by Natasha Lair
Last updated: 10:45 AM ET, Tue October 7, 2025
TravelBrands kicked off its 2025 Agent Appreciation Events last night in Vancouver, launching a three-city celebration designed to recognize and empower its travel advisors.
The cross-country tour continues this week in Toronto (October 8) and Montréal (October 9), bringing together suppliers, advisors, and TravelBrands leadership under the theme "Change and Create."
“Our industry is constantly having to change, evolve, grow, and create new ways to sell travel,” TravelBrands CEO Nathalie Tanious told TravelPulse Canada.
“That’s what keeps it exciting — and that’s exactly what these events are about.”
The annual appreciation tour combines a supplier tradeshow, learning sessions, and networking opportunities that provide every attendee with the chance to connect directly with partners and the TravelBrands team.
“We like to pride ourselves on providing agents with tools that make their lives easier,” Tanious said.
“Every year, we take the feedback we receive from travel professionals and figure out how to give them what they need to sell more — with less work.”
That approach has fueled rapid growth. Attendance has climbed steadily each year, with record-breaking registration numbers for 2025 — 300 in Vancouver, 750 in Toronto, and 400 in Montréal.
TravelBrands kicked off its 2025 Agent Appreciation Events in Vancouver. (Photo Credit: TravelBrands)
“We probably could have had more had we known how popular it would be this year,” Tanious said.
Beyond the celebrations, Tanious says TravelBrands’ focus remains clear: equip advisors with the training and technology they need to stay ahead.
“Our business development team works closely with agencies, consortia, and individual advisors across Canada,” she said. “Whether we’re rolling out a new feature on our air platform, GG, or introducing a new product line, it’s always about training. We want them to have every piece of information they need to succeed.”
That commitment extends to technology, which Tanious says is the company’s focus for the next five years. TravelBrands continues to expand its digital platforms and introduce agent-friendly tools designed to make complex bookings simple.
Among the newest updates:
- Personalized e-docs, including agency logos, are now available for bookings.
- A new hotel switch with easier access to promotions, improved search functions, and better rates.
- The multi-destination tool enables agents to book up to nine destinations — including air, hotel, car, and transfers — in a single transaction.
- And, launching October 14, a new AI-powered assistant named Emma, designed to help advisors access documents and information within seconds.
“There’s no threat with AI — only opportunity,” said Tanious. “It’s about making things easier. The faster we can give advisors what they need, the more time they can spend doing what they do best — building relationships.”
Advisors at the Heart
Tanious says the company’s progress and innovation always trace back to its advisors’ input.
“We’ve had travel agents who started selling moderately and, after discovering the breadth of our product, became some of our top accounts,” she said. “It’s incredibly rewarding to see that growth.”
Even amid ongoing economic challenges and global uncertainty, she believes Canadians’ appetite for travel remains strong.
“Maybe the budgets are different, or the destinations change — but Canadians will always travel,” Tanious said. “There are beautiful places around the world for every wallet.”
What’s Next for TravelBrands
Looking ahead, TravelBrands' CEO says the company plans to continue investing in its technology and product portfolio.
And for those already thinking about 2026, Tanious says she's counting down to a milestone celebration: the 10th anniversary of TravelBrands’ SeaU, November 9, 2026, aboard Virgin Voyages’ Scarlet Lady.
As for her own travel dreams, the industry veteran says she still has a few items on her bucket list — including an African safari and a trip to the Greek Islands.
“We’re actually opening lodges in Africa next spring,” she added. “So that one’s definitely moving higher up the list.”
TravelBrands 2025 Agent Appreciation Events
- Vancouver – October 6, 2025 | Hilton Vancouver Metrotown, Burnaby
- Toronto – October 8, 2025 | Universal Event Space, Vaughan
- Montréal – October 9, 2025 | Plaza Centre Ville, Montréal
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