Alberta’s Tisson Travel Group launches business day to empower travel advisors

When Tannis Dyrland founded Tisson Travel Group in 2023, she envisioned more than a network for Alberta-based travel professionals.

She wanted to build a community—one that equips independent advisors with skills and support models that traditional host agencies sometimes miss. 

On October 22, that vision takes a bold leap forward as Tisson Travel Group hosts its inaugural “Tisson Business Day,” a four-hour, in-person summit designed to give advisors the tools they need to thrive as true entrepreneurs.

“Too often, advisors are told they’re running their own business, but what does that really mean?” Dyrland said during an interview with PAX. “They’re given clients, systems, and supplier training, but not the business skills needed to succeed.”

Bridging the gap

Dyrland’s inspiration for Tisson Business Day grew from observing the challenges faced by her associates in the field.

Many excelled at nurturing client relationships, yet struggled with the nuts and bolts of entrepreneurship—sales, accounting, taxes, bookkeeping, and professional communications.

“I realized we were giving people independent businesses without the foundation to run them,” she explained. “At tax time, some were lost. And when it came to sales, they could maintain relationships but didn’t always know how to acquire or close a sale.”

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Rather than accept this as the status quo, Dyrland began brainstorming ways to fill the gap.

After meeting a dynamic sales manager from Calgary BMW—Alfie Velji, who “could sell a burger to a vegetarian” – Dyrland invited him to share strategies with her team.

That conversation sparked an idea: create a dedicated day focused solely on business skills

Enter Tisson Business Day

Tisson Business Day will gather about 15 participants—Tisson’s advisors, office staff, and support team members—in a professional boardroom, owned by a real-estate office, in Calgary.

The agenda blends expert sessions with practical advice, all aimed at helping advisors view themselves as business owners, not just consultants.

The key speakers include:

• Alfie Velji, Calgary BMW sales manager, who will lead a session on sharpening sales techniques and building client relationships.
• Brad Yandt, Dyrland’s longtime accountant, who specializes in the travel sector and will demystify taxes, bookkeeping, and financial responsibilities for independent contractors.
• Dyrland herself, who will guide a discussion on business standards: composing professional emails, engaging with suppliers, and elevating day-to-day operations.

The event is deliberately small and “bespoke” to allow for open dialogue and tailored advice, Dyrland said.

Importantly, the initiative isn’t just for newcomers. Even seasoned sellers, like one Tisson advisor who is celebrating a decade in travel, are eager to attend.

“The industry keeps evolving,” Dyrland said. “No matter how long you’ve been in the business, there’s always something new to learn.”

Building a supportive community

For Dyrland, the Business Day is an extension of Tisson’s mission: to empower Alberta-based travel professionals through mentorship, camaraderie, and peer-to-peer support.

Tisson already offers daily operational help—everything from marketing resources to supplier connections—but “Business Day” formalizes the commitment.

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It’s a chance to press pause on client work and focus on the structures behind success.

The emphasis on community is also deliberate.

Advisors in Western Canada, Dyrland believes, have historically lacked the same networking and educational opportunities available in larger markets.

“In Alberta, we sometimes have to build our own structures,” she said. “This summit is about strengthening our local industry.”

Looking beyond year one

Although the first Tisson Business Day is exclusive to Tisson’s network, plans are already forming to widen the circle.

Dyrland said next year’s edition may open up to advisors from other agencies and independents across Alberta.

“Whether you’re with Tisson or not, it’s valuable information we can all use,” she said.

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Future events may be held in larger venues and include a modest registration fee—mainly to encourage attendance commitment.

“A small fee encourages people to show up,” Dyrland noted, emphasizing that the priority is accessibility, not profit.

She’s also considering partnerships with organizations supporting female entrepreneurs, such as Alberta Women Entrepreneurs (AWE), said Dyrland, who'll also speak at the Women’s Entrepreneurship Day Organization's (WeDo) summit this November. 

Travel market momentum

While nurturing her advisors, Dyrland continues to grow Tisson Travel Group itself.

Bookings remain strong heading into the fall and winter seasons, with destinations like Japan, Iceland, and Bali topping client wish lists.

“Asia has been huge for us, and wellness travel is booming,” Dyrland shared. The addition of WestJet routes from Calgary to Tokyo and Iceland has also fueled interest in far-flung adventures.

Even as business climbs, Dyrland prioritizes quality over size. “I don’t need to be the biggest agency,” she said. “I want to be the strongest.”

Changing the industry landscape

Ultimately, Dyrland hopes Tisson Business Day will inspire a cultural shift within the Canadian travel trade, one that values business education as much as product knowledge.

By giving advisors the skills and confidence to act as entrepreneurs, Dyrland believes Tisson can raise the bar for the entire industry.

“If our agents succeed, our clients benefit, and our community grows stronger,” she said.

For Dyrland, her summit is more than a workshop—it’s a declaration that Alberta’s advisors deserve the same caliber of business support as their peers anywhere in the country.

“I hope agencies in Calgary and elsewhere in Alberta see this and go, ‘Oh my gosh, I need that.’ That’s how I would have felt if something like this was presented to me,’” Dyrland said. “I think it’s really necessary for our industry.”

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