TORONTO — Direct Travel and its Canadian retail brand Vision Travel honoured its top producing travel advisors with a sailing on Cunard’s Queen Mary 2 from New York to Southampton, followed by a few idyllic days in England.

The retailers comprise one of the largest luxury groups in North America.

The trip was part of the celebration to recognize the group’s GEM (‘Going the Extra Mile’) advisors from all five of the company’s regions across North America.

The 25 recipients were accompanied by six senior management Direct/Vision executives as well as representatives from eight strategic partners.

On arrival in England after the transatlantic sailing, the group enjoyed a day touring the English countryside with Abercrombie and Kent and two nights in one of the legendary Savoy and St. James Hotels.

The prestigious GEM awards recognize advisors from each of Direct/Vision’s regions for top productivity in an array of sectors including strategic partner sales, air, and insurance.

The 2022 GEMs were the seventh time the prize trips have been awarded. In past years winners sailed on an Azamara cruise from Rio to Buenos Aires and on an AmaWaterways European river cruise.

“The networking, the education, the enriching programs, the sharing of dreams and goals and bonded friendships were especially meaningful as we were all together in ‘the same boat’,” said Ancaster, ON-based travel advisor Ineke Brinkman. “I have truly been inspired to continue to Go the Extra Mile.”

The destination for the 2023 GEM Trip will be announced soon.

“After two years when it was not possible or prudent to hold a GEM Trip celebrating our top advisors throughout North America, we were delighted to bring together this incredible group for such a remarkable experience,” said Gerard Bellino, EVP leisure for Direct Travel/North America.