AURORA, CO — Travel Leaders Network has wrapped up its 2022 EDGE conference with partner and agency awards, plus updates about is Agent Profiler tool and brand new alliances.

The conference, which took place this year from June 12-15 at The Gaylord Rockies Resort & Convention Center in Aurora, Colorado, welcomed 1,500 attendees for three days of networking, workshops and appointments, all of which were designed to educate members and build on the successes of member agencies.

Here are some updates from the conference:

AGENT PROFILER

New options were unveiled for the company’s Agent Profiler lead generation tool, which can be used by travel advisors to attract new clients and manage their business. The tool now features a ‘Super Agent’ designation, a badge visible to TravelLeaders.com users. Super Agents will have a higher ranking in searches, making it easier for potential clients to find them. Their Super Agent badge will also show users that they are a top advisor and can be considered as a trusted expert.

Super Agents will receive the designation based on performance criteria including detailed profiles, levels of expertise and positive customer reviews. All Agent Profiler users have the ability to become Super Agents and there is no cost to the advisor.

The program launched in May 2022 and already has 134 Agent Profiler users designated as Super Agents.

The new designation follows additional enhancements to Agent Profiler made over the last year, including:

• Virtual Appointment Call to Action: As more advisors have been working from remote locations, and agency offices have limited in-person walk in traffic, Agent Profiler added a new call to action option that allows travellers to schedule video appointments with advisors.
• Remote Agent Location: With the changing landscape of travel advisors working from home, Travel Leaders has added the ability for employed advisors to set their location to be different from their agency physical office location.
• Independent Contractor Branding: To address the unique needs of the independent contractor and host agency, Travel Leaders Network introduced additional branding opportunities for independent contractors to feature their local agency brand on their published profile.
• Lead Pause: As travel has rebounded advisors are overwhelmed with new business. The Lead Pause functionality allows advisors to toggle on or off their availability for accepting new leads.

Agent Profiler, housed on the consumer-facing TravelLeaders.com, is trending at 7% more leads for TLN advisors than 2019, and 50% more leads than 2021.

NEW ALLIANCES

This year’s EDGE conference also included news of three new additions to Travel Leaders Network’s Leaders Alliance groups. Now totalling five, the new alliances for 2022 are:

• Honeymoon & Destination Weddings Leaders Alliance: This alliance will serve advisors who do a heavy volume of romance travel and are seeking new ways to grow their business
• Technology Leaders Alliance: This alliance is intended for owners and managers of agencies who are on the leading edge of adapting new technology
• Building Better: This alliance provides strategies and ideas to sustainably grow and scale mid-sized agencies while networking with other travel agencies of the same size

The Leaders Alliance concept was first introduced at the 2021 EDGE conference as a way to bring together like-minded travel advisors and agency owners to share best practices and strengthen relationships with each other and supplier partners. The Luxury Leaders Alliance and the Host Agency Leaders Alliance were the first two alliances announced.

TRAVEL AGENCY AWARDS

Awards for top Affiliate Member agencies in Canada were also handed out at this year’s conference.

On the 2022 winners, Christine James, Vice President of TL Network Canada, said: “Travel Leaders Network is proud to recognize and honour these member agencies for their outstanding business acumen, utilization of Travel Leaders tools and technology, demonstrated partnership with preferred suppliers and dedication to serving their clients. We are proud to recognize each of them for the tremendous value and customer service they provide.”

The 2022 winners are:

• Chairman’s Pinnacle Award (highest preferred supplier sales): Centre Holidays, Mississauga, ON
• Chairman’s Elite Award (outstanding sales performance and overall support of the Travel Leaders Network network): KVI Travel, Victoria, BC
• Chairman’s Host Award (top host agency overall): Newwest Travel, Edmonton, AB
• President’s Circle Award, Large agency (year-over-year growth with Preferred Supplier Sales): Valente Travel, Windsor, ON
• President’s Circle Award, Midsize agency (year-over-year growth with Preferred Supplier Sales): Bonaventure Travel, Winnipeg, MB
• President’s Circle Award, Small agency (year-over-year growth with Preferred Supplier Sales): Cruise Holidays Luxury Travel Boutique, Mississauga, ON
• New Member Award (top new Affiliate Member agency): Ellison Travel, Exeter, ON

SUPPLIER PARTNER AWARDS

In addition to member agency awards, Travel Leaders Network also honours its supplier partners with the Power of Partnership (POP) Awards. TLN’s member travel advisors voted for their favourite suppliers in various categories, based on overall performance and support.

This year’s Canadian supplier winners are:

• Overall Support: Sunwing
• Best Education: Manulife
• Most Creative Marketing: WestJet Vacations
• Best Sales and Service: TravelBrands

Royal Caribbean International was awarded the Pinnacle Award for North American Partner of the Year, while Norwegian Cruise Line was recognized as the Sales Support Partner of the Year. The Sales Achievement Partner of the Year went to Universal Parks & Resorts for effectively delivering a high standard of product that consistently yields sales achievement.

Additional POP Awards were given to TLN supplier partners in various segments, including:

• North American Airline Partner of the Year: Delta Air Lines
• North American Car Rental Partner of the Year: Enterprise Holdings
• North American Luxury Partner of the Year: Regent Seven Seas Cruises
• North American Cruise Partner of the Year: Celebrity Cruises
• Insurance Partner of the Year (United States): AIG
• Touring Partner of the Year (United States): Globus family of brands
• Wholesale Partner of the Year (United States): Funjet Vacations

Congratulations to all of the POP Award winners,” said James. “Our advisors’ success truly depends on TLN’s supplier partners offering superior support, product and solutions. The value of partnership has never been more apparent in our industry, and I want to personally thank all of the award winners for their incredible dedication to travel advisors — these awards are the result of that. As we move forward into the future, I am confident, our partnerships will continue to grow and be fruitful for everyone.”