On Location: Envoyage Kicks Off North American Summit in Jamaica With Travel Leaders Partnership in Spotlight

New partnerships, new opportunities and a growing network of independent travel advisors.

There’s plenty to talk about as Envoyage kicked off its largest North American Summit yet in Jamaica Tuesday night (Oct. 21), with its new alliance with Travel Leaders Network taking centre stage.

About 160 travel professionals from Canada and the United States have gathered at the upscale, all-inclusive Princess Grand Jamaica, near Negril, for the event, which Travel Market Report Canada is covering on location through to Oct. 24.

The buzz, this year, is Envoyage’s first-ever consortium partnership with Travel Leaders Network (TLN), announced in July, and what it means for its independent advisors.

“We think it’s an amazing partnership,” said Heather Baker, national marketing manager for Envoyage Canada, speaking to Travel Market Report Canada at last night’s welcome cocktail party on “Dream Island,” a sandy outdoor event space at the Princess Grand, a 590-suite beachfront resort that opened in 2024.

“It’s about offering more tools and product to our advisors. It gives them that full breadth of options.”

A New Chapter With Travel Leaders

The new TLN partnership, however, represents a significant expansion of the tools and resources available to Envoyage’s network.

Mike Migliore, TLN’s senior director of sales, is attending this year’s Summit and will present how members can take advantage of the consortium’s supplier relationships, programs and tech.

For Baker, the partnership is about giving experienced travel entrepreneurs more ways to grow their businesses while maintaining their independence.

Among the offerings are TLN’s Cruise Complete booking platform, Agent Profiler lead-generation tool, social media resources, luxury products and preferred supplier programs.

Justin Clarey, Envoyage Canada’s member support leader, said TLN’s Cruise Complete is one of the most exciting additions.

“That’s something we don’t really have a solution for today. It’s going to give our advisors access to so much more products in the cruise space,” Clarey said.

Additionally: “TLN’s amenity programs, their group space programs, all of those things,” he continued. “They have huge buying power that our advisors are now going to benefit from.”

While Envoyage already benefits from Flight Centre Travel Group’s global supplier agreements, TLN unlocks another powerful dimension: access to a vast network of independent travel business owners, Baker explained.

Importantly, advisors will retain the flexibility to choose which resources work best for their businesses.

“Advisors will be able to pick off the shelf, which is what Envoyage has always done,” Baker said. “From our ecosystem to the services we offer, advisors can customize what it is they need for their business. They can take as much or as little as they need.”

Building a Global Community

The Summit marks another milestone in Envoyage’s evolution as a global independent travel agency network.

Launched in early 2024, Envoyage replaced the long-running Independent by Flight Centre brand as part of a gradual international rollout, beginning in the United States before arriving in Canada that June.

Previously, Australia-based Flight Centre Travel Group operated separate independent agency brands across its international markets.

Envoyage, essentially, brought those businesses together under one identity, connecting advisors and agency owners through a centralized ecosystem of products, technology and services, including platforms such as Travefy.

The brand’s philosophy is to leverage best practices from around the world while preserving the local connections that matter to advisors.

That balance is also reflected in Envoyage’s conference strategy.

Its flagship Worldwide event (last year, held in Sun City, South Africa) brings together advisors from Canada, the United States, South Africa, Australia and New Zealand, with the next edition scheduled for September 2027.

Conferences closer to home, meanwhile, provide opportunities for market-specific education.

“We’re very mindful of that local community and connection. The Summit is the answer to that,” Baker said.

Canadian Business Is Growing

The gathering comes amid positive momentum for Envoyage Canada.

“It’s been quite good. We’re definitely seeing an increase,” Baker said of business performance.

She noted that geopolitical tensions are influencing where Canadians choose to vacation, with some clients opting for destinations outside the United States.

One advisor, for example, recently booked a golf client to Portugal instead of the traditional choices of Myrtle Beach or Arizona.

Cruise, river cruising, expedition and adventure travel are also growing, while more Envoyage advisors are branching into corporate and incentive travel, she said.

The Canadian network is expanding, too, supported by the arrival this year of National Sales Director Joe Scardigno and Business Development Manager Jessica Smid.

However, Baker emphasized that Envoyage remains selective about recruitment, prioritizing established professionals with existing books of business rather than industry newcomers.

“They come in ready to sell,” she said.

For Toronto, ON-based Julie Smigadis, founder and travel curator of Travel Our World, a top-selling agency, the Summit is about breaking down borders and strengthening connections at a time when unity matters more than ever.

“North America has a lot going on right now, geopolitically, and this is a space where we can all come together to collaborate, love and support one another,” Smigadis told TMR Canada.

Beyond the camaraderie, Smigadis said Envoyage’s global network opens doors to valuable opportunities and relationships that might otherwise be out of reach.

“I’m able to connect with suppliers I normally wouldn’t be able to connect with, which is amazing,” she added.

A Packed Week — and a Jamaican Comeback

Beyond business discussions, the Summit promises plenty of opportunities to experience Jamaica.

Wednesday’s (Oct. 21) agenda features general sessions covering travel trends, TLN, advisor interviews, supplier presentations and a keynote speaker, followed by a partner trade show.

Thursday then takes attendees off-property for a giveback day at a local school. Attendees will help build and paint benches and spend time reading with students

Hotel site inspections in Negril and sunset cocktails at the iconic Rick’s Café are also on the agenda.

Friday brings country-specific breakout sessions, one-on-one appointments with suppliers and Envoyage leadership, and a festive finale featuring the One Love Cocktail Party and Gala.

The Summit also arrives at a meaningful time for Jamaica, almost one year after Category 5 Hurricane Melissa devastated parts of the island.

With the destination preparing for a crucial winter tourism comeback, having experienced travel professionals experience Jamaica firsthand offers an opportunity to build confidence and inspire future bookings.

Around Princess Grand Jamaica, the tropical landscape appears lush and vibrant, offering few visible reminders of the storm’s destruction.

“Community over competition”

For all the excitement surrounding new programs and partnerships, Baker and Clarey said the real value of the Summit lies in the relationships advisors build.

Clarey’s advice to attendees is straightforward.

“Be present. If you share something with somebody, make sure you’re getting something back from them as well,” he said.

Baker said the opportunity for advisors to learn from one another is what makes the Envoyage community special.

“It’s community over competition,” she said. “At Envoyage, we’re focused on building a bigger and longer table and inviting more experienced advisors to join, celebrate and partake.”

Stay tuned as Travel Market Report Canada brings you more on-location coverage form Envoyage’s 2026 North American Summit in Jamaica.

To see more pictures from the event, visit TMR Canada’s Facebook page here.