TORONTO — TPI’s sales are up for the fiscal year-to-date including record-breaking increases in cruise, hotel, and insurance, says TPI President and CEO Morris Chia.
Chia greeted attendees at TPI’s 2017 conference, under the banner ‘Secrets to Success’, by applauding the resiliency of TPI’s advisors in the face of the year’s natural disasters. The conference attracted more than 200 travel advisors, guests, staff and supplier partners to Secrets Cap Cana Resort & Spa in the D.R.
Sponsor partners include Air Canada, Air Canada Vacations and AMResorts. The annual conference allows travel advisors from across Canada to come together for a week of multi-faceted networking, business development workshops, expert presentations and product education, says Chia.
Assisting in leading future sales growth for the company are technological innovations within its proprietary Lynx system, allowing advisors to market more efficiently and effectively, he added.
“We all collaborated and worked as a team, and throughout it all, the common thread was our relationship,” said Chia, adding that the key to ensuring continued success is not only innovation and growth, it’s also about synergy and communication.
“The ability for us to connect, to have that personal connection with all of you – that is what gives you the ability to shine, and reinforce the relationships that you have.”
Bob Becker, NCL’s Senior VP of Sales and a keynote speaker for this year’s conference, took the stage on opening day to impart his hard-won wisdom on sales success, sharing secrets from his trademarked ‘Dirt to Diamonds’ program with TPI advisors.
“Eighty-five per cent of consumers tend to switch products after they book a cruise, which means 15% of clients stay loyal,” Becker told the audience. These sorts of numbers emphasize the importance of staying in touch with a client, he added. “By staying in touch with your client, you create relationships to last a lifetime.”
Opening day for the conference was preceded by TPI’s Club Velocity Day, which took top-performing advisors on a WestJet Vacations-hosted day of fun in the sun at Majestic Elegance and Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Punta Cana, as a way of celebrating the club members’ hard work throughout the year.
“It’s a little like a high school reunion,” said Jen Langlois, a Club Velocity travel advisor, noting that attending the conference allows her to connect and collaborate with people she doesn’t usually get to see throughout the year. She added: “I’m part of TPI because it allows me to focus on my clients while also giving me the resources to grow. Otherwise, I’d be doing it all alone!”
