MAN OVERBOARD!
CANADA’S LARGEST WOMEN’S TRAVEL COMPANY ‘LAUNCHED’ ON WEEKEND

Despite soaring gas prices and a downturn in several travel industry sectors, two Canadian companies are hedging their bets and launched Canada’s largest women’s travel company over the weekend.

Leading Toronto based company, Womens Travel Network, has teamed up with Sarnia’s fast- growing, Broad Horizons, to offer Canadian women the ultimate girls-only getaways. To celebrate, they hosted a Man Overboard ladies-only cruise for hundreds of their fabulous female clientele.

Womens Travel Network founder, Debbie Ross says: “Despite all the odds, we have actually seen increased sales during this time of economic uncertainty. Our existing clients have told us that, quite simply, they have started prioritizing ‘me time’ and have really noticed a difference in how much more they have to offer when they return home.”

“Traditionally, women spend their entire lives giving to others: Raising their children, building a successful career, taking care of elderly parents and so on. Both companies were built on the idea that in order to take care of others, we really need to nurture ourselves first,” she adds.

When asked about existing clients, Broad Horizons co-founder, Meredith Pearson, told us: “On average, about 50 percent of our clients are married to husbands who do not share their interest in travel and would rather go golfing or fishing with ‘the boys’ than spend his days strolling through Rome and visiting the great works of Michelangelo. The other 50 percent of our clients are single, divorced or widowed.”

The company’s roommate match program also means that travellers never need to worry about paying a single supplement or finding someone to go with.

Womens Travel Network and Broad Horizons have been in business for six and five years respectively and have welcomed women from all across Canada and as far away as Australia on their women-only retreats. In the increasingly competitive international travel market, they have teamed up in order to pool their strengths and offer new and existing clients the most enriching and inspiring travel experiences possible.

Pearson says: “We both share the view that travel is just as much about the journey as it is about the destination and believe this is what really appeals to our clients.”

To ensure a ‘great journey,’ they offer a blog from the road, so friends and family can keep track of their adventures; recommended book, music and movie recommendations ahead of each trip; online photo albums from past trips; a quarterly newsletter (aptly named Fe-mail); and a complimentary, customized, DVD with all trip highlights. Pre and post-trip events are also organized to help travellers keep that holiday feeling as long as possible, meet new travel companions and plan their next adventure.

Upcoming destinations include, Holland, Peru, France (Provence), Costa Rica, India, Hong Kong, Thailand, Italy (Tuscany), as well as shorter, weekend retreats. Complete itineraries can be viewed at www.broadhorizonsnetwork.com and potential travellers are invited to contact us at [email protected] to give us their destination suggestions.
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