This week: Ensemble in China; Maritime Travel earns top employer recognition; TRAVELSAVERS Canada adds agencies; Granite Travel Trade Expos opens registration for its fall series; and Park’N Fly has launched its new Travel Agent Hub.
Ensemble
Ensemble recently concluded its 2026 ‘Beyond Extraordinary Experiences’ in China, bringing together the network’s top-performing members, Rising Stars, key partners and Senior Leadership Team for an eight-day journey designed to celebrate achievement in a special way.
From private-access cultural experiences in Beijing and a luxury sailing through the Three Gorges of the Yangtze River to the energy and nightlife of Shanghai, Ensemble Beyond offered an immersive exploration of China while recognizing the advisors and members whose exceptional performance earned them a place on one of Ensemble’s most anticipated annual experiences.
Designed as a curated three-chapter journey through China, Ensemble Beyond showcased the country through three distinct perspectives beginning in Beijing with a VIP experience at the Great Wall of China, continuing to Chongqing for a luxury sailing along the Yangtze River with Celebrity Cruises, and concluding in vibrant Shanghai.
Beyond is a powerful expression of what makes Ensemble different,” said Shahla Lalani, SVP of Marketing and Events. “We talk about creating the best community in travel and being a true partner for growth, and this experience brings both of those commitments to life. It’s about celebrating the achievements of our members, creating opportunities for them to build meaningful relationships with one another and our partners, and giving them access to extraordinary experiences that inspire them personally and professionally. Ensemble Beyond is ultimately a celebration of their success and of the community we are building together.”
Maritime Travel
Maritime Travel has been named a Mercer Best Employer Canada for 2026 – scoring in the top 25% of participating companies. Following an independent survey of all Maritime Travel employees, Mercer identified Maritime Travel as excelling across critical people factors – employee engagement, and the organization’s agility, engaging leadership, and talent focus.
The award recognizes organizations that have transformed their people practices to drive better business results.
“Scoring in the top 25% of winners is thrilling for us. It’s a wonderful testament to our agents’ resilience and commitment as valued team members,” says Gary Gaudry, President, Maritime Travel Inc. “Our travel agents are among the very best in the business, and it’s particularly rewarding to learn that they are also among the most engaged workforces in the country.”
Some of the award’s benchmarks include employee’s perceptions of senior leadership, people-manager effectiveness, enabling employee productivity, and valuing and appreciating employees. Mercer is the largest HR consulting firm in the world.
Based in Halifax, Maritime Travel has been in business since 1949 and is one of Canada’s largest independent travel agency chains, with 90 locations coast to coast, employing over 400 travel agents. The company was recently named a Platinum Club winner of Canada’s Best Managed Companies for 2026. Prior to that, it has been named one of Canada’s Best Managed companies every year since 1998.
TRAVELSAVERS Canada
TRAVELSAVERS Canada reports that it has welcomed six independent travel agencies from across the country in just two months, adding a combined $76.4 million in preferred partner sales. With more than $10 million added through affiliations earlier this year and another six agencies expected to join by year-end, the network says it is on track to surpass $100 million in new business in 2026.
Granite Travel Trade Expos
Registration is now open for Granite Travel Trade Expos (GTTE) Fall 2026 travel trade show series, bringing global travel suppliers directly to travel advisors in seven lucrative secondary markets across Western Canada and Ontario. Registration is free (including parking, prizes, and dinner) for qualified travel agents.
Each Expo will feature up to 36 travel suppliers, providing advisors with the opportunity to meet representatives from leading destinations, hotels and resorts, airlines, cruise lines, tour operators, specialty travel companies and more.
In addition to the trade show, advisors can participate in educational, revenue-generating supplier presentations focused on providing the product knowledge and sales opportunities that can help them grow their business.
The schedule is as follows:
- Winnipeg – Oct. 6
- Red Deer, Alta. – Oct. 7
- Kelowna, BC – Oct. 8
- Ottawa – Nov. 2
- Kingston, Ont. – Nov. 3
- Richmond Hill, Ont. – Nov. 4
- Hamilton – Nov. 5
Travel advisors are encouraged to register early and the first 50 advisors arriving at each event will receive a $20 prepaid Mastercard. Register HERE.
Park’N Fly
Park’N Fly has launched its new Travel Agent Hub, a dedicated online resource designed to give travel advisors everything they need to confidently recommend Park’N Fly to their clients, all in one convenient location.
The Hub brings together the latest Park’N Fly product knowledge, service information, advisor resources and travel agent incentives, creating a one-stop destination for advisors looking for information to help their clients reserve airport parking.
It also provides quick, centralized access to a range of resources and programs available to Park’N Fly travel advisors, including Travel Agent Portal; Customized Digital E-Coupons; Agency Free Day Program; and Digital Ad Library.Check It out HERE.
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