Travel Trade Crusade – it’s not too late to enter a team!

April 4, 2013 - PRLog -- Crossing five countries in just three days, Travel Trade Crusade promises to be an unforgettable experience. Kicking off in Calais at 9.00am on Friday 12 July, teams will compete to reach the finish line in a variety of vehicles ranging from ‘sheds’ (worth no more than £500) to ‘shrines’ (super or classic cars). Many of the teams – and their cars – will be in fancy dress as they battle towards Amsterdam, completing various en-route challenges to win all-important points, before letting their hair down at a well-deserved end-of-rally-party, on Sunday 14 July.

The team that successfully completes the challenges and as accumulates the most points – awarded along the way and before the rally – will win a cash prize donation to their chosen charity. On top, of course, of their own fund-raising efforts.

Travel companies already signed up to compete in the Travel Trade Crusade include  teams from Advantage Travel Centres, Avis and Budget car hire, Beachcomber Tours, Holiday Extras, Kuoni, Jane Peirce Recruitment Solutions, Royal Caribbean and Travel Counsellors. Some have already adopted great team names, too: Dex’s Midnight Runners (Small World Travel), Keevil’s Independent Traders (Travel Stop) and The Bridezillas (Perfect Weddings Abroad) being amongst the early front runners.

A limited number of team places are now available to participate in the Travel Trade Crusade, entrance to which is exclusive to those in the travel industry and which costs £220 per team of two, plus £40 for each additional member. Teams are responsible for providing their own vehicle and for making their own travel and accommodation arrangements. Support and advice on every aspect of taking part can be found on the Travel Trade Crusade website at www.traveltradecrusade.com.

£8 from each entry fee will go to projects supported by Beyond Carbon (formerly TICOS). Beyond Carbon works with projects that have a carbon-reducing element, for example reforestation, stoves and electric vehicles but that – more importantly – have a very strong element of sustainable development or wildlife conservation.

Travel Trade Crusade is being organised by Sarah Archer, UK Sales Manager at Beachcomber Tours, and Nick Joyce of Email4travel. Both cut their banger car rally teeth during a 2012 event in which their combined teams raised £3,000 for charities including Macmillan Cancer Support, Alzheimer’s Research and the Dogs’ Trust.

Says Sarah:
“Having experienced the adrenalin rush and sheer fun of taking part in a car rally myself, I can’t recommend it highly enough. What better way to spend a weekend than in the company of like-minded colleagues from across the travel industry, who already know how to work hard and play hard, whilst raising money for very deserving causes?”

Donations & Sponsorship
To support any of the participating teams or to donate to the overall charity prize fund, visit http://www.traveltradecrusade.com. Sponsorship opportunities are also available, including brand placement in the official Travel Trade Crusade movie, a range of smaller entertainment activities and prizes for the winning teams. To get involved, please email Sarah Archer at sarah@traveltradecrusade.com or call 01642 686104.

Current sponsors are: Holiday Extras (end-of-rally party in Amsterdam); Prestige Holidays (team T-shirts); Full Circle Travel, Rendezvous Travel, Off Broadway Travel and Travel Designers (banner, lanyards, key rings and pop up stands); Avis and Budget Rent-A-Car (official film of the event); and Equator Learning, Kitts Travel and Leger Holidays (general support). P & O Ferries is providing a generous 50% discount on ferry crossings for the teams, who can also book their hotels at cost price, courtesy of Travelcube. Public relations support for the Crusade is being given by Travel PR.

Travel Trade Crusade’s media partner is Travel Weekly, which has provided invaluable assistance in getting the rally off the ground. Editor of Travel Weekly’s luxury title ‘Aspire’, Rupert Murray, will be attending the rally to record the exploits for posterity.

To enter a team, or for the latest updates on Travel Trade Crusade, visit the website at www.traveltradecrusade.com, follow it on Twitter (@ttcrusade) or check it out on Facebook.

Ends / 4 April 2013                                                                                                                            

Press:  Contact Sue Ockwell or Karen Carpenter at Travel PR on 020 8891 4440 or email s.ockwell@travelpr.co.uk or k.carpenter@travelpr.co.uk.