2016 sales: $4.39 billion
Employees: 8,360 (full-time employees and hosted commissioned agents)
Previous ranking: 9
3033 Campus Drive, Suite W320
Plymouth, MN 55441
T (763) 744-3700
Website Executives
CEO: Ninan Chacko
FOUNDER/CHAIRMAN: Michael Batt
CFO: Steve DeLorenzo
CHIEF INFORMATION OFFICER: Shoeb Ansari
SVP, AIRLINE RELATIONS: Peter Vlitas
PRESIDENT, TRAVEL LEADERS NETWORK: Roger Block
PRESIDENT, NEXION: Jackie Friedman
PRESIDENT, TRAVEL LEADERS ELITE (Andrew Harper, Colletts Travel, Protravel, Tzell): Gail Grimmett
PRESIDENT, TRAVEL LEADERS NETWORK, LEISURE GROUP & HOTEL DIVISION: John Lovell
PRESIDENT, TRAVEL LEADERS CORPORATE: Gabriel Rizzi
2016 Developments
With $2 billion in annual hotel sales, brought all hotel initiatives under one Hotel Division. Also, building on Select Hotels & Resorts luxury hotel platform launched a Select Wellness Collection and unveiled PinSight hotel booking solution.
Announced an investment strategy designed to increase already substantial wholly owned cruise sales volume that includes making a significant investment in CruCon Cruise Outlet in early 2017.
Transitioning technology leadership to Shoeb Ansari as chief information officer.
Created Travel Leaders Elite, comprising wholly owned agencies specializing in luxury.
Named Gabriel Rizzi president of Travel Leaders Corporate (and chief sales officer for entire group.
Travel Leaders Corporate launched proprietary Travel Leaders Connect, a next generation communication network that gives clients a more efficient way to reach live agents and stay aware of critical, and often fluid, travel updates through a direct mobile connection. The system has been helpful during weather-related delays and cancellations as well as during airline outages.
Travel Leaders Corporate launched its new, advanced Consulting & Analytics program designed to enable its corporate clients to realize ROI of 3-to-1 or greater.
Creation of Travel Leaders Network, formally announced last summer as the travel industry's largest franchise and travel marketing organizations (Travel Leaders Associates, Results Travel and Vacation.com, respectively). Travel Leaders Network has nearly 7,000 locations in both the U.S. and Canada.
TravelLeaders.com and Agent Profiler are further enhanced, including launch of mobile-friendly version.
Travel Leaders offers virtual payment card to its TMC members.
Social media sharing tools launched for members.
AgentMate technology offered as fully integrated customer relationship management system, agent-facing booking tool and back-office system that also includes a lead management system and a robust group module.
Nexion convened its inaugural Luxury Travel Sales Summit as well as Nexion Networks to facilitate networking among its agent members at local levels.
Nexion technology upgrades included Nexion town member community and Snap air, car and hotel booking engine.
Company Facts
ARC sales of $2.2 billion.
$436.6 million in sales from hosted agents.
With more than $21 billion in annual sales (including nonowned agencies), Travel Leaders Group calls itself the largest traditional travel agency company in North America, offering a home to virtually every type of travel agent.
More than a third of all agents in North America work under the Travel Leaders Group umbrella through a wholly owned, franchised, consortium or host agency network. In addition to Canada and the U.S., the group's brands also operate in Australia, Greece, Ireland and the U.K.
71% of sales from business, 25% leisure, 3% other.
Owns Strategic Meetings Management (part of Travel Leaders Corporate Division), with annual sales of $11.8 million.
Member of Travel Leaders Network (now composed of former Travel Leaders Franchise Group, Results Travel and Vacation.com).
Privately held; Certares is the majority owner.
Looking Ahead
Travel Leaders Group will continue its focus on growth, both organic and through strategic acquisitions, during this year. So far in 2017, already announced two key acquisitions in the luxury travel segment: Andrew Harper Travel and Colletts Travel (U.K.).
Travel Leaders Group is significantly enhancing its marketing capabilities particularly around lead generation.
Correction: A previous version of this report incorrectly stated Travel Leaders Group's annual sales in the "Company Facts" section. It is more than $21 billion.