Transat A.T. Inc. contributes to the welfare of the communities in which it operates through its business activities and the direct and indirect jobs it creates. On behalf of its shareholders, employees and customers, Transat goes a step further by supporting causes that it deems particularly important. This support will be in the form of donations or corporate commitments made through its personnel and resources.

Transat has developed a policy to efficiently channel its efforts, focusing on the following priorities:

• Program 1: International Humanitarian Aid
• Program 2: Sustainable Tourism
• Program 3: Advancement of Knowledge and Expertise in Tourism

Transat is an international organization that is involved in its major source markets (Canada and Europe) as well as in its current or potential destination markets.

Organisations seeking to submit a proposal or application should ensure that their projects fall into one of the four above categories, which are defined later in this document; otherwise, we will review the application based on the most relevant program. Any applications that do not fall into any of the four categories or that are for projects included in the list of exclusions provided below will be rejected and may not be subject to an acknowledgement of receipt.

Exclusions (non-exhaustive list)

Applications from individual persons or for individual projects, even if they will benefit humanitarian or meaningful social causes; applications made by elementary and high schools; applications made by social clubs; applications submitted for religious purposes; applications from political parties; applications linked to the organization of conferences, conventions or special events that amount to requests for sponsorship; applications linked to travel for filming, festivals or other travel by delegations; golf or other types of tournaments, even if organized for philanthropic purposes; applications from groups that Transat feels are involved in defending a religious, political or economic point of view; applications, in particular for air tickets, submitted with a view to participating in a sporting event, including the Olympic Games.

Any applications aimed at creating business partnerships or that amount to quasi-advertising offers should be submitted to the Sales and Marketing departments.

1. International Humanitarian Aid

Transat helps agencies dedicated to providing the basic requirements needed by populations in distress or that deliver first-aid services following disasters anywhere in the world.

The applicants must be recognized agencies that have been operating for at least 10 years, have no religious or political affiliations, are active internationally and operate in Transat’s key destination markets. The application must be for an activity or project focused on providing basic humanitarian aid, in other words a combination of the following: emergency first aid and relief; medical and food aid to populations in distress following a disaster, epidemic, famine or other catastrophe; the provision of drinking water; combating malnutrition, etc.

Organizations wishing to apply must submit a concise file addressed to the Vice-President, Communications and Corporate Affairs, Transat A.T. Inc., 300 Léo-Pariseau, Montreal, Canada, H2X 4C2, or by e-mail to philan@transat.com. Information to be provided must include:

• The name of the organization, name of person in charge and address;
• Type of organization, legal status, composition of the board of directors;
• Description of the corporate structure and mission of the organization;
• Most recent annual report or report of operations;
• Description of the activity, target project and, where applicable, the partners;
• Amount requested or suggested as well as breakdown of instalments;
• List of other major financial partners to date;
• Any other information deemed pertinent;
• Donor visibility program, where applicable.

2. Sustainable Tourism

Transat supports projects focused on the preservation or enhancement of cultural heritage, or that protect natural sites, help communities benefit economically from tourism or minimize the environmental impact of tourism.

Under this program, which was introduced in 2007, Transat will provide financial support of up to 50,000 Canadian dollars or 35,000 euros to start up, implement or maintain a sustainable-tourism project. For example:

• Restoration, protection or development of a natural site or ecosystem;
• Environmental enhancement or improvement of an existing tourist site;
• Awareness-raising of sustainable tourism issues among visitors;
• Restoration or development of a heritage or historic site or building, with a view to its preservation.

In essence, sustainable tourism means ensuring that tourism takes place in a way that respects the environment, protects and promotes diversity (either biodiversity or respect for a host community’s heritage and culture) and that, on an economic level, it is practised as equitably as possible.

Organizations that wish to submit a proposal must be duly established not-for-profit corporations or organizations, a tourism association or office, or a local board of trade.

Automatically excluded: projects submitted by individuals or groups of individuals, social clubs, religious groups, government-owned enterprises or organizations.

Projects must comply with the following criteria, which will also serve to evaluate them:

• Have the potential of increasing a community’s tourism appeal;
• Be clearly part of a sustainable-tourism approach;
• Be located in a country in which Transat is present;
• Be not-for-profit in nature.

Submission and processing of applications:

• Applications must be in writing and be submitted by regular or e-mail (10 MB maximum file size).
• Applications must be completed using the mandatory application form (click here) and include a text of a maximum of 2,250 words (in English or French) explaining the project and providing at minimum the following information:
  • Project synopsis;
  • Introduction of the applicant organization (name, mission, history, corporate structure);
  • Financial structure and main donors, past and present;
  • Exact nature of the project (goal, type, progress status, outlook);
  • Description of the link between the project and the concept of sustainable tourism;
  • Magnitude of the financial support desired and use of funds;
  • Proposed visibility for Transat.
• Applications may include, as appendices, any other documentation considered relevant.
• Applications will be reviewed and evaluated by a Committee composed of Transat staff members, which will then choose one or more projects based on merit.
• The Committee reserves the right to request more information from applicants later, including a visit to its facilities or a presentation.

This is a philanthropic program whose existence and outcome are at the sole and entire discretion of Transat, which can terminate or change it at will. Transat is not obliged to accept one or more projects. It is therefore possible that no project will be accepted if, for example, Transat believes none of the proposals to be appropriate or if it considers that particular circumstances prevail. The choice of projects and the amount of financial support are at Transat’s sole and entire discretion. Transat is under no obligation to disclose the nature of the Committee’s discussions or to justify its decisions, which will be final and not subject to review.

Applications must be sent by e-mail by Monday, April 14, 2008 (extension: projects outside of Canada will be accepted up to and including Thursday, July 31, 2008) to the Communications and Corporate Affairs Department:

In Canada
sustainabletourism@transat.com

or by regular mail to:
Transat A.T. Inc.
Sustainable Tourism Projects
300 Léo-Pariseau, Suite 600
Montreal, Quebec H2X 4C2

In Europe
jmbatta@transatfrance.fr

or by regular mail to:
Transat France
Sustainable Tourism Projects
29 rue Cuvier 93558
Montreuil Cedex

Acknowledgement of receipt:

An acknowledgement of receipt of the application will be sent to applicant organizations within 45 days of the closing of the project submission deadline.

Project selection and public announcement:

Applicant organizations will receive a written response at the end of the selection process in October 2008. Selected projects will then be announced publicly.

Community support ›
Press release – 2007 Sustainable tourism projects ›

3. Advancement of Knowledge and Expertise in Tourism

Tourism is an industry and one of the largest in the world. Transat intends to support institutions or projects that focus on broadening knowledge and expertise in tourism, in particular international tourism.

Transat has already formed a partnership with two major institutions in these areas, namely Université du Québec à Montréal (UQÀM) – which has established a Chaire de tourisme Transat – and the Institut de tourisme et d'hôtellerie du Québec (ITHQ). In both cases, Transat’s financial involvement has helped enhance the knowledge and recognition associated with the tourism industry, which, with over 200 million jobs created, remains one of the largest in the world.

Organizations or institutions wishing to apply must submit a concise file addressed to the Vice-President, Communications and Corporate Affairs, Transat A.T. Inc., 300 Léo-Pariseau, Montreal, Canada, H2X 4C2, or by e-mail to philan@transat.com.