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PRESS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
13 June 2013
TPI Welcomes LaFosse as Ontario Regional Sales Manager
WINNIPEG, CANADA – Travel Professionals International (TPI), a member of Virtuoso and Canada’s leading network of independent travel advisors, today announces the appointment of Rhonda LaFosse as Ontario Regional Sales Manager, effective immediately.
“I’m very pleased to announce Rhonda LaFosse as TPI’s new Ontario Regional Sales Manager,” said Tim Morgan, TPI Vice President. “Rhonda is well-respected in the industry and brings a wealth of knowledge to her new role at TPI.”
LaFosse joins TPI with over 24 years of experience in the Canadian travel industry, most recently holding the position of National Director of Field Sales for Sears Travel, where she developed and implemented local growth strategies for retail locations across the country including training field personnel. In her role with TPI, LaFosse will work closely with TPI’s Director of Sales, Penny Martin, and TPI’s other Regional Sales Managers, in delivering sales and training initiatives to assist advisors in meeting their business goals.
“I am thrilled to join TPI as Ontario Regional Sales Manager,” said LaFosse. “I've worked in the travel industry for many years and have always held a great amount of respect for the TPI model.”
As previously announced, TPI is embarking on a renewed focus in three core areas which it recently unveiled to its network: the recruitment, development, and retention of superb and passionate support staff and advisors, the implementation of sales-centric resources and initiatives to help grow advisors’ businesses, and the roll-out of best-in-class technologies developed in-house and with industry-leading technology partners to improve support staff and advisor productivity.
LaFosse is based in Trenton, Ontario, and can be reached at rlafosse@tpi.ca or 1-204-987-3322 ext. 348.
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Since its founding in 1994 by Morris Chia, Travel Professionals International (TPI) has been the premier provider of outsourced travel solutions to independent travel advisors and agencies. Backed by a head office support team of over forty highly skilled travel professionals, innovative technological solutions, and excellent supplier relationships, hundreds of TPI advisors across Canada are available to provide full-service travel solutions to leisure and corporate travelers. TPI is a member of Virtuoso. More information is available at www.tpi.ca and www.tpiworldwide.com. TPI - We'll Take You There
TPI is a member of the I.A.S. - Independent Agency Services Corp. group of companies. www.iascorp.ca
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Contact: Rod Salm, Creative Services Coordinator, Travel Professionals International (TPI)
Tel: 1-204-934-6452 Fax: 1-204-987-3338 E-Mail: rsalm@tpi.ca
ATTACHED FILE(S): (Higher Resolution and Alternate Graphic Formats Available Upon Request)
1. Travel Professionals International (TPI) logo in .JPG format. (tpi_jpg_color_highres.jpg)
2. Rhonda LaFosse, Ontario Regional Sales Manager, Travel Professionals International (TPI). (TPI-LaFosse.jpg)
WINNIPEG, CANADA – Travel Professionals International (TPI), a member of Virtuoso and Canada’s leading network of independent travel advisors, announces the appointment of Penny Martin as Director of Sales.
"Penny has been an exemplary team member over the course of her 5 years with TPI," said Tim Morgan, TPI Vice President, "and we couldn't be happier that she has accepted this position to lead our sales, training, and supplier relations functions."
“I’m honoured to be recognized with this appointment,” said Martin, “and I look forward to continuing to work with our head office team to deliver the sales and training tools that will help our advisors businesses thrive.”
As previously announced, TPI is embarking on a renewed focus in three core areas which it recently unveiled to its network: the recruitment, development, and retention of superb and passionate support staff and advisors, the implementation of sales-centric resources and initiatives to help grow advisors’ businesses, and the roll-out of best-in-class technologies developed in-house and with industry-leading technology partners to improve support staff and advisor productivity.
With a renewed focus comes a realigned national delivery structure that sees Martin leading the TPI Regional Sales Manager team across the country. Martin and her team will help drive TPI’s mandate of proactively assisting all TPI advisors in reaching their sales goals through business plan development and follow-through, continuing education, quantifiable promotions, and preferred partner support.
Martin has been in the travel industry for over 30 years and, prior to joining TPI, held senior sales and supplier relations positions with CAA, Transat Distribution, and Sears Travel.
Penny Martin can be reached at pmartin@tpi.ca or 1-204-934-8801.
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Since its founding in 1994 by Morris Chia, Travel Professionals International (TPI) has been the premier provider of outsourced travel solutions to independent travel advisors and agencies. Backed by a head office support team of over forty highly skilled travel professionals, innovative technological solutions, and excellent supplier relationships, hundreds of TPI advisors across Canada are available to provide full-service travel solutions to leisure and corporate travelers. More information is available at www.tpi.ca and www.tpiworldwide.com. TPI - We'll Take You There
TPI is a member of the I.A.S. - Independent Agency Services Corp. group of companies. www.iascorp.ca
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WINNIPEG, CANADA – Travel Professionals International (TPI), a member of Virtuoso and Canada’s leading network of independent travel advisors, announces the appointment of Tim Morgan as Vice President, effective immediately.
“After many years of working closely with Tim, it is my sincere pleasure to announce his appointment as Vice President of TPI,” said Morris Chia, TPI President & CEO.
“I am equally humbled and honoured by my appointment to Vice President,” said Morgan. “My nearly eight years with TPI have been incredibly rewarding and I look forward to continuing to work with our exceptional staff and advisors to help TPI reach the ever-greater heights of success that I know it can achieve.”
Going forward in 2013 and 2014, under the direction of Chia and Morgan, TPI is embarking on a renewed focus in three core areas which it recently unveiled to its network: the recruitment, development, and retention of superb and passionate support staff and advisors, the implementation of sales-centric resources and initiatives to help grow advisors’ businesses, and the roll-out of best-in-class technologies developed in-house and with industry-leading technology partners to improve support staff and advisor productivity.
Tim Morgan can be reached at tmorgan@tpi.ca or 1-204-987-3336.
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Since its founding in 1994 by Morris Chia, Travel Professionals International (TPI) has been the premier provider of outsourced travel solutions to independent travel advisors and agencies. Backed by a head office support team of over forty highly skilled travel professionals, innovative technological solutions, and excellent supplier relationships, hundreds of TPI advisors across Canada are available to provide full-service travel solutions to leisure and corporate travelers. More information is available at www.tpi.ca and www.tpiworldwide.com. TPI - We'll Take You There
TPI is a member of the I.A.S. - Independent Agency Services Corp. group of companies. www.iascorp.ca
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Contact: Rod Salm, Creative Services Coordinator, Travel Professionals International (TPI)
Tel: 1-204-934-6452 Fax: 1-204-987-3338 E-Mail: rsalm@tpi.ca
WINNIPEG, CANADA – Travel Professionals International (TPI), Canada’s largest network of independent travel consultants, was recognized by Sandals Resorts at The 11th Annual Sandals Travel Agency Recognition (S.T.A.R.) Awards, held December 1st, 2012, at the Sandals Royal Bahamian Spa Resort & Offshore Island in Nassau, Bahamas. The S.T.A.R. Awards recognize outstanding sales performance among agents from around the world in selling Sandals, Beaches, and Grand Pineapple products.
“Sandals has found an incredible partner in TPI,” said Gary C. Sadler, Senior Vice President, Sales, Unique Vacations Inc., worldwide representative of Sandals Resorts, Beaches Resorts and Grand Pineapple Resorts, “and we’re very honoured by their ongoing commitment and success in representing Sandals brands across Canada.”
As a top producing agency for Sandals, TPI was awarded:
- Canada: Best of the Best
- Canada: Top Destination Weddings Travel Agency
- North America: Top Home-Based Travel Agency
- Worldwide: President’s Award (given to TPI advisor Lois Barbour)
“It was an honour to be receive these prestigious awards on behalf of TPI,” said Morris Chia, TPI President & CEO. “Sandals has been a consistent supporter of TPI over the years and we are happy that our hard work in building a long-lasting relationship between our two companies has proven fruitful.”
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Since its founding in 1994 by Morris Chia, Travel Professionals International (TPI) has been the premier provider of outsourced travel solutions to independent travel advisors and agencies. Backed by a head office support team of over forty highly skilled travel professionals, innovative technological solutions, and excellent supplier relationships, hundreds of TPI advisors across Canada are available to provide full-service travel solutions to leisure and corporate travelers. More information is available at www.tpi.ca and www.tpiworldwide.com. TPI - We'll Take You There
TPI is a member of the I.A.S. - Independent Agency Services Corp. group of companies. www.iascorp.ca
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Contact: Tim Morgan, Director, Corporate Development, I.A.S. - Independent Agency Services Corp.
Tel: 1-204-987-3336 Fax: 1-204-987-3338 E-Mail: tmorgan@iascorp.ca
PRESS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
3 December 2012
TPI Takes 83 to Punta Cana to Celebrate
WINNIPEG, CANADA – Travel Professionals International (TPI), Canada’s largest network of independent travel advisors, celebrated the success of its top producing consultants by taking 83 advisors, advisors' guests, and TPI staff to the Majestic Colonial, Punta Cana, Dominican Republic, 4-11 November 2012, as part of the company’s annual Velocity trip.
Visiting Punta Cana and surrounding areas for seven days, attendees enjoyed leisure, networking, and educational components while celebrating their success alongside their TPI peers, a delegation of TPI staff, and Morris Chia, TPI President and CEO.
Exclusive to TPI advisors, the Velocity rewards program is designed to encourage consultants to gain industry designations, participate in TPI and preferred partner functions, and build their businesses through increased sales – all the while rewarding them with incentives such as higher commissions and the annual Velocity trip for TPI’s top-producing advisors and their guests.
TPI’s 2012 Velocity trip was generously sponsored by, TPI preferred partners, Majestic Resorts, Sunquest/Thomas Cook Canada, Air Canada Vacations, RBC Insurance, and Ocean Adventures.
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Since its founding in 1994 by Morris Chia, Travel Professionals International (TPI) has been the premier provider of outsourced travel solutions to independent travel advisors and agencies. Backed by a head office support team of over forty highly skilled travel professionals, innovative technological solutions, and excellent supplier relationships, hundreds of TPI advisors across Canada are available to provide full-service travel solutions to leisure and corporate travelers. More information is available at www.tpi.ca and www.tpiworldwide.com. TPI - We'll Take You There
TPI is a member of the I.A.S. - Independent Agency Services Corp. group of companies. www.iascorp.ca
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Contact: Tim Morgan, Director, Corporate Development, I.A.S. - Independent Agency Services Corp.
Tel: 1-204-987-3336 Fax: 1-204-987-3338 E-Mail: tmorgan@iascorp.ca
WINNIPEG, CANADA – Travel Professionals International (TPI), Canada’s largest network of independent travel advisors, today announces its membership in the Virtuoso luxury travel network, comprising the industry’s top leisure travel agencies in North and South America, the Caribbean, Australia, and New Zealand. TPI’s membership in Virtuoso will bring a host of rare travel opportunities and exclusive values to select TPI Velocity advisors and their clients.
“Less than one percent of travel agencies in North America are admitted for membership in Virtuoso,” said Morris Chia, TPI President & CEO. “This renowned network of luxury travel specialists leverages its combined annual sales of more than US$9.6 billion to negotiate special upgrades, amenities, values and truly rare travel experiences exclusively for the clients of its member agencies. We are very honoured to have been invited to join Virtuoso and now to be able to offer these additional benefits to our advisors and their clients.”
“We are excited to welcome TPI’s select Velocity members into the Virtuoso network,” said Matthew D. Upchurch, CTC, Chairman & CEO of Virtuoso. “We are selective about the agencies we invite to join, and one central tenet shared by all of our members is a commitment to provide personalized service and exceptional experiences for their clientele.”
TPI’s membership in Virtuoso gives its select Velocity advisors – who meet stringent sales quotas in order to qualify for access to the program – reinforced direct relationships with many of the finest hotels, resorts, spas, cruise lines and tour operators in the world, as well as an expanded resource of insider destination knowledge and numerous monetary benefits. Virtuoso also provides the services of Virtuoso On-Site ground operators in more than 70 countries, all dedicated to ensuring the happiness and comfort of Virtuoso agencies’ clients. In addition, TPI advisors gain access to the latest in travel product marketing and technology in order to assist them in taking their business success to new heights, including but not limited to Virtuoso’s award-winning marketing and publications and innovative technology platform.
“We feel the Velocity advisors at TPI are a perfect fit for our organization and the assets we’re able to provide our members, from exclusive amenities with tangible value to personal relationships with more than 1,700 of the world’s best travel providers, will translate into better travels for their clients,” said Upchurch.
TPI is in good company within the Virtuoso network. Virtuoso’s travel specialists dominate the annual top-agent lists in Travel+Leisure, Conde Nast Traveler, and National Geographic Traveler.
“This is truly an exciting next step in TPI’s history as we continue to lead as the home for Canada’s independent travel advisors,” stated Chia. “Combining TPI’s travel advisors with the power of the Virtuoso network will create new revenue opportunities for our advisors and exceptional experiences for their clientele.”
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Since its founding in 1994 by Morris Chia, Travel Professionals International (TPI) has been the premier provider of outsourced travel solutions to independent travel advisors and agencies. Backed by a head office support team of over forty highly skilled travel professionals, innovative technological solutions, and excellent supplier relationships, hundreds of TPI advisors across Canada are available to provide full-service travel solutions to leisure and corporate travelers. More information is available at www.tpi.ca and www.tpiworldwide.com. TPI - We'll Take You There
TPI is a member of the I.A.S. - Independent Agency Services Corp. group of companies. www.iascorp.ca
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Contact: Tim Morgan, Director, Corporate Development, I.A.S. - Independent Agency Services Corp.
Tel: 1-204-987-3336 Fax: 1-204-987-3338 E-Mail: tmorgan@iascorp.ca
WINNIPEG, CANADA – Travel Professionals International (TPI), Canada’s largest network of independent travel consultants, held its 2012 Annual Conference, “Achieve!”, at the Gran Bahia Principe in Runaway Bay, Jamaica, 21-26 April 2012.
Attending the conference were 115 TPI Associates, 25 travel industry suppliers and partners, and 7 TPI Head Office staff. Conference attendees were invited to share best practices for achieving the true potential of their businesses through their travel partners, associate peers, and head office support team.
Morris Chia, TPI President & CEO, congratulated the assembled associates on their success and noted that TPI's overall travel sales were up 19% for its fiscal year-to-date 2012, with the largest area of growth being tour sales (up 19%). Forecasting continued growth across the network, Chia emphasized the company’s expanded focus on developing niche markets in conjunction with each member's business focus.
Keynote speaker, Nolan Burris, led attendees through a “business boot camp” on the four essential cornerstones of business in order to achieve success – sales and marketing, technology, finance, and operations.
In addition to the educational components of the conference, a number of attendees visited the SOS Children’s Villages (SOS) to spend time with orphans and their substitute mothers. SOS is a private, non-profit, non-political and non-denominational welfare organization whose goal is to offer orphaned and abandoned children – regardless of race, nationality or creed – a permanent home and to prepare them for an independent life. In order to assist with the programming offered by SOS, TPI associates, clients, and industry partners from across Canada donated a large quantity of school supplies in addition to raising funds for the program.
Celebrating the success of TPI, Sandals sponsored the Gala Awards Night where members were recognized for their contributions to the company. Fifteen individual TPI awards were handed out in various categories including top overall sales growth, top commissions, top cruises sales, top insurance sales, and top associate sales in each region.
"Achieve" was generously sponsored by TPI Preferred Partners, including Platinum Sponsor Thomas Cook Canada, Gran Bahia Principe Runaway Bay Jamaica, RBC Insurance, Transat Holidays/Nolitours, Celebrity Cruises, Insight Vacations, Air Canada Vacations, Carnival Cruise Lines, Tourcan Vacations, AMA Waterways, Royal Caribbean International/Azamara Club Cruises, WestJet Vacations, Trafalgar, SeaWorld, Sandals/Beaches, G Adventures, Gateways International, Alio, Sabre, Kensington Tours, Holland America Line, Silk Holidays, Viking River Cruises, Collette Vacations, Princess Cruises/Cunard Line, and SuperClubs. Also in attendance were representatives from CITC and ACTA.
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Since its founding in 1994 by Morris Chia, Travel Professionals International (TPI) has been the premier provider of outsourced travel solutions to independent travel consultants and agencies. Backed by a head office support team of over forty highly skilled travel professionals, innovative technological solutions, and excellent supplier relationships, over 800 TPI Associates are available to provide full-service travel solutions to leisure and corporate travelers. More information is available at www.tpi.ca and www.tpiworldwide.com. TPI - We'll Take You There
TPI is a member of the I.A.S. - Independent Agency Services Corp. group of companies. www.iascorp.ca
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Contact: Tim Morgan, Director, Corporate Development, I.A.S. - Independent Agency Services Corp.
Tel: 1-204-987-3336 Fax: 1-204-987-3338 E-Mail: tmorgan@iascorp.ca
WINNIPEG, CANADA – Travel Professionals International (TPI), Canada’s largest network of independent travel consultants, held its annual Ontario summer barbeque, Thursday, 7 June 2012, at the Mimico Cruising Club, Toronto, Ontario.
Attending the event were 45 associates and their guests, Leah Smith, TPI Business Development team member, Penny Martin, TPI’s Ontario Training and Development Manager, Melanie Carter, TPI’s National Marketing Manager, and Sandra Gardiner, National Accounts Manager for AMA Waterways.
The 2012 TPI Ontario annual summer barbeque was generously sponsored by AMA Waterways.
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Since its founding in 1994 by Morris Chia, Travel Professionals International (TPI) has been the premier provider of outsourced travel solutions to independent travel consultants and agencies. Backed by a head office support team of over forty highly skilled travel professionals, innovative technological solutions, and excellent supplier relationships, over 800 TPI Associates are available to provide full-service travel solutions to leisure and corporate travelers. More information is available at www.tpi.ca and www.tpiworldwide.com. TPI - We'll Take You There
TPI is a member of the I.A.S. - Independent Agency Services Corp. group of companies. www.iascorp.ca
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Contact: Tim Morgan, Director, Corporate Development, I.A.S. - Independent Agency Services Corp.
Tel: 1-204-987-3336 Fax: 1-204-987-3338 E-Mail: tmorgan@iascorp.ca
WINNIPEG, CANADA – Travel Professionals International (TPI), Canada’s largest network of independent travel consultants, has been announced as part of the exclusive Platinum Circle of Viking River Cruises.
As top producing agencies for Viking River Cruises, Platinum Circle members were rewarded with a private charter cruise in Europe on the new Viking Prestige at the end of March, 2012. Proudly representing all of TPI’s independent travel consultants, Morris Chia, President & CEO, took part in the celebration along with other representatives of top producing agencies from around the world.
Michele Saegesser, Vice President of Sales for Viking River Cruises, says that the Platinum Circle is Viking’s very best. “We are a company dedicated to the service and the support of our travel partners,” said Saegesser.
The cruise embarked from Amsterdam and took guests through the surrounding waterways. One hundred twenty industry partners enjoyed the first class service of Viking’s inaugural sailings of four new ships as guests explored cities such as Antwerp, Brugge, Ghent and Rotterdam, among others – all the while networking and celebrating the success of their partnership with Viking.
“It was an honour to be asked to attend this prestigious event on behalf of TPI,” said Chia. “River cruising is an important product for TPI and one that our consultants are focusing on more and more every day due to great product and service offerings which result in high customer satisfaction rates.”
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Since its founding in 1994 by Morris Chia, Travel Professionals International (TPI) has been the premier provider of outsourced travel solutions to independent travel consultants and agencies. Backed by a head office support team of over forty highly skilled travel professionals, innovative technological solutions, and excellent supplier relationships, over 800 TPI Associates are available to provide full-service travel solutions to leisure and corporate travelers. More information is available at www.tpi.ca and www.tpiworldwide.com. TPI - We'll Take You There
TPI is a member of the I.A.S. - Independent Agency Services Corp. group of companies. www.iascorp.ca
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Contact: Tim Morgan, Director, Corporate Development, I.A.S. - Independent Agency Services Corp.
Tel: 1-204-987-3336 Fax: 1-204-987-3338 E-Mail: tmorgan@iascorp.ca
WINNIPEG, CANADA – Travel Professionals International (TPI), Canada’s largest network of independent travel consultants, today releases its 6-month financial results for the period ended 31 January 2012, showcasing double-digit year-over-year growth in travel sales and consultant service fees.
The privately-held company experienced a 22% increase in total travel sales revenue with ITC sales in particular showing the group’s largest product increase at 26% – a change from the previous year’s trend that saw dynamic packaging and FIT travel achieving the largest product increases.
Service fees related to travel sales increased 27%, driven by TPI’s independent travel consultants receiving an average of 7% more in service fees per booking for the value-added services they provide to their clients.
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Since its founding in 1994 by Morris Chia, Travel Professionals International (TPI) has been the premier provider of outsourced travel solutions to independent travel consultants and agencies. Backed by a head office support team of over forty highly skilled travel professionals, innovative technological solutions, and excellent supplier relationships, over 800 TPI Associates are available to provide full-service travel solutions to leisure and corporate travelers. More information is available at www.tpi.ca and www.tpiworldwide.com. TPI - We'll Take You There
TPI is a member of the I.A.S. - Independent Agency Services Corp. group of companies. www.iascorp.ca
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Contact: Tim Morgan, Director, Corporate Development, I.A.S. - Independent Agency Services Corp.
Tel: 1-204-987-3336 Fax: 1-204-987-3338 E-Mail: tmorgan@iascorp.ca
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