This week: Air Canada named its Circle of Excellence award winners, among them The Travel Agent Next Door (banner photo); TDC and Ensemble introduced new agencies; The St. Kitts Tourism Authority has launched a travel advisor board and is seeking members; and Quark Expeditions has a convenient new feature for agents in its Partner Portal.
The Travel Agent Next Door
The Travel Agent Next Door was again named to the highest level of the Air Canada Circle of Excellence Agency Reward and Recognition program – a global initiative designed to acknowledge the hard work of the travel trade industry. Through the program, Air Canada provides various travel benefits to honor and appreciate travel agencies and their teams for their unwavering support and loyalty to Air Canada.
“I was honoured to receive this award on behalf of our TTAND agent partners,” said TTAND CFO Chris Senior. “Achieving this honour two years in a row is a testament to the dedication of our agent partners in supporting our key suppliers.”
“The Air Canada 2025 Platinum Circle of Excellence award is a true testament to how much The Travel Agent Next Door (TTAND) Advisors value our partnership. TTAND advisors are among the very best in the business, and we deeply appreciate the friendship and collaboration we share,” said Jamie Fox, Air Canada – Senior Manager, Regional Sales.
Transat Distribution Canada
Transat Distribution Canada (TDC) has announced the opening of a brand-new Marlin Travel agency in the heart of Moose Jaw, Sask., owned by Sheena Revet and Heather Calvert. The two women, owners of another Marlin Travel agency in Regina, joined the TDC network in 2021.
“The location at 502 Main Street, Moose Jaw has been a travel agency since 1981, so, when the location became available, it was a no-brainer for us to rebrand it with the Marlin Travel logo”, said Revet.
Calvert added, “We’re proud to offer personalized planning, backed by an experienced, passionate, homegrown team of 11 travel professionals who understand what Saskatchewan travellers truly want.”
Ensemble
Ensemble has welcomed several new members to its network. They include the return of Kemp Travel, part of the Uniglobe umbrella, and the Avenue Travel Family of agencies, which includes Avenue Travel, Clarke-Way Travel, Royal City Travel, and Travel My Way.
“The growth we’ve seen is a testament to the momentum we’ve built over the past three years in creating the new Ensemble,” said Michael Johnson, President of Ensemble. “Our position as the market leader in sun-and-sand sets us apart in the Canadian market, making Ensemble the consortium of choice for agencies that want to maximize their earnings.”
St. Kitts
The St. Kitts Tourism Authority has announced the launch of its first-ever Travel Advisor Board featuring eight members from key markets including Canada. The initiative aims to strengthen ties with the travel agent community by providing professionals the opportunity to share direct feedback, offer insights and contribute to the destination’s ongoing tourism strategy.
The SKTA is seeking representatives with expertise across all of St. Kitts’ core tourism pillars, including adventure travel, eco-tourism, luxury travel, romance, family travel, cultural experiences, events and corporate travel. Candidates will be selected based on professional experience, industry reputation and alignment with the destination’s tourism priorities.
Members of the Travel Advisor Board will enjoy a range of benefits, including:
- The opportunity to influence tourism strategy and marketing efforts
- An annual in-destination meeting with key decision makers
- Exclusive networking opportunities
- Financial rewards and other incentives
“The launch of the Travel Advisor Board reflects our continued commitment to strengthening the relationship between St. Kitts and the travel advisor community,” said Kelly Fontenelle, CEO of the St. Kitts Tourism Authority. “By listening to and collaborating with our valued partners, we can stay agile in the face of global trends and evolving consumer behavior – ensuring St. Kitts remains a competitive and sought-after destination.”
Interested agents can complete the official application form HERE.
Submit it along with any required materials to traveladvisorboard@stkittstourism.kn. The deadline for applications is Oct. 31.
Quark Expeditions
Quark Expeditions has a new feature in its Partner Portal. “Manage My Client’s Booking” is a self-serving payment tool allows travel advisors to make payments online at any time without having to call a Polar Travel Advisor to process the payment. In addition to payments on behalf of their client, travel advisors can also update their guest details and purchase add-ons.
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