Transat Distribution Canada (TDC) is helping travel agencies and independent advisors “be ready” for anything in 2026. Over the past year, the retailer has been expanding its offering of digital tools which are giving advisors more confidence in their business, according to a recent survey.
Fresh from its annual ‘Rendez-vous’ conference in Toronto on 20SEP and 21SEP, following a Quebec edition the weekend prior, TDC General Manager Karine Gagnon and Senior Director of Marketing Marc Pelletier sat down with Open Jaw. The duo discussed TDC’s boosted social media support, new marketing tools and booking benchmarks for 2026.
About a month ago, TDC surveyed its membership of roughly 250 locations, spanning brick-and-mortar travel agencies, online services, a call centre and independent contractors in its agent@home program. The network includes Club Voyages, Marlin Travel, Transat Travel, TravelPlus, LuxeXperts and more.
“We were glad to see that over 80% of them felt confident and were happy with the results they’re seeing in their business,” said Gagnon. “Looking ahead to 2026, about 60% to 65% said they’re either a little ahead or steady [compared to where they were for 2025 at this time last year].”
With new tools in place, Gagnon said “our message to owners and advisors is to be ready for uncertainty, develop the unicity that makes you shine, and continue to renew your clientele and look for new business, rather than just relying on walk-ins.”
TDC launched TDC Social Media earlier this summer, providing agencies and advisors with up to 25 pieces of original, ready-to-post content each month for Facebook and Instagram.
“More than 250 agencies or advisors have already signed up,” said Pelletier, who notes one of the benefits of Rendez-vous was hearing directly from members using TDC Social Media. “It’s a very good foundation for their social media. If their objective is to grow their business and attract new clients, we encourage members to add their own personal touch to the content.”
The company also unveiled TDC Canva Templates, a free library of on-brand layouts inside Canva, the popular web-based graphic design platform known for its drag-and-drop ease.
“There’s already a ton of templates on Canva, but we’ve created ones with TDC colours, logos and balanced image-to-text ratios, available to our franchisees and soon all members,” Pelletier explained.
Gagnon added that advisors have adopted generative AI, specifically Large Language Models (LLMS), to help them customize content. “By a show of hands, nearly everyone in the room was already using tools like Copilot or ChatGPT,” she said of the Toronto attendees, which numbered over 200.
“Some people still perhaps need to be convinced that AI isn’t the enemy or the competition, although it will be to a certain extent. But I think it’s now more about knowing up to where they can use generative AI,” she said. “In a world where AI is evolving, every week if not every day, there's opportunity to make everything we do more relevant, impactful and efficient.”
“One thing we share is the importance of volume over perfection,” added Pelletier. “Some members hesitate because they think their idea isn’t polished enough or the photo isn’t perfect. But authenticity, being personable and approachable, and bringing value before selling is what really resonates.”
He suggested, for instance, creating a weekly series. "Every Friday, you answer the top question you receive on a certain destination," he suggested. "It's easier to program because it's recurrent, and adds structure rather than just having to sit in front of your computer or phone saying, 'OK, I have to create a piece of content.' So yes, our Canva templates are there, but our AI tools can also create images that support the content that they want to put forward."
TDC also continues to expand Campus TDC, its training platform, with added sales content and modules on developing your professional network to writing with flair.
The launch of a business development webinar next month was also announced during Rendez-vous. “We believe it will be truly valuable, because the years and months that follow each other are not always the same for incoming business and demand,” said Gagnon. “We excel in customer service in travel agencies, but sometimes not as much in getting new business.”
CELEBRATION AND RECOGNITION
Over two days, Rendez-vous featured a lineup of expert speakers. Business strategist and coach Sara Gilbert kicked off with “Exquisite: The Language of Customer Experience,” highlighting to advisors that their communication style is one of their greatest assets—the first “product” a client buys.
Cybersecurity expert Steve Waterhouse explored the evolving threat landscape in the travel industry and shared practical strategies for protecting agencies and clients. The closing keynote came from aerospace engineer and author Farah Alibay, whose keynote The Perseverance of an Explorer inspired attendees.
Held under the theme “Star Power: Lighting the Way in a Sky of Choices,” the event included a lively Saturday evening gala celebrating standout members and long-time milestones, presented by Transat. Honoured for their years of dedication were Sam Patel, Airline Ticket Center (15 years); Wedad Bishara, Marlin Travel Vancouver (20 years); and Angela Biene, Marlin Travel Ottawa (20 years).
New this year were the TDC Awards, designed to spotlight exceptional talent. Rising Star went to Sarah Crawford, Marlin Travel Peterborough, recognizing advisors with less than three years of experience, while Customer Experience Star was awarded to Lorelei Beard, Marlin Travel Cambridge, for consistently exceeding client expectations.
