MISSISSAUGA — The inaugural Granite Travel Trade Expos were a huge hit, with over 325 travel agents attending the Ontario shows last week.

Taking place in Kitchener-Waterloo (April 17), Hamilton (April 18), Mississauga (April 19) and Barrie (April 20), the in-person, high-energy events allowed travel agents to learn updates from 20 top suppliers, including Bahia Principe Hotels and Resorts. St. Kitts Tourism, Manulife, Porter Airliners, Tauck Tours, Expedia TAAP, ATA Airlines and more.

In addition to a trade show, each event included supplier presentations, dinner and prize giveaways. 

According to Bradley Dean, Partner, Granite Productions, the Ontario events proved so successful that Granite Travel Trade Expos will be launching National Expos across Canada in October 2023 in key markets including British Columbia, Ontario and the Maritimes. Dates and locations will be announced on May 1 at www.granitetravelexpos.com.

“The market has spoken and post-Covid in-person events are back,” said Bradley Dean, Partner, Granite Productions. “This series of events has proved that there is no substitute for face-to-face interaction.”

Dean added that the expo series was launched “to bring suppliers to less-serviced key markets in Ontario where agents had expressed a desire for in-person interaction and collaboration with suppliers.” 

As supplier events typically occur in major city centres, regional travel agents are often required to “commit hours to travelling,” resulting in the “opportunity loss in such a busy post-market climate,” said Dean. With this in mind, Granite Travel Trade Expos provided a $20 gas card to all travel agents attending the presentation series in each city to help off-set expenses.

For more information about Granite Travel Trade Expos go to www.granitetravelexpos.com.