Flight Center Launches Accessible Travel Division with Canadian Paralympic Committee Partnership

Author: Flight Center
Published: 2009/03/25 - Updated: 2010/07/09
Topic: 2010 Vancouver Paralympics - Publications List

Page Content: Synopsis - Introduction - Main

Synopsis: Travel retailer Flight Center is pleased to announce it has entered into an exclusive partnership with the Canadian Paralympic Committee.

Introduction

Main Item

The announcement was made March 24th at the Sport BC Athlete of the Year Awards where Flight Center sponsored the 'Athlete with a Disability' category.

As Official Travel Partner to the Canadian Paralympic Committee, Flight Center will make all travel arrangements for the Canadian Paralympic Team through to the 2012 Paralympic games in London. This will include all travel for Paralympic Team Canada and mission staff, as well as athletes, friends and family to the 2010 Paralympic Winter Games.

As part of the agreement, Flight Center will donate a portion of every consumer travel dollar spent with the Flight Center Accessible Travel division to the Canadian Paralympic Committee.

"The Canadian Paralympic Committee is working to develop the strongest and best-prepared Canadian team for the 2010 Paralympic Winter Games," said Carla Qualtrough, President, Canadian Paralympic Committee. "Smooth travel will be critical to athlete preparation, and we are very pleased to have Flight Center, a recognized world leader in travel planning, to support us."

"We are extremely proud to be leading the travel industry in an area which has largely been overlooked and we are truly honored to have the Canadian Paralympic Committee as our first client." said Flight Center President Greg Dixon.

"Visiting different countries and experiencing new cultures is one of the added benefits of being a Canadian athlete," said Michelle Stilwell, Paralympian and winner of 2009 Sport BC Athlete with a Disability award. "When possible people should take the opportunity to travel and explore the world."

Flight Center has retained an industry-recognized accessible travel specialist as consultant to assist it to develop and refine the company's offering in terms of specialized product, storefront accessibility, training as to client needs and recruitment. The travel retailer has compiled three Accessible Travel teams in Vancouver, Victoria and Toronto.

"Flight Center is working with partners to establish expert travel advice to travelers with a physical disability, including seniors, wheelchair users and persons who are visually impaired. We will be relying on the advice of a number of organizations to ensure that we are continually improving the company's offering." said Dixon.

Reference: Flight Center (Canada) is a leading retailer of travel products and services for the leisure and corporate markets. Flight Center's presence in Canada includes more than 150 shops & businesses and over 1,000 staff across the country. www.flightcentre.ca

About the Canadian Paralympic Committee

The Canadian Paralympic Committee is a non-profit, charitable, private organization that delivers programs that strengthen the Paralympic Movement in Canada, including sending Canadian teams to the Paralympic Games. The CPC changes the perception of disability by empowering persons with physical disabilities, through sport, at all levels. www.paralympic.ca