MONTREAL — TRAVELSAVERS Canada’s popular Dine & Discover events bring agency owners and front-line travel advisors together with the consortium’s preferred travel partners in a concept that prioritizes connections and camaraderie.

With express networking sessions akin to a speed dating format, and flash training where new products and updates are presented, TRAVELSAVERS Canada agents come away with product knowledge, business cards and a fun night out all in one.

This week a Dine & Discover event took place in Montreal, organized by Marylène Lupien, Director of Business Development for TRAVELSAVERS in Quebec and by Jane Clementino, Senior VPand General Manager of TRAVELSAVERS Canada. The event attracted more than 50 travel advisors and some 15 suppliers, including 5 Continents, ACV, Bedsonline, Expedia TAAP, Hyatt, Manulife, Royal Caribbean International, Sandals, Scenic, Tours Chanteclerc, Transat, TravelBrands and Virgin Voyages.

Jane Clementino, Senior VP and General Manager of TRAVELSAVERS Canada at the Dine & Discover event in Montreal

A FUN NIGHT OUT

During the meal, an interactive game gave advisors the opportunity to test the knowledge they picked up during the supplier meetings. Prizes were handed out, to the delight of participants.

“We try to vary it up, to be different in the way we organize our events,” said Lupien.

Here in Ontario, the TRAVELSAVERS Canada Dine & Discover Toronto Trivia Night event will take place this spring. The annual gathering, scheduled for April 17, will take place at The Vue + Clubhouse Event Space in Etobicoke.

AN EFFECTIVE NETWORK

According to Clementino, TRAVELSAVERS sets itself apart by being very present with agencies, without overdoing it. “We want to respect the identity and personality of each agency, and we prefer to remain in the shadows while being effective,” explains Clementino.

She added : “We believe in the strong identity of agencies, and we never intervene at this level. Agency owners are very proud of who they are and what they do, and they want their trademark to be put forward because they are the ones who developed their clientele and who have established a business relationship and trust. ”

BIG PURCHASING POWER

Globally the TRAVELSAVERS network generates $20 billion in annual sales and that means big purchasing power. The group’s infrastructure also gives its approved agencies the power to profit from their businesses through an exclusive territory system, strong supplier relationships, a comprehensive marketing software suite, advanced booking tools, specialist training and networking, as well as personalized business coaching.

“Simply put, we complement and add value to agencies and agency groups,” says Clementino. “We assess what they need to reduce the time spent managing administrative tasks, then give them the tools to improve their efficiency and increase their sales. And thanks to our immense network, we have negotiated preferential agreements with 140 suppliers in Canada (and many more in the U.S.).”

TRAVELSAVERS has 25,000 travel advisors in more than 2,500 independent agencies in North America, including 325 in Canada.

2024 : A PROMISING YEAR

At TRAVELSAVERS (as elsewhere in the industry), the year ahead looks promising. Not only has the group recruited Daphne Sword as its new Director of Business Development, but the travel industry looks to have a bright future as post-pandemic demand stays strong.

Clementino says this is especially the case in the luxury travel segment, “particularly because of Baby Boomers who continue to drive demand. Many of them took advantage of the pandemic to retire, and they have $15 trillion to spend!”

Next comes FIT travel and cruises, which will be particularly strong this year, as highlighted by a recent TRAVELSAVERS survey.

“In 2023, many travellers booked a cruise for 2024-2025, in part because they wanted to ensure they could choose their itinerary and because they got more bang for their buck than a stay on dry land,” says Clementino. “While hotel and resort owners were raising prices, cruise lines were maintaining the status quo.”

The TRAVELSAVERS survey also shows that travellers will prioritize authentic and personalized experiences in off the beaten track destinations in 2024.

“Travellers are increasingly eager for new adventures,” says Clementino. “They’re more excited than ever to spread their wings and try new things, whether it’s a new place, a new activity, or a new style of travel: in short, they want to have a complete experience.”

This article was originally published at ProfessionVoyages.com, part of the Travelweek Group