Transat Distribution Canada unleashes the Star Power of its network

Transat Distribution Canada (TDC) unleashed the star power of its network at its annual Rendez-vous conference in Toronto last weekend (Sept. 20 and Sept. 21).

Members from across Canada (except Quebec) were on hand for the event which took as its theme – “Star Power. Lighting the way in a sky of choices.”

In all over 200 – owners, managers, travel advisors and 55 preferred suppliers – gathered for the 2025 Rendez-vous which served as a launchpad for other strategic network initiatives, such as the Forum for owners and managers and the exclusive TDC Lab think tank.

Celebrating the travel experts

More than ever this year, the role of the travel advisor — and the sense of security they provide to travellers who book with them — was at the heart of the event’s theme.

“In the vast universe of travel, “Star Power” celebrates the brilliance and influence of travel professionals who illuminate the path for their clients, making them feel confident, knowing that their trip is in the hands of an expert who ensures everything goes smoothly,” said Karine Gagnon, General Manager of TDC.

And she continued: “Each travel professional shines in their own way, bringing their unique light to a world of nearly infinite options. This event is an opportunity to allow our members to strengthen their own inner star, to nurture what makes them unique by leveraging the tools and strategies that TDC provides.”

All about training and professional development

Year after year, this event remains the most important one for TDC in terms of training and professional development, which is essential in a constantly changing industry and a central priority for the TDC network.

Gagnon pointed out that: “Each of our travel professionals is different, and every year, we strive to refine our content to best adapt to their varied needs,” Gagnon said.

As for how TDC does that, Gagnon explained: “We offer a variety of formats, starting with large plenary sessions featuring broad themes and renowned speakers. These sessions are designed to foster learning and a sense of belonging, both of which are crucial. Then, we offer more targeted professional development workshops, which are optional, to allow everyone to strengthen their skills in a specific area. Finally, there’s the opportunity to interact with our preferred partners, who are our members’ main collaborators.”

During the event a number of speakers shared their expertise on a range of topics:

• Business strategist and coach Sara Gilbert presented her talk, Exquisite: The Language of Customer Experience, in which she explained to travel advisors that their communication style is one of their greatest assets and that they must pay attention to it, as it’s the first product a client buys.
• Cybersecurity expert, Steve Waterhouse raised awareness among TDC network members about the threat landscape in the travel industry and, more importantly, how to protect themselves from potential attacks.
• Closing the event was event, aerospace engineer and author Farah Alibay who spoke of The Perseverance of an Explorer and Alibaby joined Gagnon for a one-on-one conversation following her presentation.

But there was more as members participated in a number of professional development sessions that included:

• Get the Most Out of the TDC Social Media Tool
• Unlock the Full Potential of Wellness Travel

And two cruise-focused workshops:

• Heading for the Essentials for less-experienced advisors
• Guiding Your Clients Towards Premium, Luxury, and River Cruises for seasoned professionals.

TDC’s partners were front and centre at this year’s Rendez-vous, with 55 suppliers on hand at the Hilton Mississauga/Meadowvale. While some, including Transat, presented in a plenary session, others were able to showcase their latest innovations during the Spotlight Presentations.

And all were present at the Travel Showcase, a dynamic space with modern booths designed to maximize networking and learning, ready to chat with advisors.

“I say it every year, but for TDC, it would be impossible to organize such large-scale events without the loyal participation of our preferred partners,” said Gagnon, adding: “And this time for direct interaction is always among the most appreciated moments of the weekend, both for the partners and for our members.”

Exclusive forum for owners and managers

As is tradition, TDC invited its franchised and affiliated agency owners and managers to an exclusive session, Forum, on the Friday before Rendez-vous.

Dianne Jackson, Director of Franchise and Affiliate Members, observed: “I’m always pleasantly surprised by the generosity with which the owners and managers in our network share the challenges they’ve faced and the solutions they’ve implemented, benefiting their peers during our discussions.”

And she added: “This is one of the significant advantages of belonging to a network with members as solid and well-established as those in the TDC network.”

Forum 2025 including a number of workshops that shared best practices on a number of topics

Joseph Adamo, Transat’s Chief Sales and Marketing Officer and President of TDC, was on hand at the event and spoke at the Forum, telling the group: “This unique opportunity to connect with the members of our TDC network is very enriching for me. Their perspective is always insightful. I also want to highlight the remarkable commitment of the owners and advisors to Transat.”

And Adamo added: “Their loyalty and constant presence deeply move us. It also strengthens our motivation to continue building a more relevant and inspiring offering for travellers with them.”

AstralFest brings the right sparkle to TDC’s 2025 Rendez-vous 

The Saturday evening gala, presented by Transat, was a great success, with Gagnon observing that: “There’s a time to be serious, and a time to let go and have fun. The balance between the two is essential, which is why our festive evening is a must every year. Our theme, ‘AstralFest,’ which plunged us into the world of ’90s raves, was perfect for letting loose.”

The evening also provided an opportunity to recognize the members in attendance who were celebrating anniversaries ranging from 10 to 20 years: Sam Patel, Airline Ticket Center (15 years), Wedad Bishara, Marlin Travel Vancouver (20 years), and Angela Biene, Marlin Travel Ottawa (20 years).

For TDC’s General Manager, “recognition is obviously essential, and our long-time members are more than valuable.”

In this respect, Gagnon said: “We added an extra touch this year by introducing the TDC awards in two categories: Rising Star, to reward advisors with less than three years of experience, and Customer Experience Star, for those who constantly exceed their clients’ expectations.”

The 2025 Rising Star is Sarah Crawford, from Marlin Travel Peterborough, and the Customer Experience Star is Lorelei Beard, from Marlin Travel Cambridge.

The event for TDC network members in Quebec was held last week on Sept. 13 and Sept. 14, in St-Hyacinthe.