TORONTO — Bruce Slade, with his trademark hat, was an ever-present fixture at travel industry events.

“He was everywhere,” says Huntington Travel CEO Kiran Budhdev. “He would go to all the functions. It was a tough job but he liked it.”

He was also a dedicated member of the team, and a friend, said Budhdev. “He was such a hard-working guy,” Budhdev told Travelweek. “And he was really well-liked.”

Slade passed away on Dec. 27 after a sudden battle with cancer. “He went into palliative care two months ago,” said Budhdev. “It all happened very quickly. It’s a huge loss.”

Slade was Huntington’s BDM for the past 12 years. “He came from Intair, our interview process was quick, we knew he was well-known and came from a good company,” said Budhdev. “At events everyone would gather around him, everyone talked to him.”

Budhdev added: “His dedication to the Huntington family and his 35 year knowledge of the travel industry will be a great loss to us and the travel industry as a whole.”