TORONTO — Vacation.com has added 75 new members year-to-date and now counts some 650 Vacation.com agencies across Canada.

The agency organization is also signing up new suppliers. Fourteen companies came on board at yesterday’s Fall Regional Conference in Toronto West, and many of those sell high-end and niche product.

“Our members are asking for more luxury and niche suppliers,” said Christine James, Vice-President, Vacation.com Canada. “We’re also adding more airlines.”

Some 120 agents were expected at the Toronto West event, while a record 96 agents attended the Toronto East (Markham) event, historically the smallest Regional Conference gathering, plus 43 supplier representatives. From Toronto it’s on to Calgary and Vancouver with another 124 and 130 agents expected at those events.

The Regional Conferences were developed for agents unable to attend the annual Vacation.com International Conference and Trade Show, and offer training sessions, networking opportunities, a trade show and reception.

“At the end of the day, you want to take something back to your agency that you can implement,” said John Lovell, president of Travel Leaders Leisure Group & Vacation.com. Among its offerings, Vacation.com is offering its members an exclusive training series featuring Sabre’s ClientBase in a five-part webinar series running through Oct. 23.

Vacation.com agency sales for 2013 are “phenomenal”, says James, up by 15 to 20% year over year so far.

Vacation.com’s 2014 International Conference and Trade Show takes place June 8-12, 2014 at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas.