TORONTO — Sunwing’s vice president Daryl McWilliams died this week after a short illness.

His long career in the travel industry traces the evolution of the modern industry.

After studying at McMaster University, he joined Suntours which soon became the biggest tour operator in Canada just as the inclusive tour charter concept was being developed.

He then joined Skylark Holidays in 1973 before forming Paramount Holidays with Skylark colleague David Sparkes.

He then moved into the fast-growing cruise business by forming Encore Cruises with his then wife and Paramount colleague Vanessa Lee.

For the past few years he has been working with a fellow veteran of the Suntours days –Colin Hunter – at Sunwing.

McWilliams also gave back to the industry, serving as the most recent chairman of the Canadian Association of Tour Operators (CATO) and on the Board of Directors of the Travel Industry Council of Ontario (TICO).