By Jenn Watt

Heather Phillips thought someone was playing a trick on her when she got the call from Renzo Rosati of the Downtown Haliburton Business Association that she won two tickets to Cayo Coco Cuba. The call came just before Christmas on Dec. 23 while Phillips was at work at Century 21.

“I thought I was being pranked” she said explaining she had put her home phone number on the ticket so assumed the call at work was a joke.

Turns out she was indeed the winner of an all-inclusive trip for two to Cuba at Meliá Jardines Del Rey Resort organized by Linda Coneybeare at Transat Travel as part of an annual local shopping initiative of the Downtown Haliburton Business Association.

Phillips said she filled out about 10 ballots during the promotion which encouraged downtown shopping leading up to Christmas with a live draw on Moose FM. Shoppers could fill out a ballot each time they made a purchase at a participating downtown business. The winning ticket was filled out during the women’s shopping night at Aprons and Soaps. Phillips had a choice of the trip or $1000 cash.

Transat Travel has been organizing the trips for at least six years Coneybeare said. She selects the destination in consultation with Rosati based on her knowledge of the best warm places to visit within the business association’s budget.