Goway’s VP of Americas Sean Hebert discusses new role, big plans for 2025
On Oct. 1, Goway appointed Sean Hebert to the role of VP of the Americas.
A newly created position within the company, the move is aligned with Goway’s ongoing commitment to innovation and reinvention, as the company gears up for its 55th anniversary in 2025.
As VP of the Americas, Hebert will work directly with the Canadian travel trade, with a major focus on supporting the travel advisor community which, he notes, is a driving force behind the company’s ongoing success.
“I’ve long been an admirer of Goway’s standout reputation with its advisor partners,” Hebert said. “We have a first-class team of destination specialists that help our advisors execute complex, full-service bookings, so a key focus of mine is to continue to provide training, incentives, support to our team to ensure that service level as we grow,” he added.
What’s new at Goway
In anticipation of the major milestone it’s set to mark next year, Goway recently unveiled a brand new marketing campaign, which includes a series of exciting upgrades to travel advisor resources, like a new travel advisor portal, an enhanced rewards system, and a new reservations system. A new product line with a focus on wellness is also launching soon, Hebert revealed.
“All of this is happening as I’m joining the business, which is part of why I’m so excited to join the team,” Hebert said. “I’m extremely proud of the work that our advisor partners do through Goway Groups Only; it’s a true differentiator for us and I’d encourage any advisor who has not tried putting together a small army of globetrotters to give it a shot.”
Over the last 12 months, Goway’s Groups Only team has doubled in size, with Hebert noting the division is overseeing 600 groups this year alone.
“I think it’s through the incredible support of travel advisors that Goway can proudly say we’re an industry leader in tailor-made travel experiences,” Hebert said. “I know it takes a ton of diligence and expertise to build out these itineraries that can include air, rail river and even camel journeys across multiple destinations and multiple borders. Our advisors do it everyday with a smile, and my focus is on supporting those efforts.”
Destinations to discover in 2025
According to Hebert, Goway and its advisors are seeing a growing interest in travelling to regions closer to home, which is “great news for my role as VP of Americas,” Hebert noted.
“Departures to Alaska and the U.S. national parks, as well as to the Canadian Rockies are in high demand for 2025,” Hebert said. “In Latin America, our programs to Peru, Costa Rica and the Galapagos continue to drive tremendous growth and I don’t see these losing popularity in 2025. It’s worth noting that our phones are increasingly ringing about some of my own favourites, like Panama and Colombia, as well as Brazil, which has become super popular since the Brazilian government lifted visa restrictions for Canadian and American travellers.”
“We’re trying to respond to popularity in those areas with a new look,” Hebert added, hinting that Goway will soon launch tailor-made experiences to these corners of the region in the near future.
Agent events coming soon
In 2025, Goway will invite agents on a series of five free FAM trips to some of its most popular destinations. “Information on those trips will be posted in the coming months,” Hebert said, noting that advisors should keep an eye on Goway’s social media, as well as their own inboxes for additional details.
A new portal for advisors, as well as a series of roadshows across the U.S. and Canada, are also on the agenda for 2025.
Most recently, Hebert worked as the head of marketing, partnerships, at TourRadar, where his role focused largely on establishing relationships with destination marketers and DMO offices around the globe, work that he “looks forward to continuing with destination partners at Goway.”
Hebert can be reached at sean.hebert@goway.com.
For more information, visit www.goway.com.
