Travel Leaders Network: Listening, evaluating and helping members meet their needs

If you ask Lindsay Pearlman, President of Travel Leaders Network, how the consortium is able to manage its way through what seems to be an ever-changing marketplace, he’ll tell you that: “Our job is to adapt no matter what. The best thing any company can do is to listen to their customers, and we have a variety of member advisory boards (for both Canada and the U.S.) where we hear exactly what we need to be doing.”

And he’ll also remind you that: “Change is scary, and I remember everyone predicting that the internet would make travel agencies obsolete. Not so much. I genuinely believe the same with AI. Travellers will use it to dream and get ideas, but when it comes to actually entrusting a vacation to a chatbot? That’s where a travel agent shines.”

Yet when you ask Pearlman the simple question: How’s business? He responds: “People seem to have an unquenchable thirst for travel, and cruising (ocean and river) is an especially bright spot. And of course, Canadians and fun and sun are a match made in heaven, even with the issues in Cuba. Every segment is doing well overall, which makes me very happy.”

For the full story, check out the Aug. 3 issue of Canadian Travel Press.