TORONTO — A brand new series of travel trade expos planned for Ontario this spring underlines the strong forward momentum of the travel industry, and the return to in-person events.
Granite Travel Trade Expos are set to launch April 17 and run through April 20, with four shows in key cities in Ontario: Kitchener-Waterloo, Hamilton, Mississauga, and Barrie.
The events will bring together travel industry suppliers and top-producing travel agents, says Bradley Dean, Oakville Toronto Partner, Granite Productions.
Granite Productions conceptualizes, creates, and delivers in-person and online expos in North America and has worked with brands including St. Kitts Tourism Authority, Jalisco Tourism, Bahia Principe Hotels and Resorts, CAA, iBelieve Foundation and more.
Dean says the new series of regional travel trade events are designed to connect industry suppliers and top-producing travel agents, facilitating valuable and essential in-person interactive consultations and presentations.
“There is no substitute for in-person relationships and engagement,” notes Dean. “After nearly three years of virtual meetings, it’s time for the travel industry tore-acquaint and re-engage with the destinations and resorts that agents endorse and recommend to clients. We have already seen robust vendor support and anticipate a strong agent turnout.”
As the tourism industry rebounds after the pandemic, agents are eager to learn destination and product updates, booking incentives and re-engage relationships, he adds. The shows are geographically located in cities with agents who provide suppliers with significant sales volume, but typically less serviced than larger cities. Dean says the event series is already attracting the world’s leading suppliers and the agents who book them.
Registration for travel agents is free and a $20 Esso gas card is available to qualified agents who attend (some conditions apply). For suppliers, an early exhibitor booking discount offer applies until Feb. 26: three shows, 10% off; and four shows, 15% off.
More information can be found at www.granitetravelexpos.com or contact Bradley Dean, Oakville / Toronto offices, at (416) 565-5212.
