Special Report: Travel Weekly smashes £50k golden anniversary appeal

Almost £60,000 was raised for five children’s charities at Travel Weekly Group events and through internal fundraising in 2019 as part of the company’s ‘50 for 50’ appeal.

The figure of £57,880 in donations and pledges beats the £50,000 target set to mark Travel Weekly’s 50th anniversary, and with Gift Aid contributions could rise to more than £70,000.

Further fundraising carried out by Travel Weekly sister magazine The Caterer means the overall figure raised for charities by parent company Jacobs Media Group in 2019 exceeds £75,000 before Gift Aid.

Travel Weekly’s 50 for 50 appeal was launched in January 2019 with a target of raising a total of £50,000 through fundraising and collections at events including the Globe Travel Awards, Agent Achievement Awards, The British Travel & Hospitality Hall of Fame and the Aspire Awards.

The five children’s charities to benefit are The Children’s Trust, The Rainbow Trust, Reuben’s Retreat, Stars and Whizz-Kidz.

Fundraising within the Jacobs Media Group office included a monthly drinks trolley, a quiz night, bake sales, a sporting predictor competition and a loose change collection.

A Jacobs Media Group team also took part in the inaugural MSC Cup at Chelsea’s Stamford Bridge stadium, contributing to a total figure of £20,000 for Reuben’s Retreat.

Stuart Parish, UK managing director of Jacobs Media Group, said: “Travel Weekly’s 50th anniversary was a landmark year that saw us introduce a bright new look and a range of products and events to ensure we continue to inform, inspire, support and connect the travel industry.

“We have always been committed to raising money for good causes in the office and through our events, so we felt it was right to set ourselves the challenge of raising £50,000 in our 50th year.”

He added: “To have surpassed our target is testament to the generosity of the UK travel and hospitality industry and the enthusiasm of the Travel Weekly team, and I am delighted that we will be able to make a real difference to five special causes with children at their heart.”

Fundraising took place at a range of events organised and supported by Travel Weekly and parent company Jacobs Media Group, with different charities showcased at each event. The events included:

The Globe Travel Awards Agent Achievement Awards The British Travel & Hospitality Hall of Fame Travolution Awards Aspire Awards Atas Conference The MSC Cup