Travel Professionals International (TPI) is proud of its large turnout for the Virtuoso Travel Week virtual conference.

“The theme for VTW this year was the Value of Connections which truly captured the essence of the situation our industry is in. Participating in Virtuoso Travel Week is always so inspiring but this year, in particular, we have been able to participate in live digital sessions with industry-leading partners as well as expand our knowledge with relevant and inspiring Professional Development sessions that spur on the message of hope and optimism for the future of travel” said Caroline Hay, National Director of Sales, TPI.

“In a time of so much uncertainty, it is so incredible to connect with partners, talk about new and interesting travel options and feed our passion for this incredible industry”, added Hay.

During the week TPI hosted a Virtual Cocktail party for its Advisors. “It was not the same as the in-person connection, however; it was great to hear the stories of successful connections, and professional development training. With all signs pointing towards luxury travel being one of the first to rebound, our TPI Advisors are ready and armed with the information they need to assist their luxury clients in the future”, said Zeina Gedeon, CEO, TPI.

TPI is continuing its efforts to educate its advisors now that Virtuoso Week has ended. TPI is hosting weekly professional development sessions ranging from training on business tools, marketing and social media strategies to supplier updates, as well as weekly national town hall sessions

Published in Open Jaw on August 18, 2020

Also published in Pax News on August 18, 2020

Travel Professionals International (TPI) has released its first-ever e-cookbook: Travel Eats with TPI.

Travel Eats with TPI features 100 recipes representing the best of quarantine cooking by TPI advisors, supplier partners and head office team during the isolation days.

Travel Professionals International (TPI) has released its first-ever e-cookbook: Travel Eats with TPI.

Travel Eats with TPI features 100 recipes representing the best of quarantine cooking by TPI advisors, supplier partners and head office team during the isolation days.

“Breaking bread as a family or with friends is a luxury many of us took for granted until we were not able to do this. So we decided to share together while apart which led to the idea of the TPI cookbook”, stated CEO of TPI Zeina Gedeon. “The project came together in just over eight weeks and we are thrilled to be able to increase awareness for our corporate charity Jack.org through this initiative.”

Jack.org has been TPI’s corporate charity for more than two years and is Canada’s only charity training and empowering young leaders to revolutionize mental health.

The recipes featured in the book come from across the world; most inspired by the travel journeys of TPI advisors, and some have been passed down for generations.

To download a copy of the Travel Eats with TPI cookbook click here. To donate to Jack.org click here.

Published in Pax News on August 13, 2020

Also published in Travel Week on August 13, 2020

Travel Professional International (TPI) is maintaining the same commission levels and extending its Velocity Program benefits for its Advisors for the fiscal year 2021 and 2022.

The Velocity Program (TPI’s Loyalty & Recognition Program) has been a long-running program at TPI, that pays back $298,000 annually to its advisors. The program showcases the results of its Advisor’s hard work in building their business, and TPI is committed to continuing to recognize all their efforts.

Zeina Gedeon, CEO, TPI, said of the decision: “Our Advisors are leaning on us for support and stability, and we want to ensure that we provide them with all the assurance needed for them to continue to build their business.”said.

Gedeon continued: “2019 was the best fiscal year growth TPI has seen, and we will be honouring all of the commission splits and recognition reward benefits based on our best year so far, which we are very proud of and proud of all the hard work of our Advisors. We are a family, and we are in this all together.”

Key highlights of the extensions for TPI Advisors include:

• Maintaining their same commission level splits for FY21 & FY22.
• Maintaining their monthly support fee discounts for FY21 & FY22.
• Maintaining their annual fee discounts for FY21 & FY22.
• Maintaining and continuing their same recognition level for FY21 & FY22.

Along with extending recognition program extension, TPI also presented its overall company priorities, and goals post COVID-19 during their recent town hall.

Go to www.tpi.ca for more.

Posted in Travel Press on May 28, 2020

TORONTO — Travel Professionals International (TPI) says it is once again putting agents first by maintaining commission levels and extending Velocity Program benefits for 2021 and 2022.

Some of the key highlights for TPI Advisors include:

• Maintaining their same commission level splits for the fiscal year 2021 & 2022
• Maintaining their monthly support fee discounts for FY21 & FY22
• Maintaining their annual fee discounts for FY21 & FY22
• Maintaining and continuing their same recognition level for FY21 & FY22

The Velocity Program, TPI’s long-running Loyalty & Recognition Program, pays back $298,000 annual to its advisors.

“Our advisors are leaning on us for support and stability and we want to ensure that we provide them with all the assurance needed for them to continue to build their business,” said Zeina Gedeon, CEO, TPI.

Gedeon added: “2019 was the best fiscal year growth TPI has seen, and we will be honouring all of the commission splits and recognition reward benefits based on our best year so far, which we are very proud of and proud of all the hard work of our advisors. We are a family and we are in this together.”

Posted in Travel Week on May 27, 2020

Travel Professionals International’s (TPI), wins big at the 4^th annual Spotlights Awards for Playa Hotels & Resorts. The Playa Spotlight Awards invites the best and top-producing agents in the industry. With over 120 Canadian agents attending the awards, TPI was proud to see their very own Lois Barbour walk away with three significant awards for her and her team. Playa Hotels and Resorts awarded Lois Barbour with Most Improved Agent in Canada, Top Seller for Jamaica in Canada and Top Seller for Jewel Resorts in Canada.

“I am honoured to be recognized with these prestigious awards by Playa Resorts. We strive to offer the best vacation options to our clients, so when the brands that provide our guests with the vacation memories of a lifetime then recognize us in this way, we say thank you!” said Lois Barbour, TPI Advisor.

TPI CEO Zeina Gedeon said, “Congratulations to Lois and all of her team at Travel Time – TPI! What an amazing accomplishment to bring home three Spotlight Awards and be recognized for their incredible dedication to their clients. We are honoured to have Travel Time – TPI as part of the TPI family and are always proud to share our Advisor’s achievements!”

Find more information about Lois Barbour and her team Travel Time – TPI at www.traveltimetpi.com

Published by Openjaw on January 14, 2020

Travel Professionals International (TPI), is the only agency in Canada to have two of their advisors recognized in the Sandals Chairman’s Royal Club.

Lois Barbour of Travel Time TPI and Kim Hartlen of Kim Hartlen Travel were once again recognized for their contribution to Sandals & Beaches as Sandals Chairman’s Royal Club, an exclusive club that rewards the most loyal and top-producing travel agents in North America for the Sandals brands.

TPI CEO, Zeina Gedeon, said that TPI is “ecstatic” with having the only two advisors in Canada that are in the Sandals Chairman Royal Club.

“This is a great testament to the dedication and commitment TPI Advisors have to Sandals,” Gedeon said. “We see the rewards our Advisors get recognized for, and it is the support and tools they get with TPI that makes them the best of the best.”

Kim Hartlen, TPI Advisor, said, “I have been honoured to be a part of the Sandals Travel Agent awards for the past 18 years and a member of the Sandals Chairman’s Royal Club since the beginning in 2012! Thank you, Sandals and Beaches Resorts for this prestige invitation and recognition.”

Lois Barbour, TPI Advisor, said, “Thank you to our VIP clients first of all, but also with thanks to our BDM extraordinaire, Meredith Hand and also Maureen Barnes-Smith Sandals Director of Sales & Marketing, for her endless support of our agency on the rock! With you, and the amazing Sandals Resorts team who enable us to do what we do every day, we say thank you!”

Director of sales and marketing, Unique Vacations Canada Inc., Maureen Barnes-Smith spoke highly of TPI, saying, “Travel Professionals International continues to foster the environment for high growth for Sandals and Beaches, and we congratulate the organization as well as the individual agent winners. Well done.”

Published in Pax News on December 18th, 2019

TORONTO – Travel Professionals International (TPI) once again was named the Top Host Agency and Best of the Best in Canada for the 2nd year in a row at the 18th annual Sandals Travel Agency Recognition (STAR) Awards hosted at Beaches Turks & Caicos on Dec 8th.

It was a big night for TPI and their attending Advisors at the Sandals STAR Gala Awards. TPI’s top Sandals producing Advisors were recognized for their loyalty and dedication by Sandals Resorts. Kim Hartlen took home Best of the Best in Canada, Top Club Sandals Travel Agency and Top Beaches Travel Agency in Atlantic Canada and Lois Barbour of Travel Time received Top Sandals Travel Agency in Atlantic Canada.

“I have been honoured to be a part of the Sandals Travel Agent awards for the past 18 years! Thank you, Sandals and Beaches Resorts for this prestige invitation and recognition. I am thrilled to have stepped out on my own as an entrepreneur under my brand Kim Hartlen Travel with the amazing support of TPI. My clients are truly the Stars!! #filledwithgratitude” said Kim Hartlen, TPI Advisor.

Lois Barbour, TPI Advisor, said, “I am pleased to be recognized again by Sandals Resorts as a top Canadian agent. The recognition received in being named the Top Sandals Agency of the Year for Atlantic Canada is a huge honor for us, as well as being named one of only two Canadian Chairman’s Royal Club agents.” Barbour added, “Our team at Travel Time – TPI appreciates our loyal VIP clients, and the trust they place in us for their valuable vacation time. Our partners at Sandals Resorts deliver on the experience we recommend to our clients again and again and make the process easy with repeat bookings being the norm.”

The STAR Awards celebrates travel agents worldwide and Sandals Resorts as an innovator and trendsetter in luxury Caribbean resorts for the last 24 years.

TPI CEO Zeina Gedeon said, “We are extremely proud of our Advisors who took home some of the most prestigious Sandals Awards this week! It was an honour for me to accept the award as Top Host Agency in Canada, on behalf of my TPI family, this award is for all our advisors across Canada,” Gedeon continued, “to recognize all their hard work and all the passion they put into what they do, all of this would not have been possible without our Advisors’ commitment to Sandals Resorts.”

List of awards received at the STAR Gala Awards:

• Head office awards:
  • Best of the Best Agency Recognition
  • Top Host Agency in Canada
  • Top Sandals Travel Agency
  • Top Ten Travel Agencies Worldwide
• Lois Barbour – Travel Times
  • Top Sandals Travel Agency – Atlantic Canada
  • Chairman’s Royal Club
• Kim Hartlen – Kim Hartlen Travel
  • Best of the Best Agency Recognition Award
  • Top Beaches Travel Agency – Atlantic Canada
  • Top Club Sandals Travel Agency
  • Chairman’s Royal Club

Posted in Travel Press on December 17th, 2019

Read Complete Article by  Travelweek Group
Monday, December 16, 2019

Home-based agents shone brightly at Sandals Resorts’ 18th annual STAR Awards.

The top 10 travel agencies worldwide included host agency TPI.

Always top producers for Sandals and Beaches Resorts, home-based agents in Canada are scaling new heights with the company. And Sandals knows it. This past summer Sandals held its first-ever Canadian Home-Based Travel Consultant Conference, bringing home-based agents from across Canada from host agencies including TPI, TTAND, TravelOnly, The Destination Experts and Nexion Travel Group (Canada), to Sandals South Coast for five days of excursions, site inspections and a Business Marketing Forum targeted specifically to home-based agents.

At this year’s STAR Awards, held Dec. 7 – 11 at Beaches Turks & Caicos, Canadian home-based agents and host agencies dominated the leaderboard in the ‘Best of the Best’ category.

The ‘Best of the Best’ for Canada included TPI; Kim Hartlen Travel/TPI in Nova Scotia; amongst the rest.

TPI CEO Zeina Gedeon says TPI is excited about its strong double-digit growth with Sandals every year, and praised the company for all that they do for TPI advisors on a daily basis.

“We are extremely proud of our Advisors who took home some of the most prestigious Sandals Awards this week!” said Gedeon. “It was an honour for me to accept the award as Top Host Agency in Canada, on behalf of my TPI family, this award is for all our advisors across Canada, to recognize all their hard work and all the passion they put into what they do and all this would not have been possible without our Advisors’ commitment to Sandals Resorts.”

Gedeon added that TPI is “over the moon” with having the only two advisors in Canada that are in the Sandals Chairman Royal Club: Travel Time TPI’s Lois Barbour and Kim Hartlen with Kim Hartlen Travel/TPI . “This is a great testament to our advisors and to Sandals for their commitment to TPI. We strive to give our advisors all the support and tool to make them the best of the best.”

While the STAR event is all about celebrating travel agents, it’s also an opportunity to reflect on the legacy, and forward momentum, of Sandals Resorts and Beaches Resorts.

Maureen Barnes-Smith, Director of Sales & Marketing, Unique Vacations Canada Inc., affiliate of the worldwide representative of Sandals Resorts and Beaches Resorts, says that while resort vacation trends have come and gone, “what has never changed for us is the vision that started this company, of finding the best beaches and real estate on which to create world class luxury resorts.”

The story of Sandals “has been an unbelievable journey, from the humblest beginnings of 99 bedrooms in 1981 to now being the Caribbean’s only all-inclusive superbrand and World’s Leading All-Inclusive Resorts for 24 years,” she added.

TURKS & CAICOS — Sandals Resorts is celebrating the best of the best with its top travel agents, travel agencies and suppliers at the 18th annual STAR Awards at Beaches Turks & Caicos.

The top 10 travel agencies worldwide included host agency TPI.

And the ‘Best of the Best’ for Canada included TPI; Kim Hartlen Travel/TPI in Nova Scotia; amongst others.

While the STAR event is all about celebrating travel agents, it’s also an opportunity to reflect on the legacy, and forward momentum, of Sandals Resorts and Beaches Resorts.

“’World’s Best’ is not a tagline, it’s a signifier of what to expect, and more importantly it’s a promise on what Sandals and Beaches Resorts will deliver – exceeding your and your clients’ expectations and earning our stars every day,” said Maureen Barnes-Smith, Director of Sales & Marketing, Unique Vacations Canada Inc., affiliate of the worldwide representative of Sandals Resorts and Beaches Resorts.

“Over the past 38 years we have seen the evolution of travel and the transformation of the Sandals brand as your customers’ needs and desires have changed. We have seen the introduction of Beaches and the increasing diversity of our product offerings as we have anticipated and reacted to industry trends.”

The company has stayed nimble as it evolves with the times, but “what has never changed for us is the vision that started this company, of finding the best beaches and real estate on which to create world-class luxury resorts,” said Barnes-Smith.

For Sandals Resorts’ “passion driver and perfection seeker”, Chairman and Founder Gordon ‘Butch’ Stewart, every beach told a story, said Barnes-Smith, “one he wanted to share with customers while delivering more than they ever expected.”

That led to Sandals Resorts’ trajectory as an innovator, with industry firsts including everything from hair dryers and robes in the room, to à la carte restaurants, and more recently, to over the water bungalows and villas, over the water serenity wedding chapels and over the water bars.

The story of Sandals “has been an unbelievable journey, from the humblest beginnings of 99 bedrooms in 1981 to now being the Caribbean’s only all-inclusive superbrand and World’s Leading All-Inclusive Resorts for 24 years,” said Barnes-Smith.

She added: “We continue to be the single largest private employer in the Caribbean, supporting local industries in all the islands where we operate and providing sustainable linkages throughout all levels of industry in these islands.

“We continue to set the trends, and to be the benchmark that competitors follow, seizing opportunities where others see obstacles.”