Tis the season for travel advisors to be on the road, whether its on a FAM or for organizational sessions and summits – or heading to the bank! Here’s a glimpse of a few recent rendezvous, ranging from The Travel Agent Next Door hopping down to South Africa with G Adventures (banner photo), plus on tour with Travel Edge’s top dog, dining and discovering with TRAVELSAVERS, and cashing cheques from Ensemble.
Ensemble
Ensemble has announced its second consecutive year of profit sharing with 90% of members increasing their payouts in 2023 from the previous year. It’s an increase from 2022 when 73% of the consortium’s top performing members earned a higher percentage than they did pre-pandemic in 2019, says the organization.
Ensemble attributes the notable increase in payouts to its strategic focus on bolstering profitability, including the utilization of Ensemble’s proprietary booking platform ADX, which continues to surpass industry standards by delivering above-average margins.
Michael Johnson, President of Ensemble said, “Innovation and profitability are in our DNA, and this stellar outcome is proof of our relentless dedication to delivering on and exceeding the promises we’ve made to our members.”
As Ensemble approaches the two-year anniversary of its acquisition by Navigatr Group, it has carved out a niche as a modern boutique consortium with a focus on enhanced profitability and a deliberate strategy to elevate its members’ agency and brand.
Over the past two years, Ensemble has undergone a comprehensive transformation, introducing new programs from extensive training and development to exclusive strategic partnerships, revitalized programs across all verticals, and a cutting-edge tech stack anchored by the ADX platform.
TTAND
The Travel Agent Next Door celebrated its Top Achievers with a trip to South Africa that included an African safari hosted by G Adventures. The group of 40 was escorted by David Green, G Adventures Managing Director, TTAND CEO Flemming Friisdahl, TTAND VP Rhonda Stanley, TTAND VP Agent Experience Penny Martin and Larissa Bureau, Special Projects, TTAND. Suppliers Celebrity Cruises, Royal Caribbean, Globus, Regent Seven Seas, and Ama Waterways also attended.
Highlights included visits to Kruger National Park to see the Big 5, a heritage tour of Soweto, a cable car ride up Cable Mountain in Cape Town, and an excursion to Victoria Falls.
“This was an absolutely amazing trip for our top achievers,” said Flemming Friisdahl, TTAND CEO. “G Adventures pulled out all the stops for this one and it was a truly unique experience for our TTAND agents.”
TRAVELSAVERS
TRAVELSAVERS Canada debuted an interactive and educational roundtable trivia game in Toronto during its Spring Dine & Discover networking event at The Vue & Clubhouse EventSpace. More than 130 people attended the event, with over 95 travel advisors and owners from 27 local agencies and 23 preferred partners.
New partners like Expedia TAAP and Sandals attended, alongside Air Canada Vacations, Manulife, Transat, TravelBrands, and WestJet Vacations.
Started last year, Dine & Discover events bring together key industry players to learn from one another through informative presentations and meaningful networking sessions. The result is better business, relationships, and services.
“Tonight’s event is a perfect example of TRAVELSAVERS’ commitment to forming strong alliances between our members and preferred partners and we love to introduce new activities like the trivia game to keep things fresh and exciting,” said Elizabeth Grundon, Business Analyst at TRAVELSAVERS Canada. “Special thanks to our preferred partners for their ongoing commitment.”
The evening kicked off with a trade show and cocktail networking reception, followed by a round table where agency owners and advisors met with preferred suppliers to learn about their latest product offerings, services and trends in quick five-minute sessions.
“We have over 80 choices in the Americas and 50 in Europe, so it’s really important for us to update advisors on the latest offerings to help keep them top of mind,” said Brian Joseph of the Inclusive Collection’s resorts.
Dinner was a family-style, sit-down event that included the fun trivia game with a trip as the prize. First-place winner Susan Eliuk from Frontliners Travel Group received a free three-day stay at the Secrets Bahia Mita resort in Puerto Vallarta, compliments of Inclusive Collection.
“I was thrilled to attend the Dine & Discover event to meet the team that actually helped me start my business. Spending time with key suppliers and networking within the industry was very worthwhile and lots of fun,” said Laurraine Payne, Owner of Rainy Day Travel Services Inc.
TRAVELSAVERS will host its next event, Travel Market, at the JW Marriott Marco Island Beach Resort in Florida from September 26 – 29, 2024.
Travel Edge
Reflective of a deep commitment to its travel advisors, Travel Edge President Andrew (Andy) Pilkington – who was appointed to the role in December – recently embarked on a road trip across Canada, the US, and Bermuda. Dubbed a “listening tour,” the trip was to meet with the luxury host agency’s advisors in person with a goal of gaining a deeper understanding of their business dynamics.
“In a world where digital communication dominates, the value of face-to-face interactions cannot be overstated,” Pilkington stated. “Having the opportunity to personally visit our advisors reflects our commitment to not just hearing, but truly listening to the voices of those who are the foundation of our network. This tour has been focused on building stronger relationships, gaining firsthand insights, and ensuring that our strategies and services are perfectly aligned with the needs of our advisors.
“We will continue to connect with advisors in person whether it’s in their local community or at events for our entire network to ensure that we are always listening and responding to the ever-changing needs and challenges of our advisors.”
Travel Edge says the insights gathered from the tour will inform its leadership team’s efforts to tailor support, resources, and innovations that empower advisors, reinforcing the organization’s commitment to excellence, support, and partnership.