NASHVILLE — Travel Leaders Network’s annual EDGE conference is officially underway in Nashville with some 1,700 TLN members, staff and supplier partners in attendance.

Taking place from May 8-10 at the Gaylord Opryland Resort & Convention Center, this year’s EDGE will include 200 workshops, six General Sessions, and Experience Lounge where attendees can learn about TLN offerings, informative speakers and a special gala awards dinner during which member awards will be announced and those who have achieved Specialist Certifications will be honoured.

Prior to the conference’s kickoff, there were two pre-EDGE events on May 7 for two of the Leaders Alliances. The Luxury Leaders Alliance hosted the Luxury Forum while the Independent Advisor Leaders Alliance hosted the Host Agency Forum. Both groups had a day of intense learning and networking, with talks led by supplier partners. 

“EDGE is at its heart a celebration of our travel advisor members,” said John Lovell, President of Travel Leaders Group. “They will leave the conference with new knowledge they can use to build their agencies, and valuable new connections with our supplier partners. But my hope is that they also leave with the knowledge that their work is important and that nothing can replace the knowledge and service they bring to their travellers.”

This year’s keynote speaker is Freddie Ravel, a Grammy-nominated artist and speaker who has worked with artists like Madonna, Prince and Earth, Wind & Fire. He will highlight how to tap into the power of music for greater success.

EDGE attendees and the general public will also have the chance to support the Family Bonds Foundation, which supports families and their communities who are experiencing hardships. A silent auction and raffle, in support of the foundation, will run until 11:59 p.m. on May 10. Prizes include luxury cruises, vacation packages, hotel stays, premium airline tickets, electronic devices and more. Bids can be placed and raffle tickets can be purchased by texting ‘BondsEDGE’ to 243725. 

“The bonds forged and new friendships made every year at EDGE are significant, and as we come together to make those connections, it is a powerful testimony about the power of the human touch a travel advisor provides,” said Roger E. Block, President of Travel Leaders Network. “It’s the best three days of the year, and since every EDGE conference is better than the last, I can’t wait to see the memories from EDGE 2023 in Nashville.” 

For more information go to www.TravelLeadersNetwork.com.