RECOGNITION & AWARDS
2022 Travel Weekly Magellan Award for Diversity Initiatives
Travelzoo received the Travel Weekly Magellan Award for Diversity Initiatives in the online travel category for the 'In The Spotlight' content series, launched in February 2021, that highlights black, indigenous, and people of color (BIPOC)-owned hospitality companies and entrepreneurs. The series was created by a group of Travelzoo employees, championed by me, with the goal of being more deliberate about the integration of diversity, inclusion, and belonging into the daily work and business practices within the organization. In addition to featuring businesses and people chosen by Travelzoo, the initiative invites interactivity. Travelzoo members and partners can nominate BIPOC-owned hospitality companies and entrepreneurs they believe should be celebrated.
I had the opportunity of working with Lara for 18 months, during which time I came to quickly value, admire and rely on her leadership skills, industry expertise and innovation orientation. Lara always approached challenges and opportunities with a direct and open willingness to define the most optimal solutions or maximize all possible benefits for her team and the business. To her credit, Lara never loses sight of the need to understand and maintain the many fine balances between financial performance, employee engagement, operational excellence, and customer satisfaction. Lara has a data-oriented, and deeply considered thinking and decision-making style which engenders confidence and assures actions are accountable and results are measurable. Lara faced the challenges of leading the business though the COVID-19 pandemic by resolutely demonstrating her unwavering commitment to doing what would be good and right for employees, clients and shareholders. It was inspiring to see such resilience and tenacity being brought to the fore so consistently and without any diminishment of her drive and passion to do her very best. It would be a pleasure to work alongside Lara in any senior executive role requiring vision, innovation, wholistic leadership and a strong orientation to sustainable results.
Angelo Apollos, AVP, Human Resources Business Partnering at Inovalon (former Head of Human Resources, North America at Travelzoo
Hi Lara, Thank you for your kindness & empathy over the past year. You’re one of the most inspiring leaders I’ve worked with not just at Travelzoo, but in my career overall. I hope our paths cross again.
Middle Manager
Hi Lara, I want to say thank you. …. You have been such a blessing to this company. As a GM you really exemplified what it means to be a strong woman in leadership & always showed grace under pressure while leading with smart & firm expectation. On a personal note, I want to thank you for being open to meeting with the Black employees & hearing our pain & struggle. You opened the door for us to move in the right direction honoring people of color internally & externally. It meant so much to me & the others that the GM of our company would take time out of her day just to make sure we were okay. Lastly, in the meeting last week you effectively translated to the other execs why each project was so important. I was a frustrated, but you eloquently brought the conversation back & explained it in a new light that was better to digest. Someday I hope to lead like you with grace & class. I am in a Master’s program focused on Organizational Leadership & I talk about you all the time in class & love sharing how you model what it means to be a good leader. Thanks for touching every one of us at Travelzoo.
Production Employee
Hi, Lara! I wanted to thank you, as sincerely as I may, for the leadership you provided with our DIB initiatives & overall company response after George Floyd's murder. I never anticipated the honor of working with a leader with your kind of vision & understanding for racial & social justice. I am deeply grateful & look forward to continuing our efforts to advance diversity both at Travelzoo & wherever I may work in years to come.
Sales Employee
Hey Lara, I want to let you know I genuinely appreciate you amplifying the voice of the black community at Travelzoo. On top of steering the company through a rough time, you took a position very few in this company have been openly willing to take & I promise your words & actions were not lost on me. Wherever you end up will be damn lucky to have a leader who cares as much about the people, as they do about the business. Every day at TZ just became a little tougher.
Sales Employee
Lara. You have been the embodiment of a leader who gets it - in all ways. You will be missed.
Senior Manager
Hi Lara! I want to thank you personally for the time you spent as GM & for all the effort you put into the DBI initiatives at TZOO. Navigating the professional world as a queer man of color is very daunting at times, but I felt very encouraged & supported knowing that you were so committed to enacting change at the company. You made a positive impact on me & my career & I'm very grateful for that. My Production colleagues & I miss you already, but wish you the best of luck in the future.
Sales Manager
Lara, …I have so much respect for how you came into this GM role & led with professionalism, positivity, collaboration, & smarts ... not to mention your prior success in Canada. I felt confident to have a strong female leader in the role. I hope you know how much you built confidence, respect, & hope in so many people here.
Senior Manager
Hey Lara, I want to let you know I genuinely appreciate you amplifying the voice of the black community at Travelzoo. On top of steering the company through a rough time, you took a position very few in this company have been openly willing to take & I promise your words & actions were not lost on me. Wherever you end up will be damn lucky to have a leader who cares as much about the people, as they do about the business. Every day at TZ just became a little tougher. I wish you nothing but the best!
Individual Contributor
Hi Lara, Your departure was just announced on our team call & I'm being completely honest when I say I've never heard the team speak so highly of anyone that's ever left Travelzoo. So much respect from the entire team. I loved your honesty, insight, & pragmatic approach to everything. Thank you so much for all your support, it meant a lot to me.
Individual Contributor
Hi Lara. I wanted to tell you thank you again. You helped steer & guide the entire company during unprecedented times. In addition to that, you showed empathy, compassion & grace around matters that directly affect people that look like me. I will always appreciate & respect you for that.
Individual Contributor
I had the pleasure of working alongside of Lara during my time at Travelzoo, spanning several years. I very much respect the way Lara handles her business. She exhibits a unique combination of qualities which makes her successful and enjoyable to work with . Lara is a professional with deep experience and a skill set in digital travel marketing and management getting the most for her clients and her employees. What makes her special though is that those skills are combined with a calm and warmth and a lack of ego. I've witnessed Lara engaging everyone she interacts with, including me, in a personable, genuine, caring manner which makes you feel connected to her. The combination of her sincere kind human interaction along with her focus on doing the best in business is unique and successful. It's been my experience in working alongside her on a lot of business that she unselfishly shares in business while getting the most for her organization. She also takes on the work load in an understated manner while adeptly employing the resources and assets of her organization delivering the best success for her company and clients. I believe these traits make Lara an exceptional business person, manager and human being. Every interaction I have ever had with Lara has been most positive and enjoyable with benefit to me personally and professionally. I highly recommend Lara.
Grant Palmer - Vice President of Sales West at Sojourn (former Sales Director at Travelzoo)
TORONTO’S BEST TECH WORKPLACE FOR DIVERSITY
TIMMY AWARDS - 2019
Travelzoo (Canada) Inc.
(Judge’s Choice)
