Goals: TRAVELSAVERS Canada eyes $1B in sales as agents break away from hosts

“I’m not retiring until we reach $1 billion in sales,” declared Jane Clementino, senior vice-president and general manager of TRAVELSAVERS Canada, with a smile that says she means business.

That ambitious target – an “aspirational” one, Clementino said – framed the energy at the consortium’s Dine and Discover event Wednesday night (Oct. 29) at Hazelton Manor in Vaughan, ON.

The upbeat event – which doubled as a 25th anniversary bash for TRAVELSAVERS Canada – brought together 140 advisors, 30 suppliers (some showing Blue Jays pride) and a five-person support team, making it the largest in the series so far.

“This is our third year doing this,” said Clementino, speaking to trade media before dinner, as a bustling trade show roared one room over. “We did an event in Vancouver last week and Quebec City last night.”

Next year, the team will introduce something different for its Ontario-based members: two Dine and Discover events, instead of just one. One will be held in the western GTA, in Mississauga; another, in the east, in the North Toronto area.

The spring and fall gatherings are signature events for the network, which operates under the American Marketing Group, alongside sister brands NEST and The Affluent Traveller Collection.

Last night’s get-together also recognized a quarter-century of TRAVELSAVERS Canada’s commitment to “inspiring, educating, supporting, and igniting the entrepreneurial spirit” of its member advisors.

That was the mission of Rick Mazza, company present and CEO, when he brought TRAVELSAVERS to Canada in 2000 alongside his daughters: Chief Sales Officer Kathryn Mazza-Burney and Chief Marketing Officer Nicole Mazza.

The consortium accepted 17 agencies during that first year in Canada. Today, that number sits at 330 agencies, with nearly 30 newcomers joining over the past year.

READ MORE: Building on momentum: TRAVELSAVERS Canada marks 25 years

TRAVELSAVERS, founded in 1970, “was very successful in the United States,” said Clementino, who joined the company in 2022 after a year leading Discover the World and previously holding senior roles at WestJet and WestJet Vacations.

“They came into Canada with the same leadership, mindset, entrepreneurial spirit and family values – and it worked,” she said.

And the consortium continues to grow with new and innovative programs, like OnlineXpress, a lead generation platform, training (such as KORE, for industry newcomers), tripXpress (a revenue-booking booking tool), enhancements to its Softvoyage booking engine, value incentive and hotel programs, robust marketing tools, and AI Connect, which creates marketing content in minutes.

“We’re evolving relative to what the needs are,” Clementino explained. “The [Mazza] family doesn't take a lot of risk in the sense that they're always thinking long term. And that's a good thing. They're not just trying to be the agency of choice for six months. It's a long play. They make good decisions and have good relationships with suppliers. That’s why people stay with us.”

A soft patch, but strong futures

On the business side, Clementino acknowledged that the current booking climate feels a little “soft” across the board, echoing what she’s hearing from many in the trade.

But the outlook remains optimistic.

“Futures are still strong – river, ocean cruise, all of those are still strong in 2026,” she said. “Our ITC numbers are outstanding for 2026. Pricing has gone up significantly, and people are realizing that you have to book six, seven, eight months in advance to get the right price.”

Package prices, she noted, have climbed roughly 25 per cent over the past two years, now averaging $3,500 to $4,000 per person.

Jamaica’s recent brush with Hurricane Melissa (a devastating weather event that was acknowledged last night with calls to support the island) may also push travellers to book elsewhere this winter.

And cruise? Well, it’s still having a moment.

“Right now, cruise is underpricing land, so that's why you're seeing a little more with cruise,” Clementino said. “Cruise lines are adding a number of value adds, like included Wi-Fi and drink packages, which Canadians like.”

And, to help ease budget pressures, TRAVELSAVERS recently partnered with Flex Pay, allowing clients to spread payments monthly.

“We feel like there’s going to be a bit of pressure on budget, so we want people to still be able to justify it with monthly payments,” she said. “That program is really quite reasonable once you’re confirmed.”

Cruise surge, Japan is “overcrowded”

Clementino cited that 16–17 per cent more Canadians are looking at cruise travel this year compared to previous years.

And despite a slowdown in U.S. sales due to the tariff war and President Donald Trump’s annexation threats—down 35 per cent year over year, with Las Vegas down 38 per cent, Clementino said—some Canadians are still open to sailing from popular U.S. ports like Miami or Fort Lauderdale.

“They’re just not doing the pre and post, which is interesting,” she said. “People are going on cruises out of the U.S., landing that morning, jumping on the ship and getting out of town.”

READ MORE: TRAVELSAVERS Canada appoints Elizabeth Grundon as dir. of professional development

Group travel remains another bright spot. “Groups are doing really well across all sectors,” Clementino added. “Europe is still very popular.”

Among trending destinations, Vietnam, Croatia, and India are gaining attention for their value and appeal, while Japan may be a victim of its own success.

“People are saying that [Japan] is overloaded,” Clementino observed. “Everybody's got their product directed towards Japan, and now it's too much. It's hard to imagine that in cities like Greater Tokyo, with 37.5 million people, you could actually feel crowded.”

Independent mindset: advisors break away

One of the biggest shifts Clementino is watching comes from within the advisor community itself.

She said more experienced agents are choosing to leave host agencies and go independent, often through TRAVELSAVERS’ Breakaway Program, which helps independent contractors launch their own businesses.

“Over the last three months, we’ve had seven agents leave their host agency and start their own agency with us,” she said. “And they might have 10 advisors underneath them.”

The motivation is clear: income and individuality. “Some agents have had enough of taking two or three haircuts from their pay,” she said. “They’re saying, ‘I can’t take a 30 per cent cut here, and then take cuts from my sub agents.’”

Clementino said TRAVELSAVERS’ model appeals to those who want support without uniformity.

“Everyone in host agencies are being treated the same way. It’s a bit cookie-cutter. They want to feel a bit different. In our network, you're going to have a dedicated person attached to you.”

Clementino clarified that TRAVELSAVERS isn’t out to disrupt Canada’s host agencies (after all, she wants to work with them).

And host agencies absolutely work for many travel advisors, she said. But not all.

“We’re here to provide agents with options to start up their own business,” she said.

Building on 25 years

The 25th anniversary is also a moment of reflection for TRAVELSAVERS Canada. About 65 per cent of the network remains bricks and mortar, and Clementino said the consortium continues to value long-term relationships with preferred suppliers.

“We don’t often add suppliers because it dilutes the numbers,” she said. “We chose you 20 years ago, and we still want you to be successful today.”

TRAVELSAVERS’ protected territories also remain a key differentiator, giving member agencies exclusive access to leads within their region.

The company doesn’t want to compete with its own members either. “We don’t do any of our own bookings,” Clementino noted. “We want to redirect that lead back to the agencies.”

Next stop: growth and scale

With TRAVELSAVERS’ Breakaway Program gaining traction and the network confident it can now “manage big business,” Clementino sees major opportunities ahead.

“Hosts that are sitting under Ensemble or Travel Leaders Network—we can manage them,” she said, stressing that TRAVELSAVERS growth in Canada will remain focused on quality, not quantity.

Some of the group’s largest host agency members—GO with Hippo and Just Travel Deals in Ontario, and Groupe Atrium in Quebec—reflect the network’s abilities and growth.

“It’s about how you scale it,” Clementino said. “We’ve got some good ideas, and when it starts to take off, it multiplies.”

And if all goes to plan, those ideas could bring Clementino’s billion-dollar vision into sharp focus.

After all, as she puts it, “You’ve got to set goals for yourself.”

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