The Travel Industry gathered Monday night at the glamorous Four Seasons Hotel in Toronto to wish retail travel giants, Arend Roos, his partner and CFO for many years Darlene Roos, along with Stephanie Anevich, well as they head off to retirement. From my perspective this felt like a celebration of a job well done, surrounded by friends and travel industry, elites old and new.

Brian Robertson, President Vision Travel Solutions who, to be clear has not retired, took on the role of Master of Ceremonies and welcomed a room full of supporters, whom he thanked repeatedly for their ongoing support. “It’s all of you in the room here tonight that got us to where we are.”

Arend Roos took to the stage and reflected on the early days of the business, most notable being his time spent with "Maple Leaf Tours" headed by Travel Industry veteran is known to many in the crowd, Eddie Caroll. It was that relationship and a cancelled trip to Israel that inevitably launched his lifelong career in the Travel business. He bought the business for $2,500.00 along with his brother who was in attendance.

Well known travel industry personality, Stephanie Anevich, the companies Executive Vice President of Leisure Travel, was honoured to be amongst so many friends to celebrate their milestone.

She recalled her early days of travelling on two buses and the subway to get to her grandparents store in North Toronto, at Rogers Travel, at the tender age of eight. “This is when I knew I was destined to be part of this great business.” She noted that throughout it all that two married couples joined forces and built a great company together.

Congratulations on a job well done!