BCD Travel has employees with a heart and our staff has certainly proved that last week with a strong collective effort to support the charity and recovery programs in Haiti.

With over 950 enthusiastic participants the Benelux staff organisations have organised multiple activities to collect as much funding as possible to support those in need in Haiti. After a week of efforts, more than € 7000 was collected from the staff which BCD Travel gladly doubled in support of this cause, up to € 14000. This charity program demonstrates once again that BCD Travel is more than the sum of its individuals. It is the heart and soul, the attitude and involvement of its employees that makes the difference between a pile of bricks, the company presentation and what ultimately is the service and value that is created. We can all be proud to be part of this team.

The staff in The Netherlands organised a lottery initiative which was set up in cooperation with our suppliers and which included free tickets and hotel nights.  Our shareholder, John Fentener Van Vlissingen, also  donated a work of art to support the program.  Lottery tickets were sold at € 3, and a total of € 4000 was collected by the staff.  BCD travel doubled the amount and 2 representatives of the staff personally went to Studio 24 in Hilversum to deliver a cheque in the amount of € 8000 at to the Dutch national aid program.

In Belgium and Luxemburg, the staff organised 3 different luncheons with soup, hotdogs and noodles. Beforehand, the staff had selected a dedicated charity: www.savethechildren.org, in line with our company CSR (Corporate Social Responsibility) focus to support programs that structurally impact the lives of children. This initiative resulted in a € 3000 fund which will generate a € 6000 donation to this aid program. Staff and management are currently investigating how a follow-up action can be organised later in the year in line with CSR policies. The goal is to remain involved even after the media attention has moved on.
 
BCD Travel management has fully supported these activities and has dedicated executive sponsors in every region. It was clear to the board that the amount collected warranted an extra effort by the company and doubling it seemed the only logical thing to do. Furthermore, management throughout the company has been involved in organising and coordinating the actions and funding to make this a collective team effort.

We understand that the efforts brought forward are but a mere drop in the ocean of what needs to be done to rebuild Haiti, but we are nonetheless proud that this group of individuals in the Benelux have pulled together as a team, shoulder to shoulder, to make a difference. A difference which we make every day, again and again.

Glenn Wastyn
Commercial Director