Seeing red & blue: ACV & Transat host "magical" parties at TTAND’s conference in Mexico

The Travel Agent Next Door’s 2025 “Leading The Way” conference is unfolding in Mexico’s Rivera Maya this week, welcoming a total delegation of nearly 360 travel professionals – its largest attendance yet.

Close to 265 independent and home-based travel advisors (no spouses allowed, unless you’re a business duo), 71 suppliers (representing 42 companies) and TTAND’s staff have taken over the beaches, pools and convention spaces at the Iberostar Selection Paraíso Lindo, where a multitude of company updates – including a new luxury venture – have been announced.

It’s a lot to take in. As previously reported, this year’s conference has booked more guest speakers than ever before.

But there are also moments to unwind. Evenings at “Leading The Way” have been reserved for sponsored dinner parties, where agents can connect with suppliers, and each other, in a fun and laid-back setting.

Seeing red

Air Canada Vacations got the tequila pouring Saturday night (April 5) with a red-themed “50 Years of Loving You” dinner on the beach at Iberostar’s Joia Paraiso.

The concept? Buffet stations with food inspired by regions of the world that ACV sells, from Asia to the Caribbean to Europe.

Spotted on the sand with his team was Nino Montagnese, vice-president of Air Canada Vacations, this year’s conference sponsor. 

“TTAND is a key part of ACV’s growth. We have a great open dialogue with them. It means a lot for us to host them and show them how much they mean to us,” Montagnese told PAX at the event.

“As a team, they’re incredible. ‘Leading The Way’ is their slogan – and they are leading the way. They’re selling every single one of our product lines and doing a phenomenal job.”

Montagnese went on to praise the important role independent travel advisors play in today’s travel landscape.

He remembers a time, long ago, being on the road and not being allowed to visit independent advisors because they worked from home.

“Back then, you only dealt with people out of an office,” he said.

Fast-forward to today and a lot of has changed. Air Canada Vacations, for one, was among the first tour operators to launch a program specifically for home-based advisors, ACV@Home, which comes with two designated representatives.

“The [home-based] model works for a lot of people,” Montagnese said.

Seeing blue

The dress code then transitioned from red to blue (with a touch of silver) on Sunday night (April 6) as Transat hosted a “Starry night” cocktail and dinner gala at the upscale, all-inclusive (and adults-only) Haven Riviera Cancun, a privately-owned, 435-room resort, with Spanish roots, that opened in 2018.

Julie Sareault, Transat’s commercial director, described the company’s relationship with TTAND as a “long-lasting” one that goes back more than ten years to when the host agency first launched.

“It’s a tremendous partnership,” Sareault told PAX at the party, which served up fresh tuna sashimi that was prepared live on a demo table, along with a program of dazzling live entertainment. 

“It means the world for us to host a night for TTAND and show our product,” she said. “This tribute to Haven resort is great…For years, this property has been a well-kept secret, and tonight, the secret is out.”

Sunwing Vacations and WestJet Vacations will team up Monday night (April 7) to host their own event at TTAND’s conference.

As previously reported, TTAND agents, from now until April 11, will be engaged in an intense week of learning, participating in hours of supplier presentations, training sessions, workshops and one-on-one meetings.

“This conference is always magical with the connections we make with suppliers and each other,” said Keswick, ON-based travel advisor Jennifer Jones. “The hardest part is the first couple of days. It’s like drinking from a firehose! There’s so much coming at us, so fast, but it’s amazing.”

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Stay tuned for more of PAX’s on-the-ground coverage from TTAND’s “Leading The Way” conference in Mexico’s Rivera Maya!

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