Search Travel Market Report

mainlogo
www.travelmarketreport.com
U.S.A.
English
Canada
English
Canada Quebec
Français
  • News
  • Packaged Travel
  • Cruise
  • Hotels & Resorts
  • Destinations
  • Retail Strategies
  • Air
  • Training & Resources
  • Luxury Travel Report

Largest-Ever Travel Market Place West Opens in Vancouver

by Dori Saltzman  March 10, 2023
Largest-Ever Travel Market Place West Opens in Vancouver

Cruise executives pose with Dan McCarthy after their panel at TMP West; photo by Dan Galbraith

“Coming back out of the pandemic, the world has figured out what this room has known all along, that a spectacular vacation experience is best served in the hands of travel advisors,” said Geraldine Ree, emcee of this year’s Travel Market Place West, addressing an audience of nearly 350 travel advisors and suppliers attending the two-day conference at the Parq Vancouver – the largest ever TMP West for Travel Market Report.

“We’ve always known it, but prior to the pandemic we had to deal with the rhetoric of ‘travel agents, is that still a thing?’ No more. The secret is out.”

Travel advisors at the conference, including the 60 invitation-only advisors who participated in the three-hour Ambassador Program the night before the conference began, would agree. The secret is out and business is booming.

Despite being swamped, advisors and suppliers took time out of their busy schedules to attend the two-day conference, which is packed with general session panels on tours and cruising, along with informational workshops on marketing, selling, product knowledge and more.

“I like that it’s local,” one advisor who participated in the Ambassador Program told TMR, adding it’s not often that Western Canadian advisors get to meet sales reps who are actually based in the West.

Other advisors said they return year after year to TMP West for the networking with other advisors and for the educational takeaways they get from the panels and the workshops.

Tips for a Successful Conference
Takeaways you can act on right away should be a priority for attendees, Ree said during her opening remarks, and offered the audience tips on how to make the most of their time.

“Be a creator, not a consumer,” she said, pointing out how important it is to approach conferences with intention. “You are not in the passenger seat.”

Start, she said, with the intention of walking away with up to 20 ideas that you will take a first step on. As you listen to speakers, asterisk anything that you want to act no. Note down who said it and what the first step you need to take is.

A second tip she offered is to “bring” your ideal clients with you. Have their needs in mind when you meet with suppliers.

“It’s really easy to put yourself as the hero of the story,” she said. “In fact, it’s almost impossible not to. Oh, I want to do that one. Ooh, that’s looks good, I want to try that. We forget about our clients at home… when you do the trade show, say ‘I have these clients and they’re looking for something really special, what do you have?’ It changes the conversation, because you have someone specific in mind.”

  
  
Related Articles
Education & Scenery Highlight Second Annual TMP on the River
TMR Officially Launches First-Ever Travel Market Place Leadership Exchange in Cancun
TMP Calgary Wraps Up as Largest-Ever Industry Conference in Calgary
5 Tips for Travel Advisors to Enhance Marketing with A.I.
TMP Toronto Wraps Up with a Focus on Building Caribbean and Cruise Business
Travel Market Place Celebrates 10 Years with Largest-Ever Conference
First-Ever TMP on the River Kicks Off Onboard AmaCerto
Sold Out Travel Market Place West Opens in Vancouver
Why Go? The Power of Personal Connections at Travel Trade Events
Eight Tips to Be an Extraordinary Travel Advisor

MOST VIEWED

  1. La Liste Reveals Top 10 Hotels in the World for 2025
  2. Delta Air Lines Clarifies Schedule Change Policy for Travel Agencies
  3. Certares Takes Full Ownership of Avoya Travel, Andersons Depart
  4. American Airlines Launches First Touchless ID Lanes
  5. Former Virgin Voyages Head of Sales John Diorio Lands New Role at Celestyal
  6. Delta Is Now Requiring Agencies to Acknowledge and Accept Schedule Changes in PNR


  1. 8 Things to Know About Azamara Cruises
  2. American Airlines Wants to Hold Your Connecting Flight
  3. Royal Caribbean’s Perfect Day Mexico Will Break Several Records
  4. Nothing But Clear Skies for the Cruise Industry
  5. Xanterra Travel Collection Names New CIO & Corporate Director of Sales
  6. First Tropical Storm of Hurricane Season Could Hit Caribbean Next Week
TMR Subscription

Subscribe today to receive daily in-depth luxury coverage, analysis of luxury news, luxury trends and issues that affect how you do business. Subscribe now for free.

Subscribe to TMR

Top Stories
Headquarter Happenings: Gifted Travel Network Hosts 3rd Annual Symposium on Avalon Poetry II
Headquarter Happenings: Gifted Travel Network Hosts 3rd Annual Symposium on Avalon Poetry II

GTN is keeping its momentum going in the luxury space by offering coaching and partnership opportunities to its advisors.

The Top 11 Hottest Adventure Tours of 2025 (So Far)
The Top 11 Hottest Adventure Tours of 2025 (So Far)

Top tour operators talk their best-selling products for 2025.

4 Qualifying Questions Travel Advisors Should Ask Clients with Autism
4 Qualifying Questions Travel Advisors Should Ask Clients with Autism

Advice for selling accessible travel to neurodivergent customers, from the experts.

Gifted Travel Network on Trevello Deal: ‘Philosophy Was So Aligned’
Gifted Travel Network on Trevello Deal: ‘Philosophy Was So Aligned’

Though GTN was not looking for a buyer, Trevello’s new compensation model and common ideals helped seal the deal.

Travel Guard Releases Enhanced Self-Service Tool for Travel Advisors
Travel Guard Releases Enhanced Self-Service Tool for Travel Advisors

The enhanced version features a more intuitive, self-service experience.

InteleTravel Acquires Tickitto, Adding Ticketed Events & Experiences to Brand Portfolio
InteleTravel Acquires Tickitto, Adding Ticketed Events & Experiences to Brand Portfolio

The acquisition gives advisors booking access to tickets for concerts, NFL games, F1 races, and more.

TMR OUTLOOKS & WHITE PAPERS
View All
Advertiser's Voice
The Collette Premium Experience
About Travel Market Report Mission Meet the Team Advisory Board Advertise Syndication Guidelines
TMR Resources Calendar of Events Outlook/Whitepapers Previous Sponsored Articles Previous This Week Articles
Subscribe to TMR
Select Language
Do You Have an Idea Email
editor@travelmarketreport.com
Give Us a Call
1-(516) 730-3097
Drop Us a Note
Travel Market Report
71 Audrey Ave, Oyster Bay, NY 11771
© 2005 - 2025 Travel Market Report, an American Marketing Group Inc. Company All Rights Reserved | Terms and Conditions
Cookie Policy Privacy Policy Manage cookie preferences