Montreal, December 1, 2015 – On Cyber Monday a great many Canadians took part in the third edition of the Transat Auction, to bid on their dream holiday and at the same time raise funds for the charitable organization SOS Children’s Villages. In all, 20 auction lots of all-inclusive packages to popular sun destinations, as well as round-trip flights to Europe, found takers at great prices.
More than $50,000 was raised for SOS Children’s Villages, a non-profit humanitarian organization that Transat has supported since 2009 and that provides caring family homes to more than 80,000 orphaned and abandoned children in 134 countries. This money will be used to support the SOS Children’s Villages Emergency Aid Program for the refugee crisis, in order to meet the urgent needs of children and their families notably in Syria, Jordan, Greece and Hungary.
An innovative campaign recognized
In addition to contributing to a cause that is so important to the company, Transat, in partnership with Montreal’s DentsuBos agency, won several awards in 2015 for the first edition of its Transat Auction:
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A Webby Award in the Social: Promotions & Contests category, presented by the International Academy of Digital Arts and Sciences.
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A Media Innovation Award in the Best in Social Media category, from Marketing magazine.
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A Boomerang Grand Prize in the Social Media Strategy, Unique Initiative category, as well as a Media Marketing Award in the Best Use of Digital Media – Social Web category, both from Infopresse.
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A Bronze award from the Canadian Marketing Association in the Digital Consumer Services category.
“Transat is pleased to make a difference in many children’s lives through various concrete actions, including the Transat Auction, as part of its partnership with SOS Children’s Villages,” said Geneviève LeBrun, Vice-President, Marketing, Transat Tours Canada. “The success of the third edition of the auction shows just how effective such an initiative is. Travel-lovers are the winners: they get to discover a Transat destination for a great price while also supporting a cause that is close to the heart of Transat and its employees.”
To take part in this auction on Twitter, travel-lovers were invited to follow the @AirTransat account and to visit the http://www.transatauction.ca/ microsite on November 30 to bid on the lots being auctioned by Transat. Close to 105,000 Canadians visited the microsite and entered 43,000 bids.
About Transat Tours Canada
A specialist in holiday travel to every continent, Transat Tours Canada develops and commercializes a vast array of products, from beach vacations to guided tours to cruises, under the Air Transat, Transat Holidays, Nolitours, Transat Discoveries and TMR Holidays brands. Transat Tours Canada is a business unit of Transat A.T. Inc., one of the largest integrated tourism companies in the world.
About SOS Children’s Villages
SOS Children's Villages provides children in need with a caring, loving and secure family environment where basic needs for food, health, shelter, and education are met, and creates opportunities for them to become responsible, contributing members of society. More than a million children in 134 countries benefit from the organization's commitment to providing “a loving home for every child.” To learn how to help, visit www.soschildrensvillages.ca.
Valérie Dupuis, North Strategic - 514 622-4843 - valerie.dupuis@northstrategic.com / Boyd McBride, SOS Children’s Villages - 0613 232-3309, ext. 515 - b.mcbride@soschildrensvillages.ca