Downtown Halifax was abuzz with energy this weekend as more than 380 travel advisors and 110 suppliers gathered for the annual Maritime Travel Team Conference. Open Jaw schmoozed with agents and participated in the trade show on Friday night.
The theme for this year was 'Celebrating Our Heroes.' Blair Jerrett, Senior Director of Marketing, shared with Open Jaw's Karen Dahdah, "We're celebrating how many of our staff stuck with us, stuck with the business, and the industry itself, and got through a lot during the last few years." The conference hall was splashed with positive words such as adaptable, resilient, brilliant, and strong, recognizing the perseverance and dedication of the Maritime agents.
Given that the last conference took place in November 2019, this year's event held particular significance for both agents and suppliers. Maritime Travel, stands out as one of the largest bricks-and-mortar retailers in Canada, which also comes with some challenges. Jerrett noted, "With our offices being so spread out across the country, it’s difficult for suppliers to reach them." He added, "This is a tremendous opportunity because they get to see all of them under one roof." Importantly, this conference is mandatory for all agents across Canada, except for the customer care centre, which remains open to manage client inquiries and bookings.
Agents actively participated in the trade show, supplier showcase, the CEO's address on business updates, as well as a mix of professional and personal development sessions. Agents had a choice between cupcake decorating, Christmas charcuterie board making, or trivia games, providing a balance between learning and enjoyment. The event concluded with a cocktail reception and a celebration dinner at the Halifax Marriott on Saturday night, honouring agents for their years of service ranging from five to 45 years.
