MONTREAL — The 2024 TDC Leaders Forum was a resounding success, with English Canada owners, managers, preferred partners and Transat Distribution Canada’s leadership team coming together in Richmond, British Columbia.

Held from April 15-17 at River Rock Casino Resort, the strategic retreat was a chance for TDC to “reflect and plan for the medium term,” but also “take stock of progress on the organization’s strategic priorities, to review our programs, and to ensure that our members get the most out of them, according to their own needs and realities,” said Marc Pelletier, Senior Director, Marketing, Communications, and Events at TDC.

The forum’s agenda included keynote speaker Cloé Caron, an executive coach and entrepreneur; a workshop on equity, diversity and inclusion; a roundtable session to promote the exchange of best practices among members; an update on the TDC network’s priorities; and much more.

Owners and managers of franchised and affiliated agencies in Quebec were invited to attend a similar event at the Club Med in Charlevoix, Quebec from April 8-10.

“This Leaders Forum, a gathering for reflection, in addition to our National Leadership Conference, another event held every two years, are important, high-level meetings, that are all aimed at our franchise and affiliate owners and managers,” said Karine Gagnon, General Manager of Transat Distribution Canada. “Indeed, we need to offer these entrepreneurs places to meet and exchange, during which they can really reflect, and take a step back with the entire TDC leadership team, preferred partners, and speakers. It’s one of the ways we bring value to our network.”

Pelletier added: “For me, the agenda we’ve put together perfectly embodies what the TDC network is all about, its key strengths and its values. One of the strengths of the TDC network is that it’s a one-stop shop for the Canadian travel industry; we’re the only network to offer all business models, including franchised and affiliated agencies and an agent@home program for independent contractors, in addition to our own agencies.”

Data from a recent Canada-wide study commissioned by TDC from IPSOS was also shared during the forum. Said Pelletier: “The survey reveals that 31% of Canadians have used the services of a travel professional in the last 12 months. A higher proportion (40% of Canadians) intend to use their services within the next year. This data sparked some interesting discussions, and clearly demonstrated that the trend of travellers using travel professionals is strong and firmly established.”

WHAT ARE PEOPLE SAYING?

Feedback about the Leaders Forum from branch owners and managers was overwhelmingly positive.

Peggy McKnight, Owner, Marlin Travel Cambridge, said: “What I like the most about these events is the networking opportunity and most importantly, the sharing of ideas with my peers. I must say that this year, especially with the roundtable session and the keynote from Cloé Caron, we were rewarded with some truly enriching discussions.”

Ying Chun, Owner, Bay View World Travel and Cruises, added: “I have been in the travel industry for a long time, and I must say that the quality and the variety of content presented during the 2024 edition of the TDC Leaders Forum was really impressive. In my opinion, the most interesting part of the entire event, or should I say the most valuable for me, was the financial benchmarks presentation, because it provided an important point of comparison, to better guide my business decisions. Furthermore, the presentation of TDC’s strategic priorities by General Manager Karine Gagnon is positive for the organization’s future.”

And Ana P. Tremblay, Co-owner of Algonquin Travel and Cruise Centre, TravelPlus, said: “The TDC Leaders Forum is a terrific opportunity to reconnect with like-minded colleagues who are always open to sharing ideas and best practices. The content showcased by TDC and the engagement of my fellow attendees is a highlight of this Forum, and I never regret my participation. A job well done by the TDC team.”