TRAVELSAVERS Owners Focus Retreat Forges Closer Bonds Among Canadian & U.S. Members

More than 120 TRAVELSAVERS owners and managers from Canada and the U.S., along with suppliers and staff, attended the Owners Focus Retreat April 23-26 at Chateau Elan in Braselton, Georgia.  

Amidst industry headwinds and political tensions between Canada and the U.S., attendees forged closer bonds and shared best practices and fresh business ideas.

“Owners Focus Retreat offered participants the perfect setting to step away from distractions and reflect on their business,” said TRAVELSAVERS Chief Sales Officer Kathryn Mazza-Burney. 

“We reshaped the event as a rare opportunity for motivation, connection, and innovation. Attendees loved sharing best practices, perspectives, and strategies as a base for their future growth.”

Owners Focus Retreat aims to facilitate meaningful connections among owners and partners in a relaxed ambience. Attendees took part in interactive programs with inspiring speakers, lively networking and leisure pursuits. 

Travel Market Report Canada spoke to Jane Clementino, Senior Vice President and General Manager for TRAVELSAVERS Canada, while she attended the event, along with 25 Canadian owners and managers. She was pleased with the Canadian turnout, despite some concerns among members about travelling to the U.S. in the current climate. 

She reported that Canadian members were welcomed warmly and any tensions were soon forgotten as attendees worked together to make the most of a tumultuous time when financial uncertainty and geopolitical machinations are impacting both travel confidence and destination choice.

“Everything goes right now,” Clementino told Travel Market Report Canada. “We need to ask different questions, stop doing things that aren’t working, focus on acquisition of new clients and make sure we’re there for them, even for small trips.”

Despite the uncertainty, TRAVELSAVERS advisors attending the event are posting sales increases even on top of 2024’s strong numbers, with cruising leading the way. Premium ocean cruising is up 21%, followed by river cruises at 15% and contemporary ocean cruising at 13%. Luxury cruising is up five percent. Guided vacations have increased by 11%, sun vacations have grown by five percent and FIT travel is up four percent. 

“I am super bullish on this business and believe 2025 is going to end strongly,” said TRAVELSAVERS Chief Marketing Officer Nicole Mazza. “Travellers are booking for the festive season and into next year. 2026 is already off the charts with double-digit growth.”

Clementino said it has just been in the past few weeks that TRAVELSAVERS Canada members have seen a dip in demand. In fact, in the first quarter of the year, sales were up 9% in terms of revenue, mostly reflecting higher prices, but still a solid performance.

Echoing Mazza, Clementino noted that TRAVELSAVERS Canada customers are “incredibly committed to 2026” travel, with both cruise and ITC bookings way up. Bookings for the second half of this year are not as strong, which Clementino said could present some opportunities if the economic climate eases and consumer confidence recovers.

“This is a pivotal moment. Canadians are looking for knowledgeable professionals to help guide their travel decisions, and we’re here to support our advisors every step of the way.”

Mazza encouraged attendees to collaborate to continue their trajectory of success. “After 55 years, we’re not strangers to industry challenges,” she said. “We excel at turning them into opportunities. Whether it’s repositioning marketing to resonate with travellers, negotiating supplier agreements for today’s realities, or introducing technology to help advisors work more efficiently, this is the moment to reframe the narrative and win new business.”

News highlights from the TRAVELSAVERS Owners Focus Retreat included:

• TRAVELSAVERS has expanded its partner collection, bringing more choice and advantages to clients and more sales, commissions and profit-sharing to advisors. The network has also enhanced its VIP program for cruises and tours, offering more departure dates and benefits. 

• Enhanced advisor profiles on TRAVELSAVERS.com now allow consumers to reach out to a match of their choice. The Travel Club program provides travellers with exclusive discounts and amenities, also driving prospects to network agencies.  

• TRAVELSAVERS is investing in technology enhancements to increase effectiveness and sales. Its tripXpress platform for researching and booking travel now features unique deep-linking technology. With it, advisors can include links in marketing collateral that take travellers directly into the booking process. 

• The TRAVELSAVERS AI Connect tool is helping advisors work more efficiently to drive bookings, allowing them to regain time in their day to sell.