TTAND's focused supplier approach recognized by Sandals award

According to The Travel Agent Next Door Founder Flemming Friisdahl, taking “a different approach” toward suppliers is paying off for the host agency.

At a ceremony in Turks and Caicos last week, Friisdahl was awarded with the Sandals CEO Award of Excellence, during the all-inclusive chain’s annual S.T.A.R. Awards. The award is presented to “Individuals, who are described as explorers and visionaries who can perceive of something others can’t, and who move their business forward with a unilateral focus on growth and success.”

“I am extremely proud to accept this award on behalf of our entire team,” said Friisdahl. “This award demonstrates how our philosophy of focusing our agents on certain suppliers has been a win-win for everyone involved. We are the only agency in Canada to win this award this year.”

Friisdahl told PAX that the award is a result of TTAND’s ‘less is more’ philosophy in regards to suppliers, rather than strictly sales numbers; that said, TTAND also won Sandals’ “Best of the Best” award for sales growth with the resort group, which Friisdahl said increased by approximately 90 per cent in 2017.

“It wasn’t just about the sales – it had a lot to do with the commitment, working with and supporting them and growing the sales," he said. "The Travel Agent Next Door has a different approach when it comes to suppliers – we believe that less suppliers represent more.”

TTAND will celebrate its fourth anniversary on March 19.

Check out the February 2018 edition of PAX magazine – going online tomorrow - for an in-depth interview with Flemming Friisdahl on the growth and future of TTAND.