From Selkirk, Manitoba to Victoria, British Columbia, some 300 consultants and managers from Marlin Travel and TravelPlus agencies attended the “Power of You” 2010 Western Regional Conference in Vancouver on September 11 and 12. This event was a huge success.
“We have a fabulous team that gives our customers great service in big cities and regional centres alike,” said Yves Lalumière, TDC Vice-President and General Manager. “I am proud to see the team spirit that motivates us, along with the passion and determination we show when the time comes to help travellers plan and set off on their dream holidays. None of our competitors can say the same.”
Several presentations and workshops enabled participants to enhance their knowledge, share their experiences and rally around what make the TDC network unique, and were all a great success. Featured session topics included business strategy and growth opportunities; social media, marketing and sales; customer-retention marketing and personal vacation website tools, and the partnership with the AIR MILES Reward Program. A special Transat Cruises Panel Discussion featured representatives from the industry’s leading cruise line operators. Author and motivator Nolan W. Burris was the keynote speaker at the "The Power of You!"
Transat executives took the opportunity to meet travel agents and share their points of view on the company and the tourism industry in general.
Transat President and Chief Executive Officer Jean-Marc Eustache gave a much-commented-upon talk. Speaking about the impact of tourism in the world economy and the constantly growing number of travellers, he emphasized that the profession of travel agent is here to stay. Tomorrow’s customers, flooded with information from wide-ranging sources, will need competent consultants. “It is up to us to establish a relationship of trust with them,” Mr. Eustache stated. He also pointed to the importance of the role played by travel agents and TDC in the Transat family. The company is a major tour operator but also encompasses Canada’s biggest network of travel agencies.
Michael DiLollo, President, Transat Tours Canada (TTC), underlined the importance of co-operation between TTC and the distribution network, as well as his team’s commitment to pursuing and enhancing its service and programs.
In total three annual conferences of TDC travel agency consultants and managers take place across Canada: August 28 and 29 in Montreal, September 11 and 12 in Vancouver and September 18 and 19 in Toronto.
Transat Distribution Canada is Canada’s leading retail distributor of holiday travel, with approximately 464 outlets. The distribution network, which is affiliated with Transat A.T. Inc., includes the Club Voyages, Voyages en Liberté, TravelPlus, and Marlin Travel banners. Transat A.T. Inc. is an integrated international tour operator with more than 60 destination countries and that distributes products in over 50 countries.