New product, innovation, partnerships on show at TravelBrands’ events

TravelBrands’ Agent Appreciation Events returned to Vancouver for the first time since 2019, alongside its annual celebrations in Toronto and Montreal.

In 2025, the coast-to-coast gatherings marked a milestone year of connection, collaboration, and recognition of the travel trade, drawing record attendance and enthusiasm under the theme Change & Create.

The high-energy evenings welcomed nearly 1,500 travel agents across three cities – 300 in Vancouver, 750 in Toronto, and 400 in Montreal – along with more than 80 supplier partners.

The strong turnout underscored the industry’s appetite for knowledge, networking, and inspiration. As always, TravelBrands delivered on what it’s best known for: bringing the travel community together while showcasing the latest innovations and opportunities shaping the future of travel.

Agents experienced first looks at several major TravelBrands advancements, including:

• Multiple new DMC options all over the world, facilitated by the global power of HIS Group (TravelBrands’ parent company).
• Exotik Journeys is now bookable online on Access+.
• NDC-enabled air content across multiple carriers for even better optionality and pricing.
• Hotel Switch upgrades, unlocking expanded inventory and lower fares.
• Enhanced multi-destination booking functionality, allowing up to nine cities in a single booking, and transforming complex trips into seamless bookings.
• Emma, a new AI-powered assistant (launching October 14), giving agents 24/7 access to invoices and e-docs.

Beyond technology, TravelBrands announced the opening of new lodges in Africa with HIS Group next spring, responding directly to growing demand. The company also continues to expand its product offering in emerging destinations such as Japan, where Canadian travel demand is surging.

This year also marked unprecedented collaboration across the HIS global family, with more than 11 team members from around the world joining the events in Canada. Their presence reinforced how TravelBrands leverages the HIS Group network to expand product, provide more choice, and equip Canadian agents to, in the words of President & CEO Nathalie Tanious, “sell better, sell more, and sell faster.”

TravelBrands also revealed the much-anticipated return of SeaU, sailing in partnership with Virgin Voyages on the Scarlet Lady in November 2026.

Nathalie Tanious, President & CEO of H.I.S. Canada Travel Inc., parent company of TravelBrands, said that: “Canadians love to travel, and it’s travel agents who make those dreams a reality. This year was all about change and creation, and in every city, we were inspired by the incredible passion of the travel agent community.”

Tanious continued: “These events are our way of saying thank you, while equipping agents with the knowledge, tools, products, and technology they need to thrive in an evolving industry. Our goal is to make their work easier and more efficient, so they can focus on what matters most – shaping unforgettable experiences for their clients.”

And she made it clear that: “The future of travel is so bright, and we look forward to continuing to change and create alongside each and every one of you.” \

Planning is already underway for the next Agent Appreciation Events, which promise to be bigger than ever, with even more opportunities to connect, learn, and celebrate.

Go to www.travelbrandsaccess.com for more.