CALGARY — WestJet’s travel trade Expos were a resounding success this year, reaching over 4,000 travel agents in over 30 cities across Canada.

The first round of Expos took place in April in Toronto, Mississauga, Montreal, Calgary, Edmonton and Vancouver, with fall events starting in St. John’s in early September before travelling west to Halifax, Moncton, Ottawa, Kitchener, Winnipeg, Regina, Saskatoon and Langley. The last Expo took place on Oct. 4 in Parksville, B.C.

“With our larger travel trade Expos in the spring of 2017, our fall Expos and local presentations hosted by WestJet’s Business Development Managers throughout the year, we have had the chance to have face-time with thousands of our agent partners,” said Lyell Farquharson, Vice President, Sales and Distribution. “Every year, we are adding more events and seeing more agents in more cities because we know how valuable these events are for the travel agent community and for all of us at WestJet.”

During the Expos, travel agents were able to visit with their regional WestJet representative and WestJet Vacations hotel and destination partners. The airline also gave presentations focused on its vision for the future and its plans for expanding into new markets in order to become a global airline.

The airline’s next big event is its fifth annual Travel Partner Awards at the end of October.

On the consumer side of things, WestJet has also announced that gift cards are now available for purchase on westjet.com/giftcard, just in time for the busy holiday season.

Gift cards can be used to pay for travel on WestJet or WestJet Encore, seat selection and taxes and fees on travel. Denominations start at $25 and go up to $2,000 per card. Cards can be purchased through a secured transaction, combined with a credit card when redeeming for a flight purchase, and are redeemable on westjet.com or through travel agents.

Cards come in two forms: plastic gift cards and eGift cards.

“The gift of flight is the gift of experience, adventure and travel to any of WestJet’s more than 100 destinations across North America, Central America, the Caribbean and Europe,” said Marshall Wilmot, WestJet Chief Loyalty Officer. “You can now give and receive the gift of travel, whether that is to cover the entire cost of someone’s ticket or make a contribution; it’s a very special gift to give.”