Open Jaw was on hand as dozens of Ontario TRAVELSAVERS advisors and 17 suppliers convened in Toronto 30MAY to share updates and plans: “Today is about celebrating the year of engagement.”
Advisors from as far as St. Catharines and Orillia met up at Toronto’s Casa Ricca Banquet Hall for a trade show and dinner – TRAVELSAVERS’ new format Dine and Discover event. Also held recently in Montreal, the Dine and Discover replaces the group’s Lunch and Learns.
Jane Clementino, TRAVELSAVERS’ Senior Vice President and General Manager Canada, spent some time with Open Jaw, sharing her thoughts on the group’s presence in Canada and the potential for growth.
“We are now a $20 billion company and have added, for example, six new preferreds in Canada alone since January. We’ve added a new social media platform, Social Connect, and offer even more efficiency, savings and effectiveness to our agencies.”
Clementino, who joined TRAVELSAVERS last SEP, recalls that she was particularly drawn to the organization because it is family-owned, with founder and CEO Rick Mazza still involved 50 years later, and his daughters Nicole Mazza and Kathryn Mazza-Burney in the roles of CMO and CSO respectively.
Elizabeth Grunden, one of four TRAVELSAVERS Business Analysts in Canada, told Open Jaw that she works with agencies on a daily basis to help them engage with their 70 preferred suppliers. As she put it, “We treat our agencies and staff like family.”
“We are seeing double digit growth across all segments including ITC,” Monique Lalonde, Director of Supplier Relations said. “And it’s great to see how much business for 2024 is already on the books.” TRAVELSAVERS is also looking to grow in Quebec where they just acquired the Atrium Group and now total over 80 agencies.
TRAVELSAVERS is part of the travel giant American Marketing Group, owned by the Mazza family, which now comprises a “Chinese menu” of services for member agencies with divisions focusing on cruise, luxury, meetings, technology and more. The KORE program, designed for newcomers to the industry, comprises 160 hours of training and is currently being "Canadianized" with a fall launch planned.
As Clementino told the group, “Today is about celebrating the year of engagement. And remember… we need to be kind to each other – always.”
