Tui UK & Ireland has beaten a two year target of raising £1 million to mark the 40th anniversary of its chosen charity, The Family Holiday Association.
The Thomson and First Choice parent company revealed it has raised a total of £1,003,918.
The operator also set itself a target of helping 4,000 families with the FHA in 2016, a 40% increase on its 2014 total.
The travel group actually helped 5,184 disadvantaged families, providing short breaks in the UK to more than 11,000 children who have faced hardship as a result of circumstances such as illness, bereavement or disability.
The ‘A Million Smiles’ campaign saw Tui travel agency staff across the UK run fundraising events such as bake sales and static bike challenges, encouraging donations from customers and Thomson Airways crew held on-board collections over the past two years.
Cyclists at head office took part in ‘Tour de Tui’, cycling a circular 60 miles from its base in Luton; staff competed in the company’s very own Great British Bake Off in its Luton and Swansea offices; and adrenaline junkies were challenged to take regular sky dives.
The Tui Choir released a cover version of Louis Armstrong’s ‘When You’re Smiling’ and in-house rockers joined forces with Luton airport for a battle of the bands competition.
Runners across the business took part in events such as the London Marathon and the Great North Run.
Marketing and customer experience director, Jeremy Ellis, said: “We launched our ‘A Million Smiles’ campaign with the aim of helping more families than ever before and I’m delighted to say that we did just that.
“I’m so proud of our colleagues, beating our target and raising over £1 million over the past two years.
“In our industry, there are many families we never get to see – those who have never been to a British seaside, let alone on an overseas holiday and so it’s important to make sure we don’t forget that.
“That’s why our partnership with The Family Holiday Association is really important.
“Although our ‘A Million Smiles’ campaign has now ended, our partnership with the FHA hasn’t. Our teams are already gearing up for the next annual Tour de Tui.”