My name is Sanjay Goel, I'm the president and founder of Cruise Connections Canada and I'm asking for your support in the election for the Board of Directors for Ensemble Travel Group.

 

Like many of you, I started in retail travel many years ago, as a travel counselor in Regina Saskatchewan with Trade Winds Travel – and while that was more than 30 years ago, I'm still passionate and excited about this industry and our future ahead – especially as part of the only true North American Consortia – Ensemble Travel Group.

 

I've served on the Canadian Advisory Board for 15 years, and for the last 3 years on the North American board. I've witnessed firsthand the challenges of our industry and the incredible resilience of our members – I'm asking for you to give me an opportunity to continue to contribute to the new North American Board as we enter some of the most exciting times our industry has ever seen.

 

During my recent term, I've had the privilege of leading the Board and team through the development of the 2020 strategic plan, while still in relatively early stages the plan is yielding substantive operational and financial results – which benefit all members. As we approach our 50th anniversary, the retail travel industry faces many challenges, and with it many opportunities. Sustainability and growth are critical issues for the near and medium term. We cannot afford to be complacent!

 

If I'm elected I promise to represent you and your interests with full earnest, I started from nothing, I know how hard it is to compete each day and how valuable the tools from Ensemble can be. I also know how important your individual independence and identity is – together we can ensure sustainable independence through investment and cooperation.

 

The four areas I see as key moving forward are:

 

1. Data Capture – in order to be masters of our destiny, we need to know where we stand, what our sales are, with which vendors and where we need to make marketing adjustments accordingly. Just like all of you need to know where you stand in your business, Ensemble needs to know where we stand as an organization. Knowing the numbers will be vital to our future growth.

 

2. Shared Vision – like any successful company we need to plan our work, and then work the plan. The industry has changed dramatically and Ensemble is truly the “big tent” consortium – but we need to come together under a common set of goals – a shared vision. This starts with listening to all of you.  One of my goals would be to help clarify this for all members, regardless of size, so that we all know where we are going.

 

3. Differentiate or die – one of my mentors used to say, "it's hard to get picked if you all look the same" – in a basket of RED tomatoes, we need to be the YELLOW one! I believe we need to leverage the strength of our membership to create unique offerings and benefits to differentiate ensemble members amongst the buying public and amongst other consortia – we have some of the brightest minds in the industry – we should honor their expertise and help each other stand out from the crowd.

 

4. Invest in our future – for too long we've underperformed in key areas of technology and product development – if we're to distinguish ourselves from the pack and make ourselves invaluable to our customers and suppliers – we're going to need to commit in both of these areas to build sustainable difference for the future.

 

There are of course many other aspects to being a board member, but I wanted to commit to you, that, if elected – you can count on my dedication to representing each of you with all of my effort.

 

Regardless of whether you vote for me or not, I strongly urge you to vote, it is an extraordinary privilege, unique to Ensemble Travel Group.

 

Be a part of our future!

 

Yours truly,

 

​

 

Sanjay Goel, MBA
President, Cruise Connections Canada

 

Cell Phone: 604-760-3102

Email:  sanjay@cruise-connections.com

 

 

"As one of the original founders of GIANTS, I’ve known Sanjay for many years.  I would tell you that he brings wisdom, talent and drive that is matched by very few.  He represented our Canadian members for more than 15 years and tenaciously put forward their collective position from the smallest agency to the mega agency. I strongly support his application for a board seat and would ask that you extend to him your full support."

 

- Warren Buckner

Founder | Ensemble Group

 

President - Gayety Travel Service Inc., 55 Years in Business

 

 

"You can’t go wrong when you hire the best people for the job. I’ve served with Sanjay on the Ensemble Canadian Advisory Board for over 5 years and among his notable qualities are:

 

• His tremendous energy, creativity & vision

• His strong business acumen & business building skills

• His commitment & belief in Ensemble demonstrated by his years of membership & the years of volunteerism as a director."

 

- Philip Houde
Owner - River East Travel and Cruise Centre

 

 

 

Canadian Advisory Board 2018