Travel Leaders Network continues to grow by giving members what they want

One of the things that Lindsay Pearlman was quick to point out during a briefing in Toronto yesterday (Jan. 14, 2026) was that while the daily news paints a rather bleak picture of the world these days, for the travel industry in general, and for Travel Leaders Network in particular, such is not the case.

Pearlman, President of Travel Leaders Network, was joined at Toronto’s Four Seasons by some of the group’s top executives — including Christine James, Vice President Canada, Travel Leaders Network; Stephen McGillivray, CTC Chief Partner Marketing Officer, Internova Travel Group; Pam Young, Senior Vice President, Partner Relations, Internova Travel Group; and Cory Voss, Vice President, Product & Solutions, Travel Leaders Group – with the Travel Leaders Network executives offering their take on the state of the industry, providing updates of the group’s products and programs and outlining plans for the Network in the coming year.

And it is a good news story, with Pearlman observing that when you cut through all of that bad news “and you get into our world, the numbers are very different.”

He said that in 2024, “the industry represented about $5 trillion in spend and the estimation is that by 2040, it’s going to triple to $15 trillion.”

“That is a huge number,” Pearlman observed, before making it clear that “for those that are saying travel is going the other way, it is the exact opposite.”

And Travel Leaders Network certainly plans to take advantage of that growth that the industry will be seeing in the next decade and a half, but he also said that for Travel Leaders Network, “the focus is on more than just growth – it’s on how we do more profitable growth.”

And that means, Pearlman said: “How do we earn our advisors more money per file. How do we make them more efficient.”

That approach that Pearlman talked about is clearly appealing, with Travel Leaders Network reporting that in 2025 it welcomed over 300 new member agencies, signaling a growing demand among travel advisors for consortia that combine personalized support with the scale and resources of a large network.

Broken down, those new members include 264 affiliate agencies in the United States, four associate (franchise) agencies and 36 agencies in Canada, which represent over $300-million — of which Canada represents $24.5 million — in annual sales to preferred supplier partners.

That, Travel Leaders Network says reflects a broader industry shift as agencies look for partners that can absorb complexity, deliver buying power and provide meaningful support without forcing a one-size-fits-all model.

As Pearlman explains it: “Agencies want to feel supported, not standardized. They’re looking for partners that can meet them where they are, while also giving them access to resources and leverage they simply can’t achieve on their own. That balance is what’s driving our growth.”

And while Travel Leaders Network operates at scale – backed by its parent company, Internova Travel Group – its model is intentionally designed to feel personal at the agency level. Members choose which tools, programs and services to use, allowing support to scale up or down based on each agency’s business model, niche and growth goals.

That scale enables Travel Leaders Network to invest heavily in technology, education, field support and supplier partner relationships, while offering many resources at no additional cost to members.

Core offerings include booking tools that do not require GDS expertise, consumer lead generation through www.TravelLeaders.com, targeted engagement marketing, and access to exclusive cruise and hotel programs that add value for clients without incremental fees.

Without a doubt, cruise continues to be a key driver, with members benefiting from group space, access to sold-out sailings and enhanced amenities through programs such as Distinctive Voyages, Culinary Collection and Amenity Departure Dates.

As well, Agencies gain from hundreds of annual educational opportunities, including webinars, in-person events and Travel Leaders Network’s EDGE conference, along with peer collaboration through Leaders Alliances.

Pearlman explained: “Our role is to use our size so our members don’t have to. We absorb cost, complexity and negotiation at the network level, allowing agencies to focus on their clients, their brand and their long-term success.”

Watch for more on Travel Leaders Network in an upcoming issue of Canadian Travel Press or Travel Courier.