On Location: Glamour meets greatness: TLN salutes Canadian travel pros at POP Awards

Lights, glamour, game-changers.

At its this year’s EDGE conference at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas, Travel Leaders Network (TLN) on Thursday (June 12) rolled out the red carpet for its Power of Partnership (POP) Awards—celebrating its star-powered associate and affiliate agencies, suppliers, and trailblazing individuals who are shaking up travel sales with style and strategy.

The gala was a fitting finale to an exhilarating week of fun and professional development, as more than 2,000 travel professionals from Canada and the United States took part in a dynamic agenda packed with workshops, supplier showcases, tech training, and networking opportunities.

As reported earlier, 154 Canadian members touched down in Sin City this week, unfazed by the changing tides of U.S. travel sentiment sparked by President Donald Trump’s global trade showdown.

The TLN Canada team had initially anticipated a crowd of around 200, but a few dropped out as some opted to steer clear of U.S. travel.

Still, 154 “is a really good number,” said Christine James, vice president for Canada at TLN, speaking to PAX earlier in the week. “The final count still exceeds our usual average of about 100.”

When asked how bookings in Canada were doing, James had nothing but positive things to say.

“We’re seeing a lot of last-minute bookings, for obvious reasons, but when I look at future sales for 2026, I’m completely blown away,” she said. “We’re up 25 per cent. People are clearly not holding back on travel.”

Canadians are “shifting” travel plans. Not cancelling them, she said.

VIDEO: Travel Leaders’ “Edge” kicks off in Vegas, Christine James “blown away” by 2026 sales

As a result, TLN Canada’s European business is seeing double-digit growth. River cruises, Mexico and the Caribbean are also benefitting from the shift.

“Everyone is nervous about 2026, but the future looks bright,” she said.

And the winners are…

With momentum building across key markets, and cautious optimism for the future, the energy was palpable heading into Thursday night’s POP Awards.

Who were the big winners? The list starts with TLN’s U.S.-based associate member awards:

Associate of the Year: Travel Travel – Honoured for consistent growth and active engagement across programs and partnerships.

· Golden Legacy: Leone Travel – Celebrated for its lasting contributions and enduring impact on the network.

· President’s Award: Discovery World Travel – Recognized for long-term success, industry influence and community involvement.

· Corporate Agency of the Year: Four Seasons Travel – Commended for excellence in leveraging corporate travel partnerships.

· Trailblazer Award: WorldVia Travel Group – Awarded for innovation, leadership and driving industry progress.

· Traditional Agency of the Year: Travel Designers – Acknowledged for exemplary service through the classic agency model.

· Host Agency of the Year: Cruise Network Plus – Honoured for creating a thriving environment for independent advisors.

· New Member of the Year: Fox Travel – Recognized for exceptional engagement and integration with network programs.

“These award winners represent the strength and dedication of our Associate members,” said Lindsay Pearlman, COO of Travel Leaders Network. “As some of the largest and most established agencies in our Network, their recognition is well earned. They’ve demonstrated exceptional performance, strong industry leadership and a deep commitment to both clients and partners. The awards are a testament to the outstanding work they’ve done over the past year.”

Affiliate member awards

Top-performing Travel Leaders Affiliate agencies were also honoured for their sales excellence, engagement and contributions to the network.

Member of the Year awards recognized exceptional sales performance and program participation:

Canada: Voyage en Direct

U.S.: World Travel Holdings

Golden Legacy: Cruise & Tours, Unlimited – Celebrated for longstanding leadership and impact on the travel industry.

President’s Awards recognized the highest year-over-year growth in Preferred Partner sales across agency sizes:

· Small Agency – Canada: Resfeber Travel

· Small Agency – U.S.: Blue Vida Travel

· Midsize Agency – Canada: Southland Travel

· Midsize Agency – U.S.: Magical World Vacations

· Large Agency – Canada and Most Engaging Member: Ellison Travel & Tours

· Large Agency – U.S.: Must Love Travell, LLC

Host agency of the year:

· Canada: Liz Moore Destination Weddings Ltd.

· U.S.: KHM Travel Group

New Member of the Year – Canada: Dongmei Travel, honoured for strong early engagement and program adoption.

 “With thousands of agencies in our network, earning this recognition is no small feat. These agencies have set themselves apart through outstanding client service and a strong commitment to leveraging the programs and support we provide,” said Karin Viera, VP of Travel Leaders Network.

Christine James added, “These winners have earned their place at the top by staying focused, driven and dedicated to excellence. Their achievements are a testament to the strength and professionalism of Canadian travel agencies.”

Network-wide recognition

Travel Leaders Network also honoured standout agencies across all membership types for excellence in partner support, innovation and sales performance.

Chairman’s Elite Awards recognized agencies for consistent revenue growth and strong engagement across programs and partnerships:

· Associate: Market Square Travel

· Canadian Affiliate: KVI Travel

· U.S. Affiliate: Cruise Brothers

Chairman’s Pinnacle Awards were presented to top agencies for sales achievements:

· Associate: Travel Designers

· Canadian Affiliate: The Travel Agent Next Door

· U.S. Affiliate: Vacations To Go

Specialty Honours included:

· Distinctive Voyager of the Year: TerraMar Travel, for outstanding cruise program participation

· Influencer of the Year: Harr Travel, Inc., for excellence in social media outreach

· Advocacy Award: The Cambata family of TL365, for leadership in helping members recover after the Southern California wildfires

Additionally, the top 35 selling agencies were recognized as Agencies of Excellence.

“It’s a thrill to celebrate these outstanding members,” said John Lovell, CTC, president of Travel Leaders Network. "These winners prove that the demand for travel advisors is stronger than ever, and that they are true assets to their clients, our partners and our network." 

Suppliers also honoured

TLN also recognized its outstanding supplier partners. These awards determined by votes from Travel Leaders Network members across the U.S. and Canada.

Members select winners in various categories based on the quality of each partner’s offerings and the support they provide to both travel advisors and Travel Leaders Network as a whole.

The highest honour, the Pinnacle Award, is presented to the all-around top partner, as chosen by members.

This year’s recipient is Royal Caribbean International, recognized for its exceptional agency and headquarters sales support, innovative promotions, superior products and overall commitment to the network.

“They consistently go above and beyond to support our members and help them develop their skills,” noted Lovell.

TLN’s winning suppliers this year were:

• SALES SUPPORT PARTNER OF THE YEAR, NORTH AMERICA: Royal Caribbean International
• CONTEMPORARY CRUISE PARTNER OF THE YEAR, NORTH AMERICA: Royal Caribbean International
• SALES ACHIEVEMENT Partner of the Year North America: Virgin Voyages
• PREMIUM CRUISE Partner of the Year North America: Celebrity Cruises
• LUXURY CRUISE Partner of the Year North America: Regent Seven Seas Cruises
• EXPEDITION CRUISE Partner of the Year North America: Silversea Cruises
• RIVER CRUISE Partner of the Year North America: AmaWaterways

• INSURANCE Partner of the Year USA: Allianz Partners
• TOURING Partner of the Year North America: Globus family of brands
• LUXURY LAND Partner of the Year North America: Tauck
• WHOLESALER Partner of the Year USA: Funjet Vacations
• HOTEL Partner of the Year North America: Hilton Hotels
• CARIBBEAN ALL INCLUSIVE Partner of the Year North America: Sandals and Beaches Resorts
• MEXICO ALL INCLUSIVE Partner of the Year North America: The Palace Company
• LUXURY ALL INCLUSIVE Partner of the Year: Impression by Secrets
• CANADA INSURANCE PARTNER OF THE YEAR: Manulife
• CANADA PINNACLE PARTNER OF THE YEAR: Sunwing 

“We are thrilled to recognize these partners,” Lovell said. “Working together, we are creating greater value for our members and their travellers. Our members know who consistently supports them and love to recognize those partners. Congratulations to all the winners and thank you for your dedication over the past year. With the Power of Partnership, we can do amazing things together!”

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