Roger Block, President of Travel Leaders Franchise Group
Well known ladies-about-town Mary Montgomery and Christine Jeynes of The Romance Concierge
The PD sessions were well attended
Suzanne Fleming, V.com’s newest DBM with Christine James, V.P. Canada
The usual buzz of activity was in evidence at the semi-annual Vacation.com Focus on Success regional meeting at the Sheraton near YYZ last week. As well as the usual supplier updates, training, Professional Development and trade show, the event was an opportunity to focus on the changes to come 01JAN17.
That’s when the alliance will be re-branded as Travel Leaders – or, here in Canada, TL Network. The company’s 3 brands (Vacation.com, Results! Travel and Travel Leaders Associates) will sport a new look and streamlined operations from that date forward.
“There will be 3 areas that will be strongly enhanced,” Roger Block, President of Travel Leaders Franchise Group, explained to me. “Firstly, new education programs, with in-depth certifications; secondly a revamped and refined lead generation program and thirdly we will be introducing some corporate travel services to Canada.” There will be no changes to the fee structure, but some of the enhancements will be added on a pay-as-you-go basis to the current menu of options for V.com members.
Some of the biggest fans of the new structure, look and name are leading Vacation.com members. Carlton Montaut, CEO of Mississauga’s Centre Holidays Inc. sees the amalgamation of Travel Leaders and Vacation.com as a very positive move. “I see nothing but positive energy being injected into this corporation and great things happening in the future.”
Echoed Jackie Walsh of Destinations Travel & Cruise in Woodstock, “The restructuring will utilize the best resources of the 3 companies and create a unified system for technology, preferred suppliers and support systems.” Canadian agents, she adds, will now have access to programs that they did not have before which will help to grow the business and give them an advantage in the marketplace.
The reaction of suppliers has also been very positive – and certainly that was echoed in Toronto last week. Robert Smith of Sandals declared, “It makes sense!” while MSC’s Mary Anne LaChance said that if she were an agent, she’d be absolutely proud to promote the new name. As Roger Block put it, the main reaction has been, “What took you so long?”
