There’s certainly a lot to be proud of over at The Travel Agent Next Door (TTAND). Now in its 11th year, the host agency has capped a hugely successful first decade with big plans for the next, including a big push into the AI space and even more tools and resources for its travel advisor community. In this week’s Take 5, we catch up with Jeffery Element, Chief Operating Officer, who talks about TTAND’s new booking platform, how tech is changing the game for advisors, and the summer offerings he’s most excited about.
- TTAND launched its new booking platform back in April. What feedback have you received from travel advisors about it? What do they like the most about it?
“The ITC booking engine is a game changer. The feedback has been overwhelmingly positive. Agents are telling us they love how intuitive and streamlined the platform is, and they are loving the unique way it displays the savings and available deals. It has been designed specifically with the Canadian consumer in mind. We are using more of the content feed from the hotels than any other retailer and making our platform more powerful and appealing than anything you see in the market. I regularly hear from our agents that this new platform allows them ‘to make money while they sleep.’ Quotes are seamlessly converted into bookings. This is all about helping them sell more, with less friction.”
- TTAND is making a big push in the AI space. What AI resources do you offer and how specifically do they help advisors?
“At TTAND, we’re integrating AI across key areas to help our advisors save time and boost productivity. From AI-powered itinerary builders and marketing tools to CRM assistance and smart content generation, our goal is to let advisors focus more on selling and less on admin. We’re also investing in AI education to help them stay ahead in a rapidly evolving landscape.”
- What are you most excited about this summer?
“I am thrilled to see a record number of new agents and agencies join our community this summer. It feels like the first day of school when we bring new members into our community and that is always very exciting.
“Second, every summer we run a fitness challenge with our staff and agent community. It’s called ‘Fit Trip,’ of course, and starts on July 7 and runs for eight weeks. There are prizes, but it’s not about the prizes. It’s heartwarming to see the community support and encourage one another to be their best. This is my second Fit Trip and I’m excited to get started.
“We’re also planning a Canada-wide series of in-person advisor connection events – road shows – because we believe community is key. While this happens at the end of the summer in September, the planning and build up happens in the summer. As we move into the heavier fall booking season, these events are very invigorating and allow us to connect again with our agent partners and key suppliers.”
- What advice do you have for advisors who are losing bookings amid decreased interest in U.S. travel?
“I look at the statistics very regularly. Our sales in total are way up compared to our record-breaking numbers in 2024, so we are not seeing a problem. What we are seeing is smart business people at work. We are seeing a large uptick in sales to Mexico, Italy, Ireland and Spain. These destinations, particularly the European ones, allow advisors the opportunity to earn even more commission.
“I would rather take advice than give advice on this subject. I would take the advice or example from our TTAND agent community. They are proving that you can use your professional sales skills to work with your clients and find them a solution to their travel needs. The world is a very big place, and it is our responsibility as travel professionals to help people explore as much of it as possible.”
- TTAND celebrated its 10th anniversary last year. What are you most proud of from the past decade, and what is the ultimate goal for the next 10 years?
“We are now well into our 11th year and there are so many things to be proud of. I would say that we should be proud that we have stayed humble. In our hearts, we believe we are here to serve our agent community. I believe that is why our agent community stays with us and also why we have so many more agents joining us each and every day. One of our largest sources of new agents is referrals from our current agent community – that says a lot.
“I think that at this point, most people would say they are proud of their commission program or technology, and we have a lot to be proud of in those areas. But we are most proud of the ‘community’ that has been formed. We have a community where agents don’t feel they are competing with other agents. A perfect example is our agent-led training sessions where agents who have been particularly successful are happy to share their secret formula. I don’t think this could happen anywhere other than TTAND.
“One last example is our open question session at conference or during our monthly town halls. Agents are given the opportunity to raise any topic or ask any questions – and they do! Our founder, Flemming Friisdahl, will answer each question. If we run out of time, we write down each question and he personally ensures that each and every question gets the response it deserves. The agents and the support team are all part of the community and we want to contribute to making this the best organization possible.”
For more information, go to www.thetravelagentnextdoor.com.
