TORONTO — The independent pillar formally part of Flight Centre and recently rebranded as Envoyage got its official Canadian launch last week.

Supplier partners, media, and advisors and agency owners currently with Envoyage were on hand for an event at Hotel X in Toronto marking the Canadian debut of the new brand. The U.S. and Australia markets were introduced first, now Canada, and next will be New Zealand and South Africa.

The new Envoyage brand was first announced in February.

Anita Emilio, VP, Envoyage Canada, provided a quick timeline leading up to the day’s event. “Our entrance into the independent space happened in April 2008, quietly being an independent business within the Flight Centre travel group. We’ve operated under various brand names over the years before moving over to the new elevated and modern brand, Envoyage, that we introduce you to today. We’re truly a global brand and the fastest growing arm of the Flight Centre business.”

Anita Emilio, VP, Envoyage and Astrid Richardson, Global COO, Envoyage

Astrid Richardson, Global COO of Envoyage, added: “The reason we changed brands, we had nine different brands globally across our independent business and we saw the unique opportunity to create a global brand with a lot of power behind it for our agencies to be able to leverage. We’ve consolidated into one global powerhouse brand following extensive research concerning what independent agencies care about and stand for. The new brand stands a lot more for where we are heading in terms of future fit.”

Envoyage’s inaugural worldwide Global Conference in Santiago, Chile, wrapped up in May. After the positive feedback, plans have already commenced for next year’s edition.

Two brand extensions, Envoyage Luxury Travel and Envoyage Corporate Travel, will be launched to further elevate its offering in the marketplace. Both will be available through agents and agencies who meet the criteria to work within those brand specializations. “Premium and luxury travel isn’t turning out to be a fad like some thought, it’s sticking around. People want to get the most out of a destination,” opined Emilio.

As its brand story states, ‘Envoyage is here and it’s for every journey.’ “We have a suite of technology, tools and supplier partners that really cater to all types of travel, so we do have people that have mass market travel businesses, and we have people that really do have a mixture. We’re looking to partner with experienced agents that have a business,” explained Emilio before adding, “agents look to partner with a group that shares their vision, and we really want to be that place.”

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