Travel Leaders Network (TLN) recently wrapped up its annual EDGE conference, held from 08-10MAY at the Gaylord Opryland Resort & Convention Center in Nashville, TN.
The conference brought together travel advisors and industry partners including airlines, cruise lines, hotels and resorts, destinations and tour companies. Participants had an opportunity to learn about industry trends through classes, networking with colleagues and supplier partners and attending presentations by industry experts as well as Travel Leaders Network leadership.
At the conference, TLN honoured Canadian agencies and suppliers, highlighted its record-breaking lead numbers, and introduced a new alliance with a focus on technology.
Honouring Canadian Agents
TLN recognized its top Affiliate Member agencies in Canada with Power of the Partnership (POP) Awards. These awards are a “people’s choice award,” having been voted on by Travel Leaders Network members in Canada.
“Travel Leaders Network is proud to recognize and honour these member agencies for their outstanding success, demonstrated partnership with preferred suppliers and dedication to serving their clients,” said Christine James, Vice President of Travel Leaders Network Canada. “
The Member of the Year Award was presented to the agency with top network sales performance as well as overall engagement and support of its partnership with TLN. The Chairman’s Pinnacle Award was presented to the Affiliate Member agency with highest preferred supplier sales. The Chairman’s Elite Award recognizes "outstanding sales performance" and overall support of the Travel Leaders Network partnership. The Chairman’s Host Award goes to the top host agency overall. The President’s Award honors agencies in three size categories that had the greatest year-over-year growth with Travel Leaders Network Preferred Supplier Sales. The New Member Award recognizes the top new Affiliate Member agency.
The travel agency winners are:
- 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
Recognizing Supplier Partners
TLN also honoured supplier partners in Canada during the 17th annual “Power of the Partnership” (POP) Awards.
“This year’s supplier partner honorees continually go above and beyond for our TL Network Canada agencies and their clients,” said James.
According to TLN, the 2023 top supplier awards were chosen based on "exceeding overall needs and providing tremendous support" in specific areas of agent interest such as marketing, technology, sales support and education, and training.
This year’s best Sales and Service Partner of the Year was awarded to TravelBrands. Overall Support Partner of the Year was awarded to Sunwing.
Travel Leaders Network also awarded other supplier partners with POP Awards:
- 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 Programmes: Manulife
- Most Creative Marketing: AmaWaterways
Record-Breaking Number of Leads to Members in 2022
In 2022, TLN says it delivered over 12,000 leads to its members. This number represents a 224 per cent growth from 2021 and a 145 per cent growth from the pre-pandemic high of 2019. These leads represented USD $20 million in sales with preferred supplier partners and USD $2.5 million in commission earned by members.
As of the end of the first quarter of 2023, TLN members had received 97,000 leads since 01JAN 2023, putting lead generation numbers on the path to surpass 2022 by 54 per cent.
Additionally, TLN introduced a new tool for Canadian members. CanadianTravelAgents.ca now offers a multi-facet search for specific search results. For instance, a user can search by location, destination and travel niche all at once. Users can even see sample itineraries when using CanadianTravelAgents.ca to search for an advisor. The site has been redesigned for mobile users.
Introduction of a New Leaders Alliance
TLN's Leaders Alliances are designed to provide members with communities of their own, focused on their niches. The Network has three Alliances currently, with a fourth one starting this quarter focused on technology.
Leaders Alliances were launched in 2021 with the Luxury Leaders Alliance and the Independent Advisor Networks Leaders Alliance. The Honeymoon & Destination Wedding Leaders Alliance launched in FEB 2023.
The Independent Networks Leaders Alliance was developed to serve TLN’s host agencies. Currently 45 Agencies are part of this Alliance. Those agencies represent 44,881 travel advisors and nearly $2 billion worth of sales. The Luxury Leaders Alliance stands at 275 members strong, and members are required to be in the top 1 per cent of all luxury sellers in the Network. In FEB 2023, TLN formally announced the Honeymoon & Destination Wedding Leaders Alliance. In less than three months, this Alliance has grown to 53 members.
At the 2023 EDGE Conference, TLN announced the launch of the Technology Leaders Alliance. Available only to owner and manager-level members, the Technology Alliance will act as a platform to share and learn about tools that exist outside of Travel Leaders Network. This includes topics from the use of AI to pay reconciliation for corporate agencies to online security for travel agencies. Members can share their own expertise as well as learn what other agencies are using and exploring in travel tech.
For more information on Travel Leaders Network, visit its website.
