TORONTO — The Young Travel Professionals Toronto Chapter (YTP-TO) celebrated its second anniversary this week with a sky-high visit to the Thompson Toronto’s exclusive rooftop bar and pool.

Representing all sectors of the industry, from retail travel to cruise lines to tour operators, YTP members marked the chapter’s second year with an evening of casual networking at the stylish downtown hotel.

Launched in 2014, the Toronto Chapter is part of a global network of more than 10,000 young professionals working in the travel and tourism industry. With 15 chapters worldwide, including New York, London and Vancouver, the global organization was the first networking group created by young professionals to bring together the next generation of travel industry leaders.

“The goal of YTP is to foster genuine connections between creative, savvy and ambitious young travel professionals that go beyond the business card,” said Melissa Medeiros, Account Manager, Bannikin Travel and Tourism, and Founding Board Member of Young Travel Professionals Toronto. “In addition to our community growth, our partnerships with hotels, tour operators, destinations, travel tech, hotels, and airlines have grown exponentially as well. YTP can help the travel and tourism industry tap into its most influential demographic, from positioning their brand front and centre to recruiting fresh talent and sharing new market insight.”

Earlier this year the association published a report from its TravelFutureLab, a full-day interactive think tank that explored what motivates the next generation of travellers and what travel brands can do to invest in the development of a new generation of young travel professionals. To access the report, visit youngtravelprofessionals.com/travelfuturelab-report.

What’s next for YTP?

There are a number of new chapters on the horizon, along with innovative special events and partnership announcements. Philanthropy is a priority goal for YTP. The community will be hosting fundraising initiatives across the U.S., Canada and the UK to support its charity partner Rhinos Without Borders, a partnership between Great Plains Conservation and AndBeyond to save 100 rhinos from the poaching crisis in South Africa.

For more information about Young Travel Professionals, or to join, visit youngtravelprofessionals.com.