Transat Distribution Canada hosted its first training academy since before the pandemic, this time taking to the high seas for a cruise-focussed session aboard a Virgin Voyages vessel in the Caribbean; Ensemble convened its owner-managers for a Summit in Scottsdale, Arizona; and Direct Travel and FCM both made key executive appointments.

TDC

Transat Distribution Canada (TDC) recently held its first Training Academy since 2019, this time with a focus on cruising. Eighty professionals from Transat Travel/Voyages Transat agencies, franchisees and affiliates, and the agent@home program took part in the week-long event on a Virgin cruise ship in the Caribbean (banner photo).

“I’m really proud to say that TDC is a pioneer in Canada in its association with Virgin Voyage,” said Sandra Wesson, TDC’s Director of Product and Industry Relations. “We were the first network in Canada to offer a familiarization trip on this distinctive cruise line, and we’re back at it again this time by being the first Canadian network to organize a training academy onboard one of their unique ships.

She continued: “Given the phenomenal growth in the popularity of cruises among Canadian travellers, we wanted our very first training Academy in 5 years to focus on cruising. And the choice of partner to host it was simple: it was vital for us to expose our network members to the truly different experience Virgin Voyages offers: an inclusive, diverse, adults-only atmosphere, where the average age of passengers is 45, and where everyone can enjoy a safe and enjoyable cruise. Passengers are not constrained by any dress code, and they set the pace of their stay themselves via an app, to make the most of their cruise experience.”

Also Participating in the Academy, which included 30 hours of in-depth training at workshops and presentations, were nearly 20 TDC preferred partners, the vast majority of them cruise operators, intended to accelerate the company’s new era of growth and innovation following its acquisition by prominent venture capitalist Steve Singh and a leading group of investors.

FCM

FCM, flagship corporate travel arm of Flight Centre Travel Group, has announced the hire of Lindsay Straub as its new Global Head of Sales. In her leadership role, she will oversee and manage the company’s global sales strategy, identifying key opportunities for revenue growth across the business.

A decorated sales executive with a deep understanding of the corporate travel industry, Straub will work closely with FCM’s regional sales leaders throughout the world to drive pipeline management, increase conversion and improve customer acquisition. She will focus on developing strategic initiatives and innovative solutions that will help optimize sales processes and enhance productivity.

Based out of New York City, Straub will also be responsible for facilitating cross-functional collaboration to ensure organizational alignment and a cohesive sales strategy across departments, from account management, commercial, marketing, operations, product, and more.

Ensemble

Ensemble recently held its second annual Summit event at the luxurious Arizona Biltmore in Phoenix. Under the theme of ‘Power of Performance,’ the Summit brought together the network’s owners and managers for a series of high-level insightful sessions, networking opportunities, and engaging activities.

Designed to address key issues related to operating a business in today’s dynamic landscape with a focus on driving high performance among every agency’s team, the Summit’s agenda featured a diverse range of topics tailored to meet the needs of attendees. Highlights of the gathering included sessions on understanding and leveraging data collection, a member-voted discussion on time management, and opportunities for one-on-one networking.

With over 70 partners represented across all verticals including air, cruise, hotel, DMC, tour, insurance, and technology, the Summit provided a platform for collaboration and innovation. Attendees – which included several new members from the Canada and the US who joined the consortium within the last year – had the opportunity to connect directly with key supplier partners, explore new business opportunities, and forge valuable relationships to drive mutual success.

In keeping with the theme and a focus on the challenges of operating a business, the Summit welcomed a top economist as keynote speaker. Scott Anderson, Chief US Economist & Managing Director at BMO Capital Markets, who provided key insights into economic trends and their impact on the travel industry, offering attendees strategic guidance for navigating future challenges and opportunities.

The Summit also presented ample opportunities for team-building through a range of recreational activities – from sunrise balloon rides to biking and rafting adventures, culminating  with dine-around experiences at top Scottsdale restaurants

Direct Travel

Corporate travel management company Direct Travel, Inc. has named Michelle Sitzman Chief People Officer and Dave Breslin as Executive VP, Customer Experience, New Tech Stack. Former executives at Talend and SAP Concur, Stizman and Breslin are tasked with helping Direct Travel “scale and establish a culture of continuous innovation.”

“Our leadership team is vital to the ongoing success and evolution of Direct Travel. We are very pleased to have Michelle and Dave join us during a time of investment and growth as we look to set the global standard for The Perfect Trip,” said Christal Bemont, CEO, Direct Travel.

Sitzman brings 30 years of experience in human resources, most recently serving as Talend’s Chief People Officer, where she led global teams, culture, and workplace strategies. Prior to Talend, she was an HR leader at LinkedIn, where she held positions including Senior Director, Learning and Talent Development and Director, HR Business Partner.

Meanwhile, Breslin is a consulting leader and cloud software executive with over 25 years of experience spanning global implementation, spend management, regulatory compliance, corporate travel and business transformation, most recently at SAP Concur. He will focus on Direct Travel’s new technology stack, working in tandem with the customer experience team to deliver innovative client-driven solutions for Direct Travel’s operations, integrations, and enterprise services.

Direct Travel also recently announced the appointment of Todd Pelletier to Chief Sales Officer and Scott Schwisow to Sr. VP, Technology and Strategy.