Travel Leaders consolidates agent groups

(Source: Internet)

Travel Leaders Group is combining Travel Leaders Associates, Results Travel and Vacation.com into one agent group called Travel Leaders Network.

“We have long been recognized as a world-class organization, offering the industry’s most innovative and honored travel agency solutions,” said John Lovell, president of Travel Leaders Network and Leisure Group. “But as our industry’s landscape continues to evolve and consolidate, so must we. Simply put, we must come together to create one powerful force that helps each of our agencies compete even more effectively for the hearts and minds of the traveling public.”

Travel Leaders Network will have nearly 7,000 locations in the U.S. and Canada, and have $17 billion in annual sales volume. The network will offer franchise and consortium solutions to agencies. All agencies were notified of the change on Tuesday.

Travel Leaders Associates will retain the right to use the Travel Leaders brand name, and members of Results and Vacation.com will become members of Travel Leaders Network. Those that qualify will be offered the chance to open Travel Leaders franchises as associates, which Travel Leaders Group said offers “a heightened level of offerings."

Roger Block will lead the network. He was previously the president of Travel Leaders Franchise Group. Block will report to Lovell.

Lovell said the consolidation will keep the three brands from competing with each other. It will also remove “any prevailing brand confusion about who we are within the marketplace.”

Block said agencies will enjoy increased benefits under the new network, citing, for example, technology that Travel Leaders Group has invested in.

According to Travel Leaders Group, all agents in the network will gain access to multiple technology programs, including the CruisePro cruise-booking tool; AgentMate, a customer relationship management system, booking tool and back-office system developed for Vacation.com; and corporate business solutions.

By next year, all agency extranets will migrate to the Agent Universe platform, with content available there based on agencies’ individual participation agreements.

Also by next year, all qualifying Results and Vacation.com agents will be added to the Agent Profiler directory, which allows agents to create individual profiles highlighting themselves and their specialties. Agent Profiler utilizes search engine optimization to attract online traffic to agents’ profiles.

Starting in 2017, Travel Leaders Network will have an “overlapping” convention, according to Travel Leaders Group. The final day of Travel Leaders Associates' conference will be shared with members from the rest of Travel Leaders Network (former Results and Vacation.com agents), but both members and associates will have their own sets of training, sessions and networking events.

“Bringing these three powerhouse brands into the broader Travel Leaders Network translates into unparalleled cohesive strength as we work within the greater travel industry, accelerated growth for our agencies, heightened technological and marketing capabilities, and elimination of duplicate efforts from our combined leadership and support staff, who can now focus entirely on delivering the leading-edge innovations for which we’re celebrated,” Block said.