“Inspiring”: Transat, advisors celebrate success of inaugural Group Camp

Transat recently expanded its investment in travel advisor education with its first-ever Group Camp, a training initiative focused exclusively on the growing group travel market.

Held June 12 to 19 at Dreams Puerto Morelos Resort & Spa in Cancun, Mexico, the inaugural event welcomed more than 80 travel advisors specializing in group travel for a week of learning, networking and product exploration, reads a press release.

The new initiative builds on the success of Transat's Rookie Camp, which has been running for the past two years, but shifts the focus to advisors who specialize in organizing group travel.

Throughout the week, participants completed more than 11 hours of specialized group travel training delivered by Transat and its hotel partners.

The program also included three one-on-one meeting sessions with suppliers, as well as three half-day hotel site inspections covering more than a dozen resorts across the Riviera Maya region, from Costa Mujeres to Puerto Aventuras.

Advisors also took part in six themed activities highlighting business opportunities within the groups segment and selected from two immersive excursions: a visit to Tulum or a catamaran excursion to Isla Mujeres, courtesy of Trafictours.

The inaugural Group Camp was supported by a range of hotel partners, including Hyatt Inclusive Collection, Bahia Principe, Palladium, Ocean by H10 Hotels, Meliá Hotels International, Barceló Hotel Group, Majestic Resorts, Catalonia Hotels & Resorts, Sandos Hotels & Resorts and Viva Resorts by Wyndham.

“Following the success of our Rookie Camp, we wanted to offer an experience of the same caliber to advisors who specialize in group travel,” said Marjorie Larose, sales manager at Transat, in a press release.

“Our goal was to provide them with practical tools, foster meaningful connections with our partners, and give them the opportunity to discover firsthand the many possibilities offered by this growing market segment.”

“The enthusiasm of our participants and the exceptional commitment of our partners exceeded all expectations. This first edition confirms the value of this type of initiative and the importance of investing in the development of our advisors’ expertise.”

Following the success of the inaugural event, Transat says it plans to continue investing in programs that strengthen travel advisors' expertise in the group travel segment and help them grow their businesses.

Participants praised the program for its combination of education, hands-on experiences and networking opportunities.

Travel advisor Marie-Pier Couture of Voyages AZZA noted how the event “allowed us to return with our minds full of ideas, new strategies and valuable insights to help us move forward.”

“An enriching, inspiring and highly-motivating experience!” Couture said in the release.

Cristina Ushinahua at Club Voyages UNIVERSEL greatly appreciated the interactions with the Transat team and the various partners who were present throughout the trip.

“Their availability, attentiveness and willingness to share their expertise made this experience even more rewarding,” she stated. “I am returning with valuable tools and even greater confidence to support my clients with their group travel projects.”

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