About Us
BC’s Trusted Travel Experts for Business and Vacation Adventures
Our Story
Founded in 1987, The Travel Group was created by three women and one man who believed that great service starts with happy, empowered employees. That simple idea—treat people well—has guided our success for over three decades.
In 2020, we joined forces with Infinity Travel Concepts, combining strengths to offer even more expertise and choice. While The Travel Group is known for corporate and custom leisure travel, Infinity brought its specialty in luxury cruises, exotic adventures, and women-only tours.
Today, we’re one of BC’s most experienced travel agencies, with consultants averaging 21 years in the industry. We don’t advertise—our clients come to us through referrals, thanks to our passionate, knowledgeable team.
Though we began in corporate travel, over 65% of our business is now vacations. Whether you’re dreaming of a relaxing getaway or something truly extraordinary, we’re here to help.
Our Values
Sustainability: The Travel Group has been working for years to achieve a genuinely “paperless” office, which includes our delivery of customer service. 95% of all invoices, itineraries, and documents are delivered to our clients electronically, rather than on printed paper. We aggressively resist glossy brochures, which have long been the mainstay of the travel industry, in favour of web-based or electronic sales material. We run a 100% recycling program in-house: that means that anything that can be recycled is recycled.
Charities and Community Involvement: Years ago, one of our partners pointed out when we were searching for a charity to support that the cause was staring us right in the face every day when many of us drive to work or ride the bus past Vancouver’s own Downtown Eastside. From that insight, our very successful Downtown Eastside Fund emerged. Every year The Travel Group and its members raise thousands of dollars through fun in-house events and other initiatives for charities in our own community in the eastern part of downtown Vancouver. To see what we are doing lately, check our blog “Fun-Raising.”
Some of the organizations we support include:
- St James Music Academy (http://sjma.ca/)
- Potluck Café Society (www.potluckcatering.org)
- Downtown Eastside Women’s Centre (www.dewc.ca)
- WISH Drop-in Centre (http://www.wish-vancouver.net/)
- Education without Borders (http://www.educationwithoutborders.ca/)
In addition to this, we stage many fund-raising events in our office each year, including our “Longest Day of the Year Run” in June, our Casual Fridays, and our Christmas “Chocolates for Charity” initiative. Also, in lieu of mailing out paper Christmas cards to clients, we send an electronic card and donate the savings to our causes.
At The Travel Group, we believe that charity starts at home – which means supporting local causes and service organizations.
Our Team
Colleen Maxwell
Communications Manager
Sometimes when you call in, Colleen’s friendly voice will be the first thing you hear. Besides being an awesome receptionist, she wears many hats, and is the VP of Fun Stuff!
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McKenzie McMillan
Travel Consultant
Over the past 10 years, McKenzie has been immersed in the travel industry, working as both a Travel Consultant and with an airline. And now he’s a valued member of our team!
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Laura Mezzacapo
Accounting Manager
Besides sporting the coolest last name (Italian, by marriage), our Laura is the gal every client should get to know. She co-manages the office, and can find any detail about your account you need to know.
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David Elmy
President
David still misses his original career as a travel consultant, so occasionally dabbles in an intriguing reservation from time to time, “just to keep from getting rusty!”
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Cathy Moore
General Manager
A founding member of The Travel Group, Cathy Moore believes that Newfoundlanders are the greatest travellers.
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Colleen Maxwell, Communications Manager
Phone Number: (604) 681-6345
Bio: Chances are if you call us, Colleen’s friendly voice will be the first thing you hear. Starting with The Travel Group as a receptionist, Colleen is now our events and social media manager. Her dual role is to keep our consultants in the loop about what’s happening in the office and in the industry; and to keep our partners and clients engaged. We like to say Colleen’s real title is VP of Fun Stuff. Born and raised in North Vancouver, Colleen joined The Travel Group in 2005. After working at Maxwell’s, the family business, for 7 years she made the career change to this wacky business!
Favourite place: The Priory Hotel, located on the Frome River in beautiful Dorset England. Dating from the early 16th century, this old monastery has been transformed into to the most amazing hotel. The restaurant is the old wine cellar!
But it doesn’t end there. Her recent trips include Swizerland and Iceland for the Longest Day of the year. Colleen love to be active while travelling, learning what the locals do. Like Dogsledding in the Yukon, camel riding in Morrocco, winter hiking in Switerland or zip linning in Costa Rica!
Hobbies: Colleen enjoys life and appreciates the little things. She loves cooking and entertaining with family and friends. She loves painting and all things creative, practicing yoga, running and sometimes even a boot camp to really get her heart rate moving. She explores the incredible BC wilderness with walks, hikes, and kayaking in the summer, or snowshoeing in the winter.
Travel tip: When your suite case is packed, take out a 2 things.
McKenzie McMillan, Travel Consultant
Phone Number: (604) 605-5180
Bio: McKenzie is a rarity; in that he was actually born and raised in Vancouver! Over the past 10 years, McKenzie has been immersed in the travel industry, working as both a Travel Consultant and with an airline. And now he is a member of our team! McKenzie has a passion for travel, and loves challenges. “Bring ’em on”, he says.
Favorite Destination: Buenos Aires – the romance and culture of Paris, with a splash of Latin flair, and – oh man – the food and wine are second to none!
Hobbies: Running, snowboarding, enjoying live music, travelling (obviously), spending time at the beach, and quality time with my friends, family, and partner in crime!
Blogs: Kenz The Travel Guy.
Travel Tip: Take everything you normally wear or have in your pockets (watch, keys, change, necklace, etc.) and put them in your carry-on bag well before entering airport security. This will help to expedite your time in the line, prevent the possibility of anything being left behind, and will also impress everyone standing behind you!
Laura Mezzacapo, Accounting Manager
Phone Number: (604) 681-6345
Email: lauram@travelg.com
Expertise: Quality control, numbers. England, France, Italy (big time!), Germany, Switzerland, Austria, Monaco, Cancun, Florida, California, Oregon, Washington, and Hawaii.
Bio: Besides sporting the coolest last name (Italian, by marriage), our Laura is the gal every client should get to know. She co-manages the office, and can find out any detail about your account you may need to know. She’s one of those rare West Coast people, born and raised in North Vancouver.
Favourite place: “Rome. This city is incredibly noisy and congested, but alive with the history of Imperial Rome. My mouth dropped open when I witnessed the Forum and the Colosseum for the first time. Imagine sipping cappuccino in Piazza Navona while children play soccer in the street and couples stroll hand in hand during the evening traditional passeggiata. This is the only city in the world that has made me feel that I never want to go home again.
Hobbies: Traveling, reading and her son.
Travel tip: “Always photocopy your passport and important documents before you leave home. Leave a copy at home, and take a copy with you in case of loss.”
David Elmy, President
Phone Number: (604) 605-5175
Email: davide@travelg.com
Bio: David still misses his original career as a travel consultant, so occasionally dabbles in an intriguing reservation from time to time, “just to keep from getting rusty!” Originally from Ontario, he moved to beautiful BC in 1980 and entered the travel agency business shortly after, eventually building a partnership under The Travel Group name in 1987.
“When I started in this industry, we were still writing some airline tickets out by hand, manually typing out invoices, and booking hotels by phone or telex. Telex! Remember that?” laughs David. The industry has come a long way since then, most of it to the better for both consumers and professional travel consultants, but David has tried to steer his agency along a path that exploits all the benefits of new technologies while still emphasizing the human element of the business. “We can sometimes get too obsessed with automation and technology, and forget that what customers really want are meat-and-potato things like customer service, creativity, and a sense of humour,” he says. Although he has a pretty big company to oversee now, David still tries to stay connected to all of his original clients, many of whom go way back to the 1980’s when he started in the business.
Although he has handled extensively both corporate and vacation travel, David specialized in corporate travel; and believes in applying the corporate travel tools and principles to both sorts of travel. When you make vacation plans with one of his agents, you’ll notice things like use of corporate rates, attention to small details (like seat selection and loyalty programs), emphasis on reliability and comfort of airline choices, picking hotels with excellent ratings, etc. All hallmarks of great corporate travel agencies.
David has focused his personal travel on Europe and North America, and admits that there are vast swaths of the planet, notably the southern hemisphere, that he has never visited. “I believe that North Americans will be more and more looked at travelling to the southern half of the globe,” he notes; which is why the agency, under his direction, has started to focus on areas like the South Pacific, South America, and southern Africa.
David is Chair of AC BC Council and a board member of ACTA National, the trade association for travel agents and agencies. He is a passionate believer in professionalism in the travel agency industry and in the value of the specialized expertise travel agents bring to customers.
Expertise: Airfares & France.
Favourite place: Two – Provence and Tuscany. “And anywhere with history, old buildings, art, museums, and great food…, well, Europe!”
Hobbies: Literature, running, hiking, The Grouse Grind, vegetarian cooking, gardening, film criticism.
Blogs: The Perfect Room. Random thoughts from clients and consultants about what goes into the “perfect” hotel room.
Travel tip: Pack an empty water bottle when you fly – that way you can fill it once you get through security. (Thanks for the tip Jane!)
Cathy Moore, General Manager
Phone Number: (604) 681-6345
Expertise: Administration, HR, Wine & Cheese.
Bio: A founding member of The Travel Group, Cathy Moore believes that Newfoundlanders are the greatest travellers (did we mention she is from Newfoundland?) Cathy has been in the travel business since 1985, and has previously been in property management and retail. She manages this crazy company, which means she is the person who says “No” (but also the person who gets to say “Yes!”) If you are looking to change careers or agencies, she’s the gal you want to talk to! Click here to send her a resume or email.
Favourite place: “Tofino, London, Paris, Rome. ” (Hey, that’s cheating – one place Cathy!)
Hobbies: Wine, travel, dogs, reading. Check out her blog on restaurants around the world!
Travel Tip: “Buy olive wood cooking utensils at Provence markets. The quality is excellent and they are cheap and light weight to pack home.”