TDC prepares its members for the future at Rendez-vous 2026

Transat Distribution Canada (TDC) brought together members from its franchised and affiliated agency networks, its company-owned agencies, and its agent@home program from across Canada for Rendez-vous 2026, its annual event held at the Hilton Mississauga Meadowvale on Sept. 26 and Sept. 27.

Under the theme Powered by Heart, the event brought together agency owners and managers, travel advisors, TDC team members, and approximately 55 industry partners.

Beyond the event itself, Rendez-vous is one of TDC’s key opportunities to demonstrate its commitment to member development, innovation, and growth.

Over two days, keynote presentations, hands-on workshops, partner showcases, business meetings, and networking activities highlighted a common belief: as artificial intelligence reshapes the way people work, the future of travel lies in the ability to combine the best tools with the best of human expertise.

The theme Powered by Heart intentionally contrasts two complementary forces. The word “powered” evokes innovation, technology, efficiency, and performance. The word “heart” reminds us that people are the ones who provide direction, purpose, and value to these tools.

Karine Gagnon, General Manager of TDC, explained that: “Being Powered by heart means moving forward with the best tools available while never losing sight of what gives meaning to our profession: our humanity.”

And Gagnon continued: “Technology can speed up research, compare options, and automate certain tasks. But it is travel advisors who turn all that information into informed decisions, reassurance, and trust. In travel, innovation is an enabler, but people remain at the heart of the travel experience.”

And she added that “in a world where travellers are overwhelmed with information, travel professionals play a more essential filtering role than ever before. They interpret expressed needs, and often unspoken ones as well, prevent mistakes, simplify decision-making, and support clients before, during, and after their trip.”

These findings are supported by The Future of Travel Distribution in Canada, a study commissioned by TDC and conducted by Ipsos in early 2026, selected results of which were shared with attendees.

The study confirms that one in five Canadian travellers used a travel advisor within the past year, despite the growing number of online booking options. It also found that travellers aged 18 to 34 relied on travel advisors almost as frequently as older age groups.

Most importantly, the research shows that the need for professional guidance increases as trips become more complex, whether involving multi-destination itineraries, more exotic destinations, large groups, cruises, special requests, or entry requirements. In such situations, travellers seek qualities that technology alone cannot replicate: human judgment, reassurance, error prevention, real-world experience, and professional accountability.

Gagnon observed that: “The most encouraging conclusion of this study is also the clearest: technology does not diminish the value of travel advisors, it shifts that value to the moments when it matters most.”

She continued: “The more options travellers have, and the more complex trip planning becomes, the more valuable human judgment, expertise, and accountability become. For our network, this is both validation and a call to action. We must continue investing in specialization, training, and the visibility of this expertise.”

Said Gagnon: “Our ambition is to help our members not only keep pace with industry changes but anticipate them and benefit from them.” She adds: “An algorithm can suggest a destination. A travel advisor can understand why that trip matters to a particular person at a specific moment in their life. The ability to listen, read between the lines, and turn complexity into confidence is a major competitive advantage.”

Professional development played a central role in the programming of Rendez-vous 2026.

During his keynote presentation, Creating a WOW Effect!, Jasmin Bergeron, professor at Université du Québec in Montréal, author, and speaker, shared practical strategies for standing out and creating memorable customer experiences. Bergeron captivated the audience with his trademark blend of humour and insight, bringing participants to laughter while challenging them to rethink every client touchpoint.

His message resonated deeply: in a commoditized industry, the WOW effect isn’t a luxury, it’s a competitive necessity.

Édith Lemay delivered Eyes Wide Open, an inspiring and deeply human account of the year-long journey she embarked on with her family. The family set out to fill her children’s visual memories with experiences, images, and beauty as three of them are progressively losing their sight due to a rare genetic condition. This extraordinary adventure inspired the National Geographic documentary Blink.

Members also had the opportunity to participate in one of four practical workshops: Turning difficult situations into positive outcomes, Unlocking the power of the TDC Hub, Maximizing the use of SIREV and Using Microsoft Copilot as a sales ally, led by a Microsoft-certified trainer.

These initiatives are part of TDC’s broader commitment to ongoing investment in training, technology, digital tools, content creation, and business development for network members.

Partner engagement also played a prominent role, particularly through the TDC Travel Showcase, which featured more than 55 partners, as well as the popular Spotlight Presentations.

Gagnon explained that: “Rendez-vous should ensure that every participant leaves with something tangible: an idea they can apply, a tool to test, a strengthened relationship, or a new product to offer their clients. Training builds skills; connections foster trust and a sense of belonging. It is this combination that drives the strength of our network and why events like these are more important than ever.”

Rendez-vous was preceded on Sept. 25, by Forum, the strategic meeting reserved for owners and managers within the TDC network. The 2026 edition featured an enhanced format that included one-on-one meetings with members of the leadership team, allowing participants to discuss priorities specific to their agencies.

The program included strategic updates from Karine Gagnon, Renée Boisvert, president of TDC and vice-president, tour operator products and sales at Transat, and Dianne Jackson, Director, Franchise and Affiliate Members.

Attendees also heard from entrepreneur, speaker and soft skill expert Dr. Andrew Woods, who delivered a presentation entitled Enhancing Human Potential in a Tech-Driven World, emphasizing that AI should ultimately strengthen human connections with clients by freeing up time for higher-value advisory support.

On the Saturday evening, participants attended A Stopover Along the Spice Route, presented by Transat. The evening also provided an opportunity to recognize the 15 members’ tenure within the TDC network, ranging from 5 to 20 years. Here they are:

5 years:

Sheena Revet & Heather Calvert – Marlin Travel Regina, Marlin Travel Moose Jaw, Marlin Travel Swift Current

Virgil Palermo & Giacomo Parisi – Marlin Travel Vaughan, Marlin Travel Cobourg

10 years

Steven Cheng Ma – Marlin Travel Burnaby

Ana Tremblay & Elaine Simpson – Algonquin Travel & Cruise Centre Travel Plus

15 years

Denis Obrien – Marlin Travel Whitehorse

Mary Ann Winterton – Travelworld of Collingwood

Hemant Raigangar – Century Travel

Deedee Atwell – D&D Travel

Laura Batey & Shelly Hulzinga – Marlin Travel Flamborough

Tina Morrow – The Travel Firm

20 years

Virginia Frew – Marlin Travel Port Perry

“Recognizing the longevity of our members is always one of the highlights of the evening,” Gagnon said.

For the second consecutive year, the network presented the TDC Awards in two categories: Rising Star, recognizing advisors with less than three years of experience, and Customer Experience Star, honouring those who consistently exceed client expectations.

Awards were presented separately for franchised and affiliated agencies and for Transat Travel agencies. The recipients of the 2026 Rising Star Award were Terra Ouellette from Marlin Travel Pembroke, and Lindsay Kerr, from Transat Travel Oshawa. The 2026 Customer Experience Star Award winners were Carolena (Lena) Cutro, from Marlin Travel Cobourg and Erin Louise Hettle, from Transat Travel Northgate Centre.

Gagnon observed: “Our industry moves forward thanks to new tools, products, and ideas, but above all thanks to the relationships we build with one another and with travellers. At TDC, we believe the agencies that will thrive tomorrow are those that successfully combine human expertise, the strength of an engaged network, and the opportunities offered by new technologies. This vision guides our investments and our actions on behalf of our members. That is the true meaning of Powered by Heart: using innovation to go further while remaining deeply rooted in listening, judgment, empathy, and trust.”

The French edition of TDC’s Rendez-vous 2026 took place on Sept. 19 and Sept. 20 at the Centre de congrès in Saint-Hyacinthe, and was preceded by Forum on Sept. 18.