TORONTO — Exoticca rolled out the red carpet in Toronto this week for its fourth annual Fall Fling, bringing together 300 travel advisors and key partners for an evening of industry updates, awards and celebration.

Held at the Fairmont Royal York, the evening gala – think polished and stylish – included dinner, prizes and a look at Exoticca’s latest developments and continued growth in the Canadian market.

“Tonight is about you, celebrating you, and celebrating your success and showing our appreciation,” said Diana Winters, VP Sales, Canada and host of the evening.

For the fourth consecutive year, Exoticca took its Fall Fling on the road, with events in Montreal, Quebec City, Halifax, Calgary and Vancouver. New to the lineup this year is Saskatoon.

Also new for 2026 is an awards component recognizing top-performing travel advisors and partners across several categories.

CANADA TAKES THE LEAD

The future of travel – and the role travel advisors play in it – has become a key growth engine for Exoticca, particularly in Canada.

Speaking with Travelweek, Mareike Pfennig, VP Growth, said that while other markets, including the U.S., continue to grow, Canada has emerged as Exoticca’s largest B2B market.

The tour operator is projecting 50% growth in Canada this year, with travel advisors generating 40% of its Canadian sales. Canada also represents the company’s largest travel advisor network globally.

What is driving that success?

“The element of trust is very important for travellers, especially with high-ticket purchases like travel. There are a lot of questions involved, and the synergy with the advisors is fantastic,” said Juanjo Duran, Chief Product Officer.

“These two components together are what we call the Canadian model, which we are now applying to our markets in Spain, the UK and Latin America.”

According to Pfennig, increased brand recognition has also played a significant role in the company’s Canadian growth, supported by television campaigns that have not yet been introduced in all of Exoticca’s markets.

She said the campaigns have proven effective on both the B2C and B2B sides, with consumers exposed to Exoticca’s advertising subsequently turning to their travel advisors to book.

TECH, GROUPS & CHANGING TRAVEL PATTERNS

Exoticca, which positions itself as the “next generation” of travel, continues to invest heavily in technology, including AI, as it looks to respond more quickly to the needs of both consumers and the trade.

“We listen, and we are very agile in turning feedback into new features,” said Pfennig.

But despite those advances, company executives said travellers still value the human element of the booking experience, particularly when it comes to understanding individual priorities and preferences.

Exoticca currently operates in 11 global markets, offers travel in more than 80 countries and has a portfolio of more than 300 curated itineraries.

The company has also seen travel patterns shift this year as travellers respond to global events, including a notable decline in bookings to the Middle East and Africa.

Its current bestsellers are concentrated primarily in Asia, particularly China and Japan, as well as Latin America and Europe. European demand encompasses perennial favourites such as Italy alongside emerging destinations such as Albania.

Groups, meanwhile, have become another important segment for the tour operator. Exoticca currently offers 90 group itineraries and has doubled the size of its dedicated groups support team over the past three months.

For travel advisors, Exoticca highlighted several elements of its trade proposition during the event, including pricing that it says averages 30% below comparable competitor itineraries, commission on all components, prompt commission payments, instant quotes, a dedicated onboarding team and advisor-focused technology.

EXOTICCA’S SHINING STARS

A major highlight of the evening was Exoticca’s first-ever awards ceremony, recognizing travel partners, agencies and advisors across categories including Legacy Excellence, Breakthrough Agency, Growth Partner of the Year and Top Producer. 

Top Ontario travel advisors also received Diamond, Platinum, and Gold accolades.

This year’s award recipients included …

Growth Partner of the Year – Consortia: TRAVELSAVERS

Breakthrough Agency Award: TravelOnly

Partnership Excellence – Consortia: Travel Leaders Network

Partnership Excellence – Agency Partner: TDC

Legacy Excellence Award – Agent: TDC

Rising Star Award – Agency: Maritime Travel

Growth Partner of the Year – Agency: Expedia

Top Producer – Agency: Expedia

Exoticca Trailblazer Award: TravelOnly

Exoticca Ambassador Award: Debbie Griffore, Trevello

The celebration wrapped up with prizes from Exoticca and its trade partners, followed by closing remarks from Winters, who acknowledged that the company’s rapid growth has not come without challenges.

“We ask for your continued support and your input,” she told attendees.

Quoting Exoticca CEO Pere Valle, Winters added: “‘Exoticca will be the best tour operator in the world.’ It’s a tall order – he’s very ambitious – but we do like the challenge.”

Lead image caption: Exoticca’s Mareike Pfennig, VP Growth; Diana Winters, VP Sales, Canada; Juanjo Duran, Chief Product Officer