Travelsavers Canada has wrapped up its 2024 Leadership Networking event after four glorious days hosted by Sandals at the brand-new resort in Saint Vincent.
“Hosting our Leadership Networking Event here was the perfect setting for agency partners to experience the island and celebrate our successes,” said Jane Clementino, Senior Vice President and General Manager, TRAVELSAVERS Canada. “Agency owners, both established and new, were able to network and share valuable feedback with our executive team. We were delighted to announce that we’ve experienced incredible growth in the last 18 months.”
Travelsavers Canada celebrated a 95% growth in business in 2023.
Forty selected attendees, including seasoned agency owners and recently transitioned new agency owners, tourism board representatives and special guests, were among the first travel agency network to experience Sandals’ newest all-inclusive resort in Buccament Bay, Saint Vincent, becoming the 18th property in the brand’s portfolio of luxury resorts when it opened just two months ago at the end of March 2024.
“At TRAVELSAVERS Canada, one of our areas of focus is luxury properties because our agency members have the clientele that aligns with upscale vacation travel.” said Clementino. “I really wanted Sandals Resorts to become part of our consortia’s portfolio as it is such a well-recognized and respected brand. We were able to secure our partnership based on our Sandals support and growth since the pandemic.”
As the first all-inclusive resort on the main island of Saint Vincent, Sandals Saint Vincent and the Grenadines marries Sandals’ trademark luxury and innovation with the destination’s natural and rustic charm. Set on 50 lush acres and enveloped by a mountain backdrop, Sandals Saint Vincent and the Grenadines offers 301 rooms and suites, 11 dining concepts and a host of “Sandals Firsts,” including a 300-foot linear pool, overwater two-story villas, new restaurants, and more.
“What an incredible opportunity to introduce the TRAVELSAVERS Canada team including some of their top agency owners – many of whom are also top Sandals and Beaches producers – to this hidden gem of a destination. Nothing can replace actually seeing, touching, tasting and feeling all that Sandals Saint Vincent and the Grenadines has to offer their clients,” said Maureen Barnes-Smith, Vice President, Sales & Marketing Canada, Unique Vacations Canada Inc. (affiliate of the worldwide representatives of Sandals Resorts). “We’re confident this trip will be mutually beneficial and we look forward to strengthening our sales and marketing partnership with TRAVELSAVERS Canada in the days and months ahead.”
In between interactive working sessions led by Travelsavers Canada, guests could choose one of two excursions sponsored by the Saint Vincent and the Grenadines Tourism Office.
"We were delighted to offer two special experiences to the TRAVELSAVERS Canada team," said Shelley John, Director of Sales (Canada), St Vincent and the Grenadines Tourism Office. "Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, consisting of 32 islands and cays, is an ecotourism destination known for its great waterfalls, hiking and diving. One of the tours we planned was to Bequia, the next main island, a quaint, intimate fishing community often visited by cruise ships because of its beauty. It is a must-see and only takes 30 minutes by fast ferry," said John.
"The other tour was to Dark View Falls in the interior of St Vincent island. A stunning scenic tour along the coastline where there are many towns and villages to explore, a verdant mountainous topography, many rivers and black sand beaches, offering a sighting of the country’s La Soufriere volcano in the distance," she added.
“What an amazing group to work with. The amount of support we’ve received in our first month is more than we did in the last thirteen before joining this consortia,” said Vicky Sorbara, Co-Founder of Luv to Travel Inc. “We are thrilled to have been invited and given the opportunity to network with other agency owners, and we feel that we have secured the right partner, TRAVELSAVERS Canada."
The entire experience was first-class, with transportation managed by Air Canada Vacations.
After recently relaunching flights to Argyle International Airport (SVD), Air Canada will fly weekly to Saint Vincent throughout the summer.
“Air Canada Vacations is proud to sponsor this year’s Leadership Networking Event alongside our esteemed travel & tourism partners,” said Nino Montagnese, Vice-President at Air Canada Vacations. “We are thrilled to offer Canadians exciting new vacation packages and weekly flights to Saint Vincent and the Grenadines throughout the summer. Air Canada Vacations prides itself on offering TRAVELSAVERS Canada travel professionals a one-stop shop to the world, cheers to a successful leadership event.”
Some of the Travelsavers Canada agency owners stopped for a quick lunch on the island of Barbados for a site tour of a newly renovated property, courtesy of Barbados Tourism Marketing, Inc.
Unique Vacations Canada, Inc. (Sandals & Beaches Resorts), the Saint Vincent and the Grenadines Tourism Office, and Air Canada Vacations sponsored the event.
