VIDEO: Trevello celebrates Travel Advisor Day in a sea of pink in Belfast

Trevello kicked off global Travel Advisor Day in unforgettable fashion Wednesday morning (May 6), filling downtown Belfast with energy, positivity (and plenty of pink) during its 2026 “Building Bridges” conference.

Held in collaboration with Brendan Vacations, TTC Tour Brands, Tourism Northern Ireland and Tourism Ireland, this week’s conference has brought together around 250 travel advisors and suppliers in Northern Ireland for a week of learning, networking, and exciting destination experiences.

And Wednesday morning’s celebration set the tone perfectly.

Wearing bright pink t-shirts emblazoned with motivational slogans on the back, advisors gathered as a bagpipe player dramatically launched the festivities.

The piper then led the delegation through a lively corridor of cheering suppliers armed with noisemakers, whistles, and maracas before guiding the group into the conference room at Clayton Hotel — one of three Belfast hotels hosting the conference.

The atmosphere was electric. It was truly a sea of pink, with high-energy cheers echoing through the hotel as advisors danced, laughed, and celebrated the profession at the heart of the travel industry.

For several years now, Trevello has intentionally scheduled its national conference to coincide with Travel Advisor Day — a fitting tribute to the advisors who drive the business forward.

Susan Lawson, Trevello’s director of engagement, welcomed attendees and immediately struck an emotional and celebratory tone.

“We really do put you in the centre of everything we do and we’re so glad to be in person celebrating this wonderful day,” Lawson told the room.

The momentum only grew from there. Renowned international speaker, emcee, and TV personality David Meade took the stage for a fast-paced keynote focused on psychology, mindset, persuasion, and sales performance.

Through interactive exercises and plenty of humour, Meade had the crowd laughing while delivering practical takeaways advisors could immediately apply to their businesses.

Among the biggest lessons: how options are presented matters just as much as the options themselves.

Clients, he explained, are often more likely to select a preferred package when it’s presented in the third position, while offering too many choices can actually overwhelm decision-making.

Transparency was another key theme. Advisors were encouraged to address challenges or downsides early in the conversation, helping build trust and reinforcing their role as trusted advisors — not just salespeople.

Meade also emphasized the importance of presenting premium packages first to establish a psychological benchmark for value and spending, while framing recommendations around reliability, reduced risk, and smoother travel experiences.

Ultimately, the keynote reinforced that confidence, positivity, trust, and intentional communication are among the most powerful tools travel advisors possess.

It was an inspiring launch to the day before delegates split into groups and headed off on FAM experiences curated by Tourism Northern Ireland.

Conference attendees are now exploring destinations across the region, including County Fermanagh, Derry-Londonderry, the Causeway Coastal Route — featuring Dunfin Farm, Giant’s Causeway and Dunluce Castle — along with Newry, Mourne, Down, Armagh, and Belfast.

The celebrations were already off to a strong start Tuesday evening, when Trevello hosted an elegant dinner and awards gala at Titanic Belfast, one of the most iconic Titanic attractions in the world. 

Set beside the historic shipyard where the actual Titanic was designed and launched, the world-class venue welcomed Canadian travel professionals to explore interactive galleries featuring recovered artifacts and reconstructions of the legendary liner.

Guests later gathered inside the stunning Titanic Suite — home to a replica of the ship’s famous Grand Staircase — for an uplifting evening honouring Trevello’s top achievers.

The night wrapped with live musicians performing magical folk melodies and, fittingly, “My Heart Will Go On." There wasn't a dry eye in the room.

"I have been to hundreds of industry events. I have never seen an entire room cry at a gala dinner. I have never seen anything like tonight," said Zeina Gedeon, CEO of Trevello Travel Group.

"When you watch 300 travel professionals hear 'My Heart Will Go On' performed live inside Titanic Belfast  and you see their faces, and you feel what that song means in this place, that is the moment you understand why destination experiences matter more than any brochure ever written." 

"These advisors will carry tonight with them for the rest of their careers. This is what it looks like when an industry falls in love with a destination."

Stay tuned for more coverage from Trevello’s awards gala (including the night's winners) and conference in Belfast. 

To see more pictures from Trevello's awards gala, visit PAX's Facebook page here. 

Miss out on the action? See Trevello's Travel Advisor Day kickoff party in Belfast below!

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