Open Jaw :: On The Town ::

with Martha Chapman
29MAY09

Plenty of horsepower waiting to be leashed onto the Downsview track

Team Travel Resources suited up with Etihad’s Ivan D’Lima, Account Manager

Etihad staffers show their passion for the airline business…and for slot racing

Start Your (Booking) Engines!

The track was slippery, there were some nasty turns, and it was clear that every driver was determined to gain the pole position.

And that was only on the 401 Highway getting to the racetrack!

The event? A novel way to thank agents and suppliers alike: Etihad Airways had taken over the racetrack facilities at Grand Prix Kartways at Downsview Park in Toronto with an evening themed “Etihad/F1 Grand Prix Agents’ Challenge.” After all, the airline proudly sponsors the Ferrari team and will be front and centre at the inaugural Abu Dhabi Formula 1 race October 30 to November 1 this year.

And while it wasn’t exactly Ferraris purring at the Downsview track, it was great to see so many industry types – mainly guys, but lots of ladies too – suit up to see if they had the right stuff. As CWT’s Elisa Wong put it: “We’re here to win!”

It’s clear that the airline is moving, as Etihad’s Robin Middleton put it, “at Ferrari speed.” In just six years it’s grown to feature 32 aircraft (with over 200 on order), 56 destinations, and last year carried over six million passengers. “Thank you,” he told the 200 agents and suppliers present, “for mixing business with pleasure. Now…start your engines!”

Some 10 teams competed, with Gary McLean of Network Cargo winning the plum first prize of two tickets to Abu Dhabi; while second and third place winners Nicholas Gardner of Gelleon Travel and Brian Flanagan of Expedia took home gift baskets.

Non-drivers tried their luck at the slot racing table (somewhat tamer but still lots of cheering and groans), admired the gleaming Ferrari on display, and noshed on food with a middle-eastern theme.

And thank you Etihad for putting on such a fun night. The laughter, the buzz of the cars and the fellowship enjoyed by all were a complete antidote to a rainy night and a season of doom and gloom. Bravo!