WINNIPEG — Travel Professionals International (TPI), a Virtuoso member and a leading network of independent travel advisors and agencies, will have as its keynote speaker Bruce Poon Tip, Founder of G Adventures, at the 2015 TPI Annual Conference, taking place at the Melia Marina Varadero, Cuba, Nov. 16-19.

“It’s our great honour to have Bruce join us for our annual conference,” said Morris Chia, TPI President & CEO. “Bruce has been a leading entrepreneur in the international travel marketplace for many years and as the owner of a fellow proudly Canadian company it’s my distinct pleasure to have him share his vast experience in business and social consciousness with our network of independent owners.”

Over 200 TPI travel advisors, guests, staff and travel partners will gather in Cuba for the 2015 TPI Annual Conference which is set to include site inspections, networking opportunities, training workshops, excursions, and more.

“I’m really looking forward to sharing with TPI the importance of social innovation and understanding how the sharing economy is revolutionizing our industry and customers,” said Bruce Poon Tip, Founder, G Adventures. “TPI is a great example of how the travel industry must evolve from being an industry of agents to supplying a valued service as travel professionals.”

G Adventures and Bruce Poon Tip have been consistently recognized by many organizations for leadership and outstanding business practices. G Adventures has been named by National Geographic Adventures as the best ‘Do It All Outfitter’ on Earth, and is among the Top 100 Employers and 50 Best Managed Companies. Besides receiving an award as one of Canada’s Top 40 Under 40, Bruce has received the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal and has won Canada’s Entrepreneur of the Year and has been honoured as one of Canada’s 100 Leaders of Tomorrow. In Profit magazine, he was featured as one of the Top 10 Entrepreneurs in Canada of the last 25 years.

The 2015 TPI Annual Conference is being presented by TPI and its preferred partners, including Transat Holidays/Nolitours, Melia Hotels & Resorts and G Adventures, among others.