TORONTO — 5Continents kicked off an exciting roadshow this week in Ontario, featuring the theme ‘5 Cities – 5 Partners – 5 Destinations.’

The event includes a training series Nov. 25 – 27 at venues in St. Catharines, Oakville, Kitchener, Vaughan and Whitby.

Representatives from five top international destination partners – Croatia, Malta, Dubai, Scandinavia and Turkiye – shared insider updates, selling tips and expertise to help advisors enhance their product knowledge for both FIT and group bookings.

The event also provided valuable networking opportunities.

Travelweek caught up with David Boigné, the founder of 5Continents, a B2B tour operator, at the Sheridan Conference Centre in Oakville, where he shared some insights.

”The company has experienced significant growth over the years, and we are continuing to expand our team. Currently, we have 20 staff members in Canada, along with a support team in our local offices,” said Boigné. ”We are also looking to increase our staffing in both English and French.”

The company anticipates around 300 advisors will participate across the roadshow’s five stops.

The number is impressive for a company that launched in 2017, navigated the challenges of the pandemic, and continues to thrive.

“We are gaining traction in almost everything we do,” Boigné said with a smile.

Not only that, but with an incredible 77% increase in sales so far this year, the outlook remains promising.

What is the 5Continents secret sauce?

“We have people scattered across the country and abroad,” said Boigné. “We no longer have a physical office, which offers greater flexibility and work-life balance, resulting in a happier, more engaged team.”

Boigné elaborated on their success, noting that it lies in the team’s ability to connect with the travel advisor, the ease of doing business with minimal processes, and their collaborative approach to resolving issues.

Ultimately, it comes down to “the human touch,” said Boigné.

“WE DON’T HAVE A LIMIT TO BESPOKE ITINERARIES”

Boigné noted that while many competitors offer tailor-made itineraries, they often come with limitations. With countless connections across the globe, creating niche itineraries is one of 5Continents’ key strengths.

“We love it when we put together something out-of-the-box that we haven’t done before. It’s almost a challenge – and it’s rewarding when it comes to fruition,” he said.

Rita Puglisi from Luxe Destination Weddings in Toronto told Travelweek she has been booking 5Continents for two years, and her experience has been nothing short of positive.

“They know exactly what I’m looking for and accept any requests, from budget to high-end. There’s a lot of flexibility. It’s not a cookie-cutter approach.”

DESTINATION HOT SPOTS

While Boigné admits their top destination picks are “all over the map,” there was a strong demand last year for Portugal, Greece, the UK and Italy.

5Continents’ ‘5 Cities, 5 Partners, 5 Destinations’ roadshow is in Ontario this week

Other countries that have seen an uptick include Australia and New Zealand, and Asia is definitely making a comeback.

“We go all over the world except to the U.S, Caribbean and Mexico,” said Boigné.

More recently, 5Continents has been receiving requests for off-the-beaten-path itineraries, such as Mongolia.

Not surprisingly, special interest travel has taken off, ranging from wellness retreats and gastronomy experiences to sporting events, cultural immersions and beyond.

Boigné attributes the company’s momentum and growth to word-of-mouth referrals: “It’s been the best marketing for us ever.”

PLANS FOR FUTURE GROWTH

When asked about expansion, Boigné emphasized a philosophy of slow and steady growth.

“We are controlling our expansion with intention, and holding off or delaying signing preferred agreements with travel agency networks,” he explained. “We want to ensure we can handle incremental business and in the right way – we don’t want to mislead anyone – and we aim to be more selective. We believe this is the right approach for us.”

MAKING A BOOKING

For travel advisors interested in working with 5Continents, the process is straightforward. Qualify and understand your client’s needs. There’s no need to be familiar with the product or the destination. Then give 5Continents a call or send an email to info@5continentsca.com.

“We value building relationships with travel advisors,” said Boigné. “We don’t view them as clients, and we want to be seen as two colleagues collaborating  – which makes a difference.”

For more information on 5Continents, visit 5-continents.ca.

Lead image caption: 5Continents’ founder and President, David Boigné with National Director of Business Development & Marketing, Sabrina Greca (all photos courtesy Annie Cicvaric)