TravelBrands' Brad Miron
The über cool digs on Explorer Drive in Mississauga where all TravelBrands are now housed are a shot in the arm for the reassembled ex Thomas Cook crew. R&R lounges complete with gas fireplaces, slick lunch rooms and corner coffee bars are designed to create an energized atmosphere for the 1,300 employees poised to make a splash in the coming months.
According to Brad Miron, newly acquired V.P., Marketing & Business Development, "This company is now a powerhouse. We've got the product, the people and savvy to make some waves." As Brad points to the notes covering the width of a 'white board' wall in his office, he adds, "It's incredibly exciting for me to be part of shaping this company. It reminds of 13 years ago when I was helping to build another iconic brand - you can feel the electricity in the air."
A plexiglass board by the elevators reads like a who's who of Canadian travel companies: ALBATours, Boomerang Tours, Exotik Tours, Intair, Network, Sunquest Vacations, Encore Cruises, Holiday House, FunSun Vacations, Intair Vacations - they're all still there. All planning their renaissance.
Even before any transformations, TravelBrands counted 1.5 million passengers in 2012/13 for gross sales of $1.7 billion.
When you consider how much distribution muscle sits under the same umbrella, it begs the question of how much TravelBrands will continue to rely on the trade. On this point Brad is clear. "We can't grow this company without travel agents. They are still the primary sales channel and we want them to understand that the tour brands we've acquired have shifted from colossal losses to profits. The flexibility our dynamic packaging offers has none of the down sides of risk product and it gives agents fantastic options."
