TDC's national conference kicks off in Cancun with strategic thinking

Transat Distribution Canada’s (TDC) five-day conference at Breathless Riviera Cancún Resort & Spa is underway in Mexico, drawing a delegation of travel agency owners, preferred partners and members of the TDC network’s management team.

As shared in a press release on Monday (April 17), “strategic reflection and the exchange of best practices between members” are the focus of the event, which features speakers who will explain the impact of global economic activity on the travel industry, and other trends.

Karine Gagnon, general manager of Transat Distribution Canada, and Joseph Adamo, president of Transat Distribution Canada and chief sales and marketing officer of Transat, set the tone for the event on Sunday (April 16).

Gagnon emphasized that in an ever-changing travel industry, having the support of a solid franchisor and the strength of being part of the Transat family are valuable assets for owners.

"These few days will be a reflection of who we are at TDC, and more importantly, what we offer our members: an opportunity for professional development, networking and sharing best practices with business owners from across Canada, with TDC's management team, and with speakers who are experts in their fields,” Gagnon was quoted as saying.

“Of course, this type of meeting is unthinkable without the presence of our preferred partners, of which there are some 40 this week. This opportunity for our members to connect with these key players in the industry, to better serve their clients afterwards, is essential.”

She reviewed TDC’s major projects developed in recent years, including the creation of TDC's own LuxeXpert certification and Virtuoso membership.

The Campus TDC tool kit will also be enhanced later this year, she said.

Adamo provided an update on Transat's strategic priorities, highlighting the unique relationship between TDC and Transat, the press release reads.

He focused on the evolution of Air Transat's fleet and air network, the impact of the Transat brand in the market and the impact it has on the travel agency network, as well as the importance of customer loyalty in today's competitive world.

Meanwhile, economist Pedro Antunes explored trends that will influence Canadians' travel intentions in the short and medium term.

The Director of Business Intelligence of the Transat Chair in Tourism, affiliated with UQAM’s School of Management, Marie-Christine Bruneau, was also there to deconstruct the elements that will influence travel intentions of Canadians in the short and medium term.

A night at Hotel Xcaret Arte was also hosted by Transat.

"The relationship of trust that we have with many of our preferred partners allows TDC to ensure its strong position in the Canadian market," stated Gagnon. "In this type of event, their participation in large numbers is essential, because it is one of the important elements that our members come to look for. And thanks to the pop-up meeting formula that we developed, all the partners and owners present at the event were able to meet in small groups to discuss new products and, above all, their mutual realities.”

TDC’s National Leadership Conference runs until April 20.

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