Sailing away from the port of Kralendijk, Bonaire, travel advisors and participants onboard Celebrity Silhouette this week for TTAND Conference 2026 swapped their boardshorts and bikinis for black tie and formal gowns, as participants gathered to fête fellow TTAND members’ successes.

After a busy schedule including sunrise sessions, supplier trade show, a site visit to Sandals Royal Curaçao and a beach day on Aruba, TTAND Conference participants were in the mood to party, excitedly applauding for fellow advisors marking big achievements, including top performer status, Millionaire’s Club membership, 10-year anniversaries, highest earned commission and more. A rousing rendition of ‘I’ve Had the Time of My Life, by onboard performers Zoe Tyler and David Shannon, kicked off a memorable night.

The buoyant mood of the cocktail party lit by the setting sun didn’t dissuade advisors from the long line lasting almost two hours, to have a photo taken with their fearless leader, TTAND founder and President, Flemming Friisdahl.

Partygoers toasted to another memorable day and then danced as fellow advisors took over the microphone to belt out ‘Red Red Wine’, ‘Friends in Low Places’ and a soulful rendition of ‘Can’t Help Falling in Love’ before another sumptuous dinner.

Celebrating the 10-year mark for TTAND support staff Alma Ortiz, Caley McCarney, Raj Gautam, with Jeff Element and Fleming Friisdahl

Here’s a look at TTAND Conference 2026’s Gala Award winners, in recognition of 2025’s successes …

• Highest Average Rate of Commission Primary Agent – Iain Perkins
• Highest Average Rate of Commission Silver/Gold Agent – Erin Steyn
• Highest Average Rate of Commission Agency Private Agent (agent preferred to not share name)
• Highest Average Rate of Commission Associate Agent – Terri Perry
• Highest Earned Commission Primary Agent – Christine McFarlane
• Highest Earned Commission Silver/Gold Agent – Devyn Perry
• Highest Earned Commission Agency – Stewart Travel Group
• Highest Earned Commission Associate Agent – Erica (Kuei-Tzu) Lin
• Highest % of Preferred/Approved Suppliers Primary Agent – Sharlene Philipchuk
• Highest % of Preferred/Approved Suppliers Silver/Gold Agent – Scott Lamour
• Highest % of Preferred/Approved Suppliers Agency – Kimberly Machan
• Highest % of Preferred/Approved Suppliers Associate Agent – Nadine Mountrakis
• Highest Service Fees Collected Primary Agent – Danny Hoag
• Highest Service Fees Collected Silver/Gold Agent – Erin Steyn
• Highest Service Fees Collected Agency – Mike Gilmore
• Highest Service Fees Collected Associate Agent – Araceli Salazar
• Ambassador Star Award All – Dawn Tanner
• Peer to Peer Star Award All – Arlene Gibbons

“We Can Get Throufgh Whatever Comes Next”

Travel is once again facing challenges, but Friisdahl says it’s nothing the industry and TTAND can’t handle. “I don’t worry about things I can’t control,” he said. “We got through two years of not selling because of COVID. We can get through whatever comes next.”

Friisdahl’s attitude isn’t just marketing spin or bravado from a leader. TTAND’s overall sales are up 24% in the month of April and up 22% for the first quarter of 2026.

With 80 full-time staff in Canada, TTAND is forging ahead with many plans including a corporate travel division and a partnership with UK-based Travel Counsellors, announced in December 2025. Knowledge is power, as chief cheerleader Friisdahl encourages advisors.

Extensive Training for New Advisors

It’s this devotion to education that attracted new-to-industry travel advisor Shannon Reynolds. One month in and attending her first TTAND conference, B.C.-based Reynolds said she’s thrilled to be a participant. “My Travel advisor Shannon Reynolds, based in Kelowna, B.C. purpose in life is to help people and I have a passion for learning about the world. Both have led me to make the decision to become a travel advisor,” she said.

Hoping to focus on cruise and solo travel, Reynolds said she knew she made the right decision to join TTAND when she saw the extensive training offered for new advisors.

“Spending More Time on Upselling our CLients on a Higher Level of Service is Key for Us”

The drive to keep learning has also been lit for independent travel advisor Cyndi Stone from Bobcaygeon, ON. “I hadn’t taken the time to understand LUXE, but now I want to add this to my business,” she said. TTAND launched its new premium brand, LUXE by The Travel Agent Next Door, in November 2025 to tap into the rising demand for luxury travel.

As TTAND’s Director of Marketing, Christine Ufniak, explained this week, LUXE by TTAND allows advisors to offer immersive and curated experiences. There’s also a distinctively designed online presence with a website and email signature as well as business cards. LUXE Mastermind, a two-day immersion course for advisors wanting to learn more about selling luxury travel, saw success in March 2026 and will happen again in March 2027, with another set of two-day sessions set for Toronto and Vancouver.

“We’re seeing a lot of growth in luxury travel. People still want to do their bucket list trips,” said Friisdahl. “Spending more time on upselling our clients on a higher level of service is key for us.”

Two Burning Qestions

“The success of the conference is when agents go home and realize they have met new people, learned something and learned something about themselves,” explained Friisdahl.

One of those advisors is H20 Escapes’ Dylan Shaw, based in Tottenham, ON, who had all those objectives in mind participating in this year’s conference.

A cruise specialist (and a full-time firefighter), Shaw was excited to be sailing with Celebrity Cruises for the third time. As someone who has been in the business for almost five years, one of Shaw’s goals was to learn from experienced agents. “I started as an associate and attended two previous conferences in Mexico and Jordan and then decided to become a primary advisor,” explained Shaw.

“I’ve taken all the courses and I want to focus on how to encourage clients to add to their post-cruise experience, like including Universal Orlando, Railbookers or Rocky Mountaineer,” he said, adding that he’s focused on meeting these suppliers to benefit his client base. Many of them are new to cruise and custom packages, he noted.

The next two days onboard Celebrity Silhouette offer more one-on-one time with suppliers – and the answers to two burning questions: Where will Conference 2027 take place? And will Friisdahl keep the moustache?

TTAND’s Jeff Element (l) and Flemming Friisdahl (r) with award winner Dawn Tanner

Source: Travelweek
Lead image caption (images left to right): Award winner Arlene Gibbons with TTAND’s Jeff Element (l) and Flemming Friisdahl (r); A big payout presented by TTAND’s Rhonda Stanley and Flemming Friisdahl; H20 Escapes’ Dylan Shaw, based in Tottenham, ON