Merit Travel Becomes Rugby Canada’s Official Travel Partner

Rugby Canada has announced the appointment of Toronto-based Merit Travel Group as the organization’s Official Travel Partner leading up to the 2015 Pan Am games and 2015 Rugby World Cup.

 

Merit will provide a full service travel program to all of the National teams and programs operated by Rugby Canada.

 

Nick Taylor, Director of Commercial Operations for Rugby Canada, said: “Ensuring that our athletes arrive at their destination in the safest and most efficient manner means that they, and our management team will be able to focus on the training and competitive aspects of their tours.

 

“We are increasingly aware of the number of Canadian supporters that travel the globe to support our teams from Under 17 men through to Senior men’s and women’s 7s and 15s teams. The number of fans we have encountered in such far away destinations as Las Vegas, Hong Kong or London (for the HSBC IRB Sevens World Series) and New Zealand (for the recent 2011 Rugby World Cup) is growing all the time. This new relationship with Merit Travel will allow us to begin to cater more to these supporters and offer them a turn-key experience when it comes to their sport and leisure travel.”

 

Louise deGrandpre, Executive VP and Co-Owner of Merit Travel Group, added: “We were delighted to get the nod from the leadership at Rugby Canada. As long-standing Rugby Canada supporters, our experienced team with the support from our 50 offices and more than 500 travel professionals across Canada are thrilled to have been called-up for the opportunity to serve this world class organization.”

 

As this new relationship grows, it is Merit’s goal to become closely integrated into the Rugby Canada operations and as a key Partner to deliver outstanding travel management support services to the organization, its Executive, coaching staff, athletes, teams, officials and other supporters, including the families as Rugby Canada builds towards the 2013 World Cup 7s in Russia, the 2014 Women’s Rugby World Cup, the 2015 Pan Am Games and Rugby World Cup, and finally – to the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio where Rugby will make its triumphant return to the world’s second biggest sporting event.