TORONTO, July 2, 2014 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Insight Vacations (www.insightvacations.com), the leader of premium and luxury escorted journeys, is thrilled to announce Bollywood star and philanthropist, Lisa Ray (www.lisaraniray.com) as its new Global Brand Ambassador for the Exotics and Gold Collections. Lisa is an internationally acclaimed film actress, TV host, entrepreneur and humanitarian. She began her career in Mumbai when she was catapulted into a high profile modeling career at the age of 16. During her time in India, she went on to excel in the world of fashion and entertainment, which included notable television and film roles. Named one of the '10 Most Beautiful Indian Women of the Millennium' by a Times of India poll, she heightened her profile as an iconic figure in India before leaving for drama school in London and other opportunities around the world. Lisa starred in Canada's Oscar-nominated film, Water, amongst other prestigious credits. For the past four seasons, she was also the host of Top Chef Canada.
A world traveller, Lisa has lived in Paris, Milan, London and Los Angeles, and maintains residences in Mumbai and Toronto. She recently returned from India and Italy, experiencing two of Insight Vacations' most popular trips: Imperial Rajasthan and Italian Vogue. Lisa enjoyed the brand's outstanding signature hotels and immersive Signature Experiences while mingling with her fellow travellers. She documented her journeys, which she shared with her loyal global fan base via her social media channels, which include more than 206,000 Facebook fans and 200,000 Twitter followers. With her storytelling skills, Lisa will be creating content for the award-winning brand with videos, photography and blogging. In the coming months, she will be making special media appearances across the globe and sharing her latest Insight Vacations adventures.
Lisa's India adventures are captured in this stunning video which showcases her experiences: www.insightvacations.com/lisaray
"Lisa's immense passion for travel, living life to the fullest and vibrant personality has enabled her to create an engaging online audience which continues to grow with her curated content," says Marie Anne MacRae, Global VP, Strategic Partnerships, The Travel Corporation. "Her loyal international fan base, along with her Indian and European ancestry, gives her the wonderful ability to be a 'bridge' for Eastern and Western cultures, which truly makes her an authentic Global Brand Ambassador."
"I'm pleased to be Insight Vacations' first ever Global Brand Ambassador since I've been an avid traveller and nomad for most of my life - having lived in several continents - yet, my recent experiences with Insight have given me a unique perspective on travel," says Lisa Ray. "I'm proud to be associated with this premium escorted journeys company that takes care of all the hassles of modern travel and this is the best way to truly experience a new country while indulging the 'travelista' in me."
For more information, high resolution images or to request an interview with Lisa Ray, please contact Marie Anne MacRae ( marieanne.macrae@travcorp.ca ) at 416-915-7016.
About Lisa Ray
A nomadic spirit at heart, Lisa Ray (www.lisaraniray) returned to Toronto in 2009 post a diagnosis of Multiple Myeloma, an incurable bone marrow cancer. She chose to go public with her diagnosis at the launch of one of her films during the Toronto International Film Festival and chronicled her experiences with cancer in an acclaimed blog called the 'Yellow Diaries'. Post a stem cell transplant in December 2009, Lisa filmed a six-part travel series for the Discovery Channel India, hosted the highly rated Top Chef Canada on the Food Network and debuted her sari fashion line in the US. Her memoir is slated to be released in 2015 by Harper Collins. Lisa appeared in a newly created documentary titled 'A Day Without Cancer' www.adaywithoutcancer.ca. She is currently completing a clinical trial for treating blood cancers at Princess Margaret Hospital. Follow Lisa on Twitter & Instagram: @lisaraniray and on Facebook: www.facebook.com/lisaraniray
About Insight Vacations
Insight Vacations (www.insightvacations.com) is the expert for Europe and the Eastern Mediterranean, visiting all but one of the independent states in these regions and covering more of Europe than any other tour operator. Insight Vacations also offers the same legendary high standards and carefully curated itineraries in North America, India, Bhutan, Nepal and Morocco. Insight guests enjoy more intimate groups limited to just 40 passengers, the services of an experienced Tour Director who acts as 'travelling concierge,' and expertly planned itineraries offering a range of Signature Experiences that provide a unique and revealing look into the history and culture of each destination. Guests also enjoy Signature Dining and Dine-Around Evenings and stay in select hotels that are centrally or scenically located.
Insight Vacations is a part of a joint initiative with The TreadRight Foundation, a not-for-profit foundation established by The Travel Corporation to encourage sustainable tourism within our own family of brands and in the places we visit. To date, TreadRight has donated more than US$2 million to sustainable tourism projects around the world. To find out more about our work with TreadRight visit: www.treadright.org.
Follow us on Twitter: @InsightVacation || @InsightCAN
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Media Contacts:
Marie Anne MacRae
Global VP, Strategic Partnerships
The Travel Corporation | 33 Kern Rd., Toronto, ON, L4A 1S3
(416) 915-7016 | marieanne.macrae@travcorp.ca
Michelle Lee Hoy
PR & Digital Media Specialist
The Travel Corporation | 33 Kern Rd., Toronto, ON, L4A 1S3
(416) 322-8468 ext. 7295 | michelle.leehoy@travcorp.ca
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