Staff Writer News

THE LEADING EDGE

Flemming Friisdahl and the Travel Agent Next Door were named Best Canadian Affiliate Member of the Year at recent TLN Edge Conference. Shown here are Roger Block, President, TLN; Lindsay Pearlman, Sr VP, TLN; Penny Martin, TTAND: Flemming Friisdahl, Founder, TTAND:  Rhonda Stanley, VP Talent Development, TTAND: Christine James, TLN; Karen Viera, TLN; and John Lovell, TLN

More than 1,700 delegates attended Travel Leaders Network’s annual Edge conference in Nashville earlier this month, fresh with the knowledge that Travel Leaders Group had won the legal right to use the Travel Leaders trademark in Canada, capping a six-year legal battle.

Comprised of members, staff and supplier partners, EDGE offered up over 200 workshops, six General Sessions, informative speakers, an Experience Lounge featuring the latest TLN offerings, and a gala awards dinner.

“EDGE is at its heart a celebration of our travel advisor members,” said John Lovell, President of Travel Leaders Group. “They will leave the conference with new knowledge they can use to build their agencies, and valuable new connections with our supplier partners. But my hope is that they also leave with the knowledge that their work is important, and that nothing can replace the knowledge and service they bring to their travellers.”

EDGE’s keynote speaker was Grammy-nominated artist and speaker Freddie Ravel, who has worked with artists like Madonna, Prince and Earth, Wind & Fire, who uniquely showed attendees how to tap into the power of music for greater success.

“EDGE is a highlight of the year for many, including me,” said President of Travel Leaders Network. Roger Block. “As the pandemic recedes into the horizon, we are beginning to see the rise of AI and explore how travel advisors can navigate that and harness its power for the good of our industry. The bonds forged and new friendships made every year at EDGE are significant, and as we come together to make those connections, it is a powerful testimony about the power of the human touch a travel advisor provides.”

Awards

Meanwhile, TLN bestowed a number of “Power of the People” awards, recognizing top performers. Among the Canadian honourees were:

Top affiliates

  • Chairman’s Pinnacle Award: Travel Best Bets, Burnaby, BC
  • Chairman’s Elite Award: KVI Travel, Victoria, BC
  • Chairman’s Host Award: Centre Holiday Inc., Mississauga, ON
  • President’s Circle Award, Large agency: Northstar Travel, Kitchener, ON
  • President’s Circle Award, Midsize agency: Cruise Holidays, Oakville, ON
  • President’s Circle Award, Small agency: McPhail Travel, Moosomin, SK
  • Member of the Year Award: The Travel Agent Next Door Inc., Surrey, BC
  • New Member Award: 510 Travel, Scarborough, ON

Top suppliers

  • Sales and Service Partner of the Year: TravelBrands
  • Overall Support Partner of the Year: Sunwing
  • Mass Market Tour Partner: WestJet Vacations
  • Escorted Tour Partner of the Year: Globus family of brands
  • Top Resort/Hotel Partner: Sandals
  • Adventure Tour Partner: G Adventures
  • Best Educational Programs: Manulife
  • Most Creative Marketing: AmaWaterways

Travel Leaders Network is the largest agency network in North Ameriva with approximately 5,700 travel agency locations across the US and Canada.