This week: Travel Leaders Network has host of new supplier partners; Trevello celebrated in Jamaica with Sandals; Brand USA announced its FAM contest winners; two top Virtuoso execs have been promoted; and St. Kitts has extended its SKY Travel Agent Program, offering exclusive incentives for travel advisors.

Travel Leaders Network  

Travel Leaders Network reports the addition 10 new travel suppliers for its Canadian members this year. Additionally, the organization has significantly expanded its destination partners, which now includes 100 partners.

They include Blue Diamond Resorts, Brand USA, Destination Greater Victoria, Greek National Tourism Organization, Korea Tourism Organization, Madrid Tourism Board, The Amazon Porto de Galinhas Recife, Palladium Hotel Group, Playa Hotels & Resorts and Visit Orlando.

Additionally, ITA Airways and La Compagnie Airlines became preferred and will be available on Travel Leaders’ point-and click booking tool SNAP. Canadian members are already using SNAP for car and hotel bookings, and beginning in June, they will be able to use the tool to book air on preferred partners.

Trevello/Sandals

Trevello’s annual conference took place in Jamaica last week with Adam Stewart, Executive Chairman of Sandals Resorts, opening the event with a heartfelt speech recognizing the invaluable contributions of travel advisors.

“Today we celebrate the incredible partners who help bring our Caribbean vision to life,” said Stewart. “We’re reimagining what all-inclusive luxury can be to bring the soul of the islands to every guest experience. For travel advisors, it means more opportunities to sell up, earn higher commissions, and build lasting client relationships.”

“Travel Advisors play a critical role in helping our guests connect with Caribbean communities, in more ways than one,” added Heidi Clarke, Executive Director of the Sandals Foundation, the philanthropic arm of Sandals and Beaches Resorts. “Through various community routes, tours, volunteer opportunities and key experiences, a vacation now becomes an opportunity to improve and invest in the livelihood of the community. We are eternally grateful to the TA community for always sharing the multiple avenues for guests to give back to the islands in which they visit, together we are sharing the best of the Caribbean and positively changing lives.”

Brand USA

Brand USA, in collaboration with Travel Nevada, Travel North Tahoe, Travel Oregon, Utah Office of Tourism, Visit Reno, Visit Salt Lake and Visit Seattle, has announced the winners of its 2025 “Sell Your Way To The USA” incentive program.

The winners include (from east to west):

• Maria Karagioules, Voyage International, Montreal
• Kirsty Roberts, Dream Destinations, Toronto
• Jennifer Quinlan, Travello Travel Group, Barrie, Ont.
• Callan Thompson, Sportscorp Travel, Bolton, Ont.
• Vanessa Barone, Sportscorp Travel, Bolton, Ont.
• Brittany Uskoski, BCD Travel, Winnipeg
• Misty Mcknight, Direct Travel, Regina
• Carrie Gillespie, Direct Travel, Regina
• Michelle MacKenzie, Tier One Travel, Calgary
• Yolanda Nortje, Boulevard Travel, Calgary
• Sue Kos, Bee Travel, Edmonton

The annual campaign offers Canadian travel advisors the chance to earn one of 12 select spots on an exclusive FAM trip by selling qualifying bookings to the US. The winners earned the most points for bookings made to the sponsor destinations during the selling period of Jan. 15 to March 31, 2025. Points were awarded as follows:

The winners will now take one of four self-guided FAM trips to Nevada, Oregon, Salt Lake City and Seattle in May and June, including round-trip airfare, accommodation, rental car or transportation, activities, and some meals.

Virtuoso

Virtuoso has named Cheryl Cheney Bunker as senior vice president, global memberships. An industry veteran with more than 25 years’ experience, Bunker has been with Virtuoso since 2007, heading up teams that work hand-in-hand with Virtuoso member agencies and advisors to maximize engagement and drive preferred partner sales. Most recently, Bunker served as vice president, global member relations, providing leadership, management and strategic direction for the team responsible for over 1,200 travel agency locations and more than 20,000 travel advisors in 58 countries across North America, Latin America, the Caribbean, Europe, Asia-Pacific, Africa and the Middle East.

In tandem with Bunker’s elevated position, Virtuoso executive Cory Hagopian will evolve his role to senior vice president, global partnerships. Since joining the organization in 2022, Hagopian has led both member and partner relationships worldwide. He will now solely focus his efforts on driving Virtuoso’s global partner sales strategy and developing relationships across all product categories, including hotels and resorts, cruise lines, tourism boards, alliances, tour operators, air, car services and insurance as well as Virtuoso’s new Ultra-High-Net-Worth vertical.

Bunker’s role took effect as of May 1 and she will continue to office from Windermere, Fla. Hagopian’s position is effective immediately, and he will remain based in Fort Lauderdale, Fla.. Both report to COO Brad Bourland.

INCENTIVES

The St. Kitts Tourism Authority

The St. Kitts Tourism Authority is continuing its St. Kitts Yourway (SKY) Travel Agent Program through Dec. 15. The program enables agents to independently explore the island with exclusive discounts on hotels, restaurants, and attractions, enhancing their firsthand knowledge and service for clients.

Travel agents who participate in the SKY program also have the chance to earn quarterly rewards, with the agent who secures the highest number of bookings each quarter receiving a US$1,000 reward.

 Additional benefits

• Hotel rates: Special rates when booking directly with select hotels.
• Site inspections and island tours: Available upon request through the form on the St. Kitts Tourism Authority’s website, subject to availability.
• Value card: Upon arrival, agents will receive a value card offering discounts on gift shops, restaurants, and more, enhancing their stay and overall experience on the island.

Minister of Tourism Marsha T. Henderson, said, “We are thrilled to continue the SKY Travel Agent Program, reinforcing our commitment to strong partnerships with travel agents. This program offers more than just exclusive rates and benefits – it provides agents with firsthand experiences that allow them to truly connect with the beauty and culture of St. Kitts. By immersing themselves in the destination, agents will be better equipped and inspired to share its unique charm with their clients.”

To take advantage of these benefits, travel agents (North America) must complete the destination specialist program at www.visitstkitts.com/travel-professionals/us-canada-agents  and log their bookings at www.visitstkitts.com/travel-professionals/log-your-bookings .

If this article was shared with you by a friend or colleague, you may enjoy receiving your own copy of Travel Industry Today with the latest travel news and reviews each weekday morning.  It’s absolutely free – just CLICK HERE.