TRAVELSAVERS CANADA awards top achievers; Clementino says 2025 will be a single-digit year

Face time is the best time – especially when there isn’t a hurricane brewing in the air.

About 100 travel advisors and agencies who belong to TRAVELSAVERS CANADA had an opportunity to network one-on-one with 27 preferred suppliers in Etobicoke, ON, Tuesday night (Nov. 12) at “Dine and Discover,” a trade show and dinner do that's held every spring and fall in the Greater Toronto Area.

For some in attendance, it was a make-up meeting. TRAVELSAVERS’ annual Travel Market conference at the JW Marriott Marco Island Beach Resort in Florida was abruptly postponed in September once it became clear that Hurricane Helene was barrelling towards the Sunshine State.

The first part of the agenda, the Affluent Traveler Collection Symposium, went ahead, but organizers, erring on the side of caution (and recognizing that Marco Island was in Helene’s path), cancelled the rest.

As a result, agents attending the conference didn’t get to meet as many suppliers as they would have liked.

Fast-forward to last night, at Dine and Discover, and those face-to-face meetings finally took shape. Filling the floor at The Vue and Clubhouse EventSpace, suppliers from all corners of the biz, from airlines to ocean, river and expedition lines, to hoteliers to tour operators, and beyond, presented to tables full of travel professionals who were keen on hearing the latest updates.

“There’s so many people who just want to get together with suppliers,” said Jane Clementino, senior vice-president and general manager, TRAVELSAVERS Canada, speaking to PAX at the event. “[At Dine and Discover], we make it educational, but we also make it fun.”

Earlier, TRAVELSAVERS held two learning sessions – one about the Affluent Traveller Collection (an exclusive marketing group for luxury travel specialists, preferred suppliers and destinations), as well as a workshop led by Christine Vincent, director online strategies and consumer engagement at TRAVELSAVERS, about AI Connect – a proprietary tool that helps advisors market themselves to clients in minutes (while keeping sales in the agents’ hands).

Staying engaged with clients, in modern and compelling ways, will be key for travel agencies as the industry heads into 2025.

“Demand is up, but it has flattened a bit compared to the pent-up demand we’ve had over the last couple of years,” Clementino said. “Advisors will have to keep up with those relationships with consumers, instead of waiting for consumers to come to them.”

As for Dine and Discover’s fun factor, a trivia challenge unfolded throughout the night to help attendees bone up on their supplier knowledge, awarding prizes.

And the award goes to...

But the most celebratory moment was applauding TRAVELSAVERS travel advisors and agencies who won awards for their performance in 2023 (because the conference in September was cancelled, a proper ceremony was never held).

Miraculously, all the winners were in the room last night.

Two “Brand Champion” Awards (which acknowledges agents and agencies who are great ambassadors of TRAVELSAVERS) were handed out. They went to Luv To Travel and Ventresca Travel Agency.

The “Soaring Eagle Award” (for an agency that has achieved the most significant increases in partner sales) went to Justtraveldeals.ca.

And finally, there was the “President’s Award,” which acknowledges the achievement and production of preferred supplier sales in the previous calendar year. This prestigious honour went to Enjoy Travel.

TRAVELSAVERS big year

It’s been a big year for TRAVELSAVERS Canada.

Last month, the consortium’s Canadian team reported a $45 million increase in preferred partner sales after welcoming 26 new affiliates.

The organization says it also added 100 independent contractors into various TRAVELSAVERS agencies this year, which has contributed to the spike in business.

READ MORE: Top TRAVELSAVERS Canada agencies discover South America during Elite Retreat

This group is a combination of new-to-industry people approaching TRAVELSAVERS, and advisors switching over from somewhere else, Clementino said.

As for sales – from how they’re going, to where they’re going – Clementino said TRAVELSAVERS CANADA is looking at a $400 million-dollar year.

“Sales are good,” Clementino said. “We’ve had growth and new business coming in.”

One vertical that’s seeing double-digit growth is river cruising, Clementino said, summing up the trend as a combination of general demand and people booking trips far in advance to get the experience they want.

But the travel industry may have to prepare for a reality check: that business is flattening and that the post-COVID days of revenge travel are over.

“I think 2025 is going to be a single-digit year,” Clementino said. “I think people have caught up with their bucket-list activities and destination weddings are down. It’s slower because there was so much that hadn’t happened during the [pandemic] years. We don’t see the same group activity.”

On a positive note, ATPs (the Average Transaction Value) are up, Clementino said.

Meanwhile, the consortium has made progress in recruiting newcomers to the industry. Earlier this year, TRAVELSAVERS Canada launched KORE, an education program that advances how the industry enlists and trains the next wave of travel advisors.

READ MORE: Direct bookings, OTAs among “greatest challenges,” say TRAVELSAVERS agencies in Canada

Some agents attending Dine and Discover last night were graduates of the KORE program. 

Clementino’s goal is to entice a younger demographic of professionals (people aged 25 to 30) to join the industry. The bulk of new recruits, currently, are professionals on their second or even third career, pivoting industries, she said.

What will it take to get today’s youngins to sell travel? Clementino says it’s all about creating a work culture that’s “hip and happening” and energetic.

Which is challenging, when you consider the fact that many travel advisors work from home.  

“It can be lonely,” she said. “You don’t have camaraderie you need. But we’re working on this.”  

Agency pain points

TRAVELSAVERS Canada, in recent years, has taken the time to share fascinating insights about the travel industry using data collected from its own network.

Releasing its latest survey results in September, the consortium shed light on some of the “greatest challenges” its members face in day-to-day business.

Competition from suppliers who take direct bookings from consumers and online travel agencies were two pain points that were named.

However, competition from other travel agencies, and from artificial intelligence, were not seen as major issues.

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