Travel Professionals International - TPI Celebrates and Looks to Future at 2010 Annual Conference

TPI Celebrates and Looks to Future at 2010 Annual Conference

WINNIPEG, CANADA – Travel Professionals International (TPI), Canada’s largest network of independent travel consultants, held its 2010 Annual Conference, "Action! Take, lead, and inspire in 2010", in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic, 18-21 April 2010. Over 165 Associates, industry partners, and TPI staff members took part in educational, networking, and volunteer events as part of the conference at the RIU Palace Punta Cana. A further contingent of over 100 Associates took part in TPI’s second ever “Domestic Edition” of the annual conference – a live webinar broadcast from TPI's Winnipeg Head Office that took place concurrently with opening day events in the Dominican Republic.

The theme of the conference, "Action! Take, lead and inspire in 2010", engaged attendees to take charge of their professional lives, be leaders in the industry and their communities, and inspire and be inspired through awareness, networking, and volunteerism.

Keynote speaker and 35-year industry veteran, Joanie Ogg, kicked off this message while imparting best-practices for being a productive and successful independent travel consultant.

TPI President, Phil Sproul, continued on the theme while speaking to attendees about taking control of their relevance in a world of exponential change. Sharing TPI's corporate strategy for remaining relevant within the industry, Sproul outlined the importance of understanding industry consolidation and preferred partnerships. He went on to specifically address how Associates' and TPI's corporate relevance with consumers and communities will focus heavily on specialized training and marketing plans and programs, the latest in technological advancements, and becoming more involved in volunteerism and charitable organizations.

Sproul congratulated the assembled Associates on their success and noted that in addition to double-digit travel sales growth for its fiscal year 2009, TPI's overall travel sales were up 14% and travel commissions were up 19% for its fiscal year-to-date 2010, with the largest area of growth being cruise vacation sales (up 35%). He noted the growing desire among consumers and agents for FIT and dynamic packaging, and the impact that has had on TPI's segmented travel sales, with car rental sales up 46% and hotel sales up 25%.

Encouraging Associates to be leaders in their fields, delegates were given the opportunity to complete their Certified Travel Counsellor and Certified Sandals Specialist designations during the conference, with 20 Associates completing their CITC designations during the conference.

Inspiring volunteerism, Associates took part in a volunteer excursion that included an opportunity to visit elementary school children, tour a local village and Dominican home, and visit a coffee and chocolate plantation.

At the "Our Stars are Out" Gala Awards, Associate and supplier successes were highlighted, including but not limited to Transat Holidays which took home the "Agents' Choice Award" as voted by TPI's Associates during the 2009 TPI Annual Associate Survey, December 2009.

"Action! Take, lead, and inspire in 2010" was generously sponsored by TPI Preferred Partners, including the Thomas Cook Group of Companies, RBC Insurance, Transat Holidays, WestJet, Trafalgar Tours, Royal Caribbean International, Sandals & Beaches, AMA Waterways, GAP Adventures, Alio, Air Canada Vacations, Holland America, Cruise Strategies, hotelconnect, SuperClubs, Sol Melia, Princess Cruises, and Carnival Cruises, respectively.

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For over fifteen years, Travel Professionals International (TPI) has been the premier provider of outsourced travel solutions to independent travel agents and agencies. Backed by a head office support system with over forty highly skilled travel professionals, a world-class reservation system, and excellent supplier relationships, over 700 TPI Associates are ready and available to provide full-service travel solutions. More information is available at www.tpi.ca. TPI - We'll Take You There

TPI’s 15th Anniversary celebrations are well underway for the fifteen months from May 2009 onward and include special incentives and prizes each month for TPI’s partners – staff, suppliers/industry partners, associates, and consumers, respectively. In celebration of its fifteen years, TPI has released a video telling its story as well as sending well-wishes from preferred partners and team members: www.tpi.ca/fifteenth.asp.

TPI is a member of the I.A.S. - Independent Agency Services Corp. group of companies. www.iascorp.ca

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