Travel Leaders and Vacation.com Join to Become Travel Leaders Network

What:
Travel Leaders Franchise Group (Travel Leaders Associates and Results! Travel) and Vacation.com have announced that the companies will formally join to become Travel Leaders Network.

Why It Matters:
Travel Leaders Network — now with nearly 7,000 locations in the U.S. and Canada — can offer both franchise and consortium solutions depending on each individual agency’s objectives and needs. According to company executives, the merger will offer accelerated growth and increased benefits for its agencies; heightened technological and marketing capabilities; and elimination of duplicate efforts from the combined leadership and support staff. Without competition between the formerly separate entities, Travel Leaders Network can focus on delivering a greater return on its agency constituents’ changing needs and empowering its agencies to work together more effectively in the marketplace.

Fast Facts:
- Travel Leaders Network sees more than $17 billion in annual sales volume and is comprised of more than one-third of North America’s leading travel agencies. The company is now the largest seller of luxury travel, cruises, river cruises and tours in the travel agency industry.

- All of the participating agencies that previously belonged to either Travel Leaders Franchise Group (Travel Leaders Associates and Results! Travel) or Vacation.com were notified that they continue to be members within Travel Leaders Network.

- Existing Travel Leaders Associates will retain sole licensing rights for the exclusive use of the “Travel Leaders” brand name. All members of both Results! Travel and Vacation.com will automatically become members of Travel Leaders Network, while qualifying members will be provided the option of becoming Travel Leaders Associates for a heightened level of offerings.

- The new Travel Leaders Network will continue to offer varying levels of participation. Among the major changes that participating agencies will see include an updated Agent Profiler; a combined annual conference; new and blended marketing; updated technology; and migration to one Agent Universe platform.

What They Are Saying:
“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, part of Travel Leaders 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. Our focus must be on delivering an even greater return on our agency constituents’ ever-changing needs. Rather than competing with each other, we must remove the barriers behind the scenes within our three businesses so the agencies we serve can more effectively compete both within and beyond the traditional travel agency space. As we further sharpen our focus and value proposition, we’re removing any prevailing brand confusion about who we are within the marketplace.”

The Details