TDC leadership conference to take place in Spain with new content, format

Transat Distribution Canada (TDC) has shared details about its upcoming National Leadership Conference (NLC), which has been reconceived—both in content and format.

Starting with the location: for the first time, instead of a sun destination, the event will take place in Europe, on Spain’s Costa del Sol.

Club Med Magna Marbella will host TDC’s franchised and affiliated agency owners and managers, the management team from Voyages Transat/Transat Travel, TDC’s leadership team, and many of its valued preferred partners for an immersive week of strategic planning.

"We have truly broken the mold for this latest edition of our National Leadership Conference," said Karine Gagnon, general manager of TDC, in a press release. "What do I mean by that? First, we’ve completely redesigned the format, extending beyond the in-person event from March 22 to 28. We are equipping our members ahead of time, encouraging them to reflect on their business goals in advance. This ensures that once in Spain, they take purposeful actions and engage with the right people. And this journey won’t stop at the end of the week—it will continue after we return to Canada, with a series of post-event follow-ups to help members apply their learnings to real-world scenarios."

To guide participants through this process, TDC has partnered with speaker, author, and executive coach Cloé Caron.

"We are thrilled to offer our agency owners and managers the opportunity to benefit from her expertise. At some point during the five-day event, each participant will have the chance to book a one-on-one session with Cloé to receive personalized advice on achieving their specific business goals," added Gagnon.

This coaching support also extends to the TDC Playbook: "A practical tool developed in collaboration with Cloé Caron to help participants structure their reflections and takeaways."

New meeting formats

New meeting formats have been incorporated into the event to maximize business and personal development opportunities.

“Rather than large plenary sessions, this year’s conference introduces: Partner Business Reviews – One-on-one meetings with preferred partners to assess business relationships and explore new opportunities; exclusive one-on-one sessions – Individual meetings with TDC’s leadership team, offering direct access to leadership. We are also introducing a Brand-New Mobile App, which will allow participants to access their personalized agenda, schedule meetings, chat with peers, and more,” Gagnon said.

Transat will also host a special Andalusian-themed evening to thank agency owners for their partnership.

“In addition, we will take time to express our gratitude to all our partners during the Gala of Gratitude," stated Gagnon.

 Addressing business challenges

The National Leadership Conference will feature insights from 10 expert speakers, including TED-style talks—short, impactful, and highly practical sessions.

"Our seven TDC Talks are designed to address the real challenges our agency owners and managers face today," said Dianne Jackson, director of franchise and affiliated members. "Our owners are incredibly busy, so we’ve made sure that these talks get straight to the point and provide concrete action steps."

Some of the workshop topics include: AI for Marketing Efficiency, Maximizing Social Media for Business Growth, Leading Effective One-on-One Meetings and How to build stronger connections and boost performance.

Caron will host a workshop on 'Influence and Persuasion', while Gagnon will lead a session on sales and leadership strategy.

"As someone passionate about human relationships in leadership, sales has been a major focus of my career, from luxury hospitality to Transat. I’m eager to share my hands-on expertise with our members through my workshop, ‘Lead, Align, Sell: The Three Pillars of a High-Performing Agency’," stated Gagnon.

 A customized plan

According to Anthony Mormina, senior director of sales and operations at TDC, this year’s revamped approach ensures that every participant leaves Marbella with a personalized action plan, tailored to their agency’s needs.

"The ability to exchange expertise and best practices among agency owners is one of the most valuable aspects of this event," Mormina said.

The TDC Playbook, combined with pre and post-event initiatives, is what makes this year’s National Leadership Conference truly stand out, added Caron.

"I was thrilled when TDC shared their approach with me. Taking the time to reflect and prepare beforehand makes the experience much more impactful for participants. Plus, I will guide daily reflection sessions in Spain, allowing attendees to process and internalize their learnings in real time,” Caron said.  

Caron will lead a conference and workshop titled "Staying Focused on Your Goals When Life Happens,” offering practical strategies for maintaining momentum beyond the event.

"We all know how easy it is to get caught up in the whirlwind of daily life once we return home. That’s why preparation and foresight are key to overcoming obstacles. And to close the loop, I will also host a follow-up session a few weeks after the event, helping participants stay on track," said Caron.

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