Vision looking ahead to a bright 2016

Vision Travel welcomed more than 400 guests to its annual Power of Vision conference last weekend, providing attendees with a look at the Canadian travel industry landscape in 2015 and beyond.

"The number of participants at our conference increases every year," noted Joel Ostrov, president of Vision Travel. "Five years ago, we were 230 in Montreal. Last year, we recorded 350 participants and this year we are 400, including 300 managers and counselors from our team, the remainder consisting of representatives of suppliers."

The conference, held Oct. 23 - 25 in Ottawa, began with a trade show on Friday afternoon. On Saturday, following opening speeches by Ostrov and COO Brian Robertson, a number of guest speakers took to the stage; among them were several senior airline executives, including Duncan Bureau, vice-president - global sales of Air Canada and David Hilfman, senior vice-president - global sales for United Airlines.

The event also featured a presentation by Canadian Olympic champion rower Adam Kreek, who motivated attendees to succeed by sharing his journey to the podium.

During Saturday's gala evening, leaders of the agency presented a check for $10,000 as part of Vision’s fundraising for the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation.

Vision Travel, headquartered in Montreal, saw an annual turnover of $665 million, primarily in the commercial sector (accounting for 80 per cent of sales) and top leisure travel range. The company, which is the largest Canadian-owned travel retailer, employs nearly 700 employees based in 16 offices across the country.

This year, it bought one of the largest corporate agencies Montreal, Ideal Travel Group, which realized a turnover of $42 million. Vision is also preparing for two major transactions including the acquisition of a large corporate agency based in California.

"I can not disclose the name, because everything is not finalized yet, although we are establishing the final details," Ostrov said. "But this is the first step in our expansion in the United States where we intend to do what we did in Canada – that is to say, grow organically and through acquisitions. The California agency we are preparing to buy realizes a turnover of $100 million. We plan to generate revenues of around $300 million to $400 million in the U.S. within five years. We are also finalizing the purchase of a much-smaller Vancouver agency - $12 million of income."

On the eve of the conference, Vision also won the award of Corporate Agency of the Year as part of the Uni-Vers Gala, organized by the Quebec Association of Travel Agents (AAVQ). This is the second consecutive year that Vision has won the title.

PHOTO: Of Vision Travel: Joel Ostrov, president; Brian Robertson, COO; Stephanie Anevich, executive vice-president; and Arend Roos, CEO along with (second from right) Marie Josée Barrette of the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation.