It’s All About Strategic Thinking
Transat Distribution Canada (TDC) hosted travel agency owners, preferred partners and members of the TDC network’s management team at the Breathless Riviera Cancún Resort & Spa for a five-day event that put strategic thinking and the exchange of best practices between members in the spotlight.
The event featured a line-up of expert speakers who provide insights on the impact of global economic activity on the travel industry, current and future trends in Canadians’ travel intentions, operational efficiency in the travel industry’s recovery, and more.
Karine Gagnon, General Manager of Transat Distribution Canada, and Joseph Adamo, President of Transat Distribution Canada and Chief Sales and Marketing Officer of Transat, set the tone for the event on the opening day.
Gagnon emphasized that in an ever-changing travel industry, where everything is moving even faster than before, having the support of a solid franchisor and the strength of being part of the Transat family are valuable assets for our owners.
Said Gagnon: “These few days will be a reflection of who we are at TDC, and more importantly, what we offer our members: an opportunity for professional development, networking and sharing best practices with business owners from across Canada, with TDC’s management team, and with speakers who are experts in their fields.”
And she added: “Of course, this type of meeting is unthinkable without the presence of our preferred partners, of which there are some 40 this week. This opportunity for our members to connect with these key players in the industry, to better serve their clients afterwards, is essential.”
Gagnon also took the opportunity to emphasize the importance of innovation at TDC, by reviewing the major projects developed in recent years, including everything related to the development of the luxury market, with the creation of TDC’s own LuxeXpert certification and membership in the prestigious Virtuoso global network. In addition, in a context of labour shortage, she reminded us that TDC has one of the strongest tools to help owners succeed with its customized training program, Campus TDC, which will be enhanced later this year.
For his part, Joseph Adamo provided an update on Transat’s strategic priorities, highlighting the unique relationship between TDC and Transat. He focused on the evolution of Air Transat’s fleet and air network, the impact of the Transat brand in the market and the impact it has on the travel agency network, as well as the importance of customer loyalty in today’s competitive world.
The major economic trends that will influence Canadians’ travel intentions in the short and medium term was addressed by the Conference Board of Canada’s Chief Economist, Pedro Antunes.
For her part, the Director of Business Intelligence of the Transat Chair in Tourism, affiliated with UQAM’s School of Management, Marie-Christine Bruneau, came to deconstruct the elements that will influence the travel intentions of Canadians in the short and medium term.
According to the owners present, these conferences will help them to be better prepared for the coming months and, above all, to be more proactive with respect to their customers’ needs.
The TDC network means collaboration and solid partnerships with many preferred partners.
Gagnon noted: “The relationship of trust that we have with many of our preferred partners allows TDC to ensure its strong position in the Canadian market.”
She continued: “In this type of event, their participation in large numbers is essential, because it is one of the important elements that our members come to look for. And thanks to the pop-up meeting formula that we developed, all the partners and owners present at the event were able to meet in small groups to discuss new products and, above all, their mutual realities.”
The TDC National Leadership Conference continues this week.
