LAS VEGAS – Travel Leaders Network’s annual international conference is in full swing in Las Vegas, where more than 2,000 travel professionals from across Canada and the U.S. are participating in workshops and career development sessions.

Taking place at Caesars Palace from June 12-16, the five-day EDGE (Educate, Discover, Gather, Evolve) conference features a long lineup of educational seminars, technology showcases and guest speakers. Of the 2,000 attendees, nearly 200 are TL Network Canada Members and suppliers, said Christine James, Vice President of TL Network Canada.

“There will be many opportunities to meet with exceptional agents, a lot of learning and professional development into the next several days, along with some exciting entertainment and thought-provoking guest speakers,” she added. “2018 has been dubbed the Year of the Travel Agent and the vibrancy of the agency industry will be highlighted throughout this exceptional annual event.”

New this year is a Luxury Forum, where agents who are luxury specialists have the opportunity to meet one-on-one with luxury suppliers. Also new is the Hotel Marketplace, a specialty trade show where agents can interact with hotel properties and learn about their latest offerings.

More than 200 workshops during the conference range marketing honeymoons and destinations weddings, selling active and adventure travel, and making money selling air travel, to targeted advertising strategies for social media, effective management and leadership, and organizing successful consumer events. The sol-out trade show will feature nearly 200 exhibitors spanning a wide array of companies from cruise lines, hotels and rental car companies to tourism boards and tour operators.

This year’s guest speakers include keynote speaker Tony Hsieh, CEO of Zappos, motivational guru Stuart L. Cohen, and sales, marketing and business author Mike Marchev.

But it’s not going to be all work and no play; entertainment highlights include a special performance of ‘Beautiful: the Carole King Musical’, and an off-site event at the Park Theater, a three-level venue within the new MGM Park Resort.

“Our annual conference is a unique opportunity for our agents to network with the most prestigious suppliers, tour operators and companies serving the travel industry as well as share best practices in one can’t miss event,” said Roger E. Block, CTC, President of Travel Leaders Network, which has approximately 6,800 travel agency locations in North America. “EDGE is one of the many advantages of being a member of Travel Leaders Network and the participation we receive from supplier partners and others speaks volumes to the scale of business our travel agents generate and the vitality of the travel agency profession.”