TORONTO — Envoyage Canada has strengthened its national sales team with the appointment of Jessica Smid as Business Development Manager.

Smid joins the Flight Centre Travel Group-owned independent travel advisor network from TravelBrands, where she most recently served as Business Development Manager. She also previously worked as an independent travel advisor, giving her firsthand insight into the needs and challenges of entrepreneurial travel professionals.

In her new role, Smid will focus on building relationships with experienced travel advisors across Canada, helping them explore the benefits of joining the Envoyage network while supporting the company’s continued growth.

Gail Banack, Vice President & General Manager, Envoyage Canada, said Smid’s blend of industry expertise and advisor experience will be an asset to the organization.

“Jessica brings a unique combination of experience to Envoyage, having worked as an independent travel advisor while also supporting travel professionals in her previous roles,” said Banack. “She understands the advisor experience because she has lived it herself, and she brings valuable insight into the opportunities and challenges that come with building a travel business. We’re excited to have her join our sales team as we continue expanding our community of experienced advisors.”

Smid said her background has reinforced the importance of strong support networks for independent advisors.

“My time as an independent travel advisor gave me a real appreciation for the importance of having the right support, resources and community behind you,” she said. “Over the past two decades, I’ve had the opportunity to work across retail, wholesale and supplier partnerships, always with a focus on building relationships and helping travel professionals succeed. I’m excited to bring that experience to Envoyage, connect with advisors across Canada and support entrepreneurs as they grow their businesses within our community.”

Lead image caption: Jessica Smid