TravelBrands
TravelBrands is a Canadian travel distribution company operating a multi-channel network of wholesale and retail brands, serving Canadian travel agents and consumers through its Access+ booking platform. The company distributes flights, hotels, cruises, tours, and packages to nearly 2 million travelers annually.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2013
- HeadquartersMississauga, Canada
- Headcount101–250
- GTM typeB2B and B2C
- OfferingServices
What TravelBrands does
TravelBrands is a Canadian travel distribution company operating as a division of H.I.S.-Red Label Vacations Inc., itself a subsidiary of Japan's H.I.S. Group. Founded in 2013 and headquartered in Toronto with offices in Montreal and Vancouver, the company operates a multi-channel distribution network reaching Canadian travel agents (B2B) and end consumers (B2C). TravelBrands services nearly 2 million travelers annually through a portfolio that includes specialized wholesale brands (Intair for air consolidation, Encore Cruises for cruise wholesaling with 25+ years of operation, Exotik Journeys for tour operations spanning 45 years) and nine consumer-facing retail brands (Redtag.ca, itravel2000, Flights.ca, Cruises.ca, Merit Travel, Sunquest, The Travel Experts, Last Minute Club, and HIS Travel Japan).
The company's core technology is Access+, an all-in-one travel reservations platform launched in February 2023 that integrates flights, hotels, cruises, car rentals, transfers, tours, attractions, and specialty travel bookings with CRM and reporting capabilities. Access+ connects to over 60,000 hotels worldwide, 75+ airline partners, and inventory from Ceetiz for activities. Complementary features include TravelGenie for custom package building, an integrated Loyalty Rewards Program embedded in the booking flow, and a Local Measure-powered Amazon Connect contact center deployed in June 2024. The company is PCI DSS and PIPEDA compliant and certified as a Great Place to Work (2024).
Revenue is generated through transaction fees across three streams: (1) travel agent commissions via the Access+ platform where agents earn both commissions and Loyalty Rewards Points; (2) wholesale/tour operator margins from air consolidation (Intair), hotel bookings, cruise packages, and specialty travel; and (3) direct consumer sales through retail e-commerce brands. Pricing is quote-based and varies by product, destination, and booking volume, with no publicly disclosed pricing. The company employs 101-250 people across three Canadian offices and has received multiple Baxter Media Agents' Choice Awards, consecutive Chairman's Circle Honors from the U.S. Travel Association, and supplier recognition including Celebrity Cruises Tour Operator of the Year (2023).
TravelBrands firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- TravelBrands
- Legal name
- TravelBrands, a division of H.I.S.-Red Label Vacations Inc.
- Website
- https://travelbrands.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2013
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 101–250 employees
- Short description
- TravelBrands is a Canadian travel distribution company operating a multi-channel network of wholesale and retail brands, serving Canadian travel agents and consumers through its Access+ booking platform. The company distributes flights, hotels, cruises, tours, and packages to nearly 2 million travelers annually.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
TravelBrands industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Travel Agency Services
- NAICS
- Travel Agencies (561510), Tour Operators (561520), Tour Operators (56152)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Wholesale Distribution Platforms & Switches (B2B Booking Engines/Marketplaces) (THAKAJAG)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- White-Label Travel Supply Providers (B2B2C Inventory & Packaging) (THAKAJAJ), Wholesale Groups, Series & Allotments (Group Blocks/Charters/Allotment Contracting) (THAKAJAH), Destination & Activity Wholesalers (Attractions, Tours & Ticket Inventory) (THAKAJAF), Outbound International Retail Travel Agencies (THAKABAI)
Keywords
Where TravelBrands is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Mississauga
- HQ country
- Canada
- HQ region
- North America
Offices3 records
Markets served
TravelBrands business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B and B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Operations, Supply Chain
Revenue model
- Travel Agent Commissions: TravelBrands earns commissions from travel agents who book through its Access+ platform. Agents earn regular commissions and Loyalty Rewards Points on bookings, creating a B2B2C revenue model where the company takes a margin on bookings while incentivizing agent participation.
- Retail Travel Products: Revenue from direct consumer sales through retail brands including redtag.ca, itravel2000.com, Sunquest, Flights.ca, Cruises.ca, and Merit Travel. Consumers book flights, hotels, packages, cruises, and specialty travel directly through these e-commerce platforms.
- Wholesale/Tour Operator Revenue: Revenue from wholesale operations providing travel products including air consolidation (Intair), hotel bookings (60,000+ hotels), cruise packages, car rentals, and specialty travel to travel agents and retail agencies throughout Canada.
- Cruise Packages: TravelBrands Encore Cruises operates as a premier cruise wholesaler in Canada for over 25 years, providing flexible cruise packages with air/sea protection, pre- or post-cruise land stays, excursions, and transfers. Revenue generated through cruise line partnerships and commissions.
Go-to-market motion3 records
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels9 records
TravelBrands product offering
Product offeringCore offering
TravelBrands is a Canadian travel company that operates as a B2B2C distributor of travel products. It serves Canadian travel agents via the Access+ all-in-one booking platform (covering flights, hotels, cruises, packages, car rentals, transfers, tours, attractions, and specialty travel) while also selling directly to Canadian consumers through a portfolio of retail e-commerce brands such as redtag.ca, itravel2000.com, Flights.ca, Cruises.ca, and Merit Travel. The company combines wholesale operations (Intair for air consolidation, Encore Cruises for cruises, Exotik Journeys for tours) with retail storefronts, supported by a Loyalty Rewards Program for travel agents.
Product overview
TravelBrands is a comprehensive one-stop-shop travel company comprised of wholesale and retail divisions. The core platform is Access+ (Access by TravelBrands), an all-in-one travel reservations platform serving Canadian travel agents. This platform integrates TravelGenie for custom package building and connects to over 60,000 hotels, car rentals, cruises, flights, tours, attractions, and specialty travel options. The wholesale division includes Intair (air consolidator), Exotik Journeys (specialty tour operator), and Encore Cruises (cruise division). The retail division operates multiple consumer-facing brands including Redtag.ca, itravel2000, Flights.ca, Cruises.ca, Merit Travel, Sunquest, The Travel Experts, and Last Minute Club. A Loyalty Rewards program supports the agent community with points earning and redemption capabilities.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Access+: Advanced all-in-one travel reservations platform for Canadian travel agents offering flights, hotels, cruises, car rentals, tours, attractions, and specialty travel bookings.
- TravelGenie / VoyaGénie
- Loyalty Rewards Program
- Encore Cruises
Products and services
- Access+ Platform All-in-one travel reservations platform providing Canadian travel agents with comprehensive booking capabilities for flights, hotels, cruises, packages, car rentals, transfers, tours, attractions, and specialty travel. Agents earn commissions and Loyalty Rewards Points on bookings.
- Intair (TravelBrands Flights) Air consolidation brand offering expertise, choice, and value in airline ticketing for travel agents and retail agencies. Recognized as Favourite Air Consolidator in multiple industry awards.
- Exotik Journeys Specialized tour operator designing custom vacation experiences worldwide for 45 years, covering South Pacific, Africa, Middle East, Asia, Central and South America, and Europe. Offers land/air packages, resort stays, river cruises, cultural tours, and eco-travel options.
- Encore Cruises Premier cruise wholesaler operating for over 25 years in the Canadian marketplace, providing flexible cruise packages with air/sea protection, pre/post cruise land stays, excursions, and transfers.
- Redtag.ca Retail travel brand offering diverse travel products including destination packages, flights, hotels, and excursions to Canadian consumers.
- itravel2000 Retail travel brand providing travel products and services to Canadian consumers.
- Flights.ca Retail brand specializing in flight bookings for Canadian travellers.
- Cruises.ca Retail brand focused on cruise bookings for Canadian travellers.
- Merit Travel Retail travel brand serving Canadian consumers with diverse travel products and personalized service.
- Sunquest Retail travel brand under the TravelBrands portfolio serving Canadian travellers.
- Last Minute Club Retail brand focusing on last-minute travel deals for Canadian consumers.
- Travel Experts Retail brand providing travel expertise and services to Canadian consumers.
- TravelBrands Loyalty Rewards Program Travel agent loyalty program available to all Access+ users, allowing agents to earn points on all TravelBrands products and redeem them for merchandise, travel, gift cards, and charitable donations. Points are integrated into the Access+ booking flow.
Quantifiable outcome
- TravelBrands services nearly 2 million travelers annually
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use TravelBrands
Customer profileNamed customers3 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
TravelBrands technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration2 records
Feature4 records
TravelBrands partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
14 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Intrepid TravelcoreTravelBrands announced partnership with Intrepid Travel available through its subsidiary Exotik Journeys, enabling travel advisors to access Intrepid's small-group and adventure tour itineraries across East and Southern Africa, Europe, and Oceania. The partnership allows advisors to earn regular commissions, bundle flights, and access support services while contributing to Loyalty Rewards Points accumulation. Expected to expand Intrepid's reach across Canada as demand for adventure travel grows.
- CeetizcoreCeetiz, the French leader in sale of activities, continues technological integration within HIS Group ecosystem by becoming preferred provider for TravelBrands. Connectivity allows Canadian travel agents to access Ceetiz's activity inventory through the platform.
- Riverside Luxury CruisescoreTravelBrands' Encore Cruises announced new partnership with Riverside Luxury Cruises, offering unique and luxurious river cruises in Europe. Introduction included €300 onboard credit offer plus 2,000 Loyalty Rewards points. Addition reflects company's commitment to enhancing and expanding cruise portfolio.
- Local MeasurecoreTravelBrands partnered with Local Measure to launch advanced contact centre solution leveraging Local Measure Engage for Amazon Connect. Provides seamless inbound/outbound voice communication and CRM integration across the entire organization to enhance agent experience.
- Virgin VoyagesminorTravelBrands' Encore Cruises introduced Virgin Voyages as a new cruise line partner. Travel agents can earn $100 bonus commission on any sailing.
- Celebrity CruisescoreTravelBrands Encore Cruises maintains a 15+ year partnership with Celebrity Cruises. Received the 2021 True Partnership Superstars Award reflecting meaningful collaboration. Provides flexible cruise packages with air/sea protection, pre/post land stays, excursions, and transfers for Canadian travelers.
- Carnival CelebrationminorHost of the 9th SeaU cruise event November 3-10, 2024, sailing from Miami. 240 Canadian travel agents attended for training, activities, and Caribbean experiences.
- Swiss Travel SystemminorTravelBrands recognized as Top Seller for Swiss Travel System at Swiss Travel System Excellence Rewards Tour 2024.
- Norwegian Cruise LinecoreLongstanding partnership with Norwegian Cruise Line. Received Marketing Partner of the Year award in 2019 and Wholesaler/Tour Operator Partner of the Year in 2016.
- MSC CruisescoreLongstanding partnership with MSC Cruises. Received Tour Operator Partner of the Year award in 2018.
- Seatrade Cruise GlobalminorTravelBrands participates in annual Seatrade Cruise Global convention in Miami, where key players in cruise industry gather to showcase trends, innovations, and future prospects.
- Food Banks CanadaminorOngoing charitable partnership for fourth consecutive year with $10,000 donation in 2023. TravelBrands participates in food and fundraising drive expanding partnership. Employees learn and have positive impact on community.
- SickKids FoundationcoreTravelBrands is proud SickKids Foundation donor with over $2 million raised collectively for Labatt Family Heart Centre at The Hospital for Sick Children. Raises funds through annual Charity Golf Classic, employee 5km walk, and SickKids Day (1% of all sales donated).
- IntaircoreIntair is TravelBrands' air consolidation brand, recognized as Favourite Air Consolidator at multiple awards (Baxter Media Agents Choice Awards, TravelPulse Canada Readers' Choice Awards). Diane Lattavo oversees air activities with 75+ airline partners.
Scale indicators8 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights6 records
TravelBrands competitors and assessment
Company assessmentEmerging players
- G Adventures: Canadian-headquartered small-group adventure tour operator selling through travel agents globally. Comparable to Exotik Journeys as a specialty tour operator with similar agent-distribution model and adventure travel product focus.
- Intrepid Travel: Global small-group adventure tour operator recently partnered with TravelBrands' Exotik Journeys. Comparable as a tour operator supplying specialty adventure travel products through the same B2B agent distribution model.
Direct peers
- Nexion Travel Group: Host travel agency network (part of Internova Travel Group) providing Canadian and US travel agents with booking platforms, supplier access, commission structures, and loyalty programs. Directly comparable to TravelBrands' Access+ agent platform and Loyalty Rewards model.
- Ensemble Travel Group: Member-owned cooperative of independent travel agencies in North America providing consolidated booking platforms, supplier contracts, and commission structures. Highly comparable to TravelBrands' B2B2C Access+ model serving travel agents with consolidated inventory and commissions.
- Transat A.T. Inc. Major Canadian leisure travel company (operator of Air Transat) offering tours, packages, flights, and hotel stays to Canadian consumers. Comparable as a vertically integrated Canadian tour operator and travel wholesaler competing in the same Canadian outbound leisure market.
- Flight Centre Travel Group: Australian-headquartered global travel company with significant Canadian operations (Flight Centre Canada). Directly comparable to TravelBrands as a multi-brand retail travel agency and corporate travel management provider in Canada, serving similar leisure and SMB customer segments.
- Sunwing Travel Group: Canadian leisure travel company specializing in vacation packages, flights, and resort stays to sun destinations. Directly comparable to TravelBrands' retail brands (Sunquest, redtag.ca) as a Canadian vacation package wholesaler serving similar consumer demographics.
Regional players
- Direct Travel: US-headquartered corporate travel management and leisure travel company. Comparable to TravelBrands as a multi-channel B2B/B2C travel distributor, though primarily US-focused and serving corporate clients more heavily than TravelBrands' leisure-focused Canadian mix.
Broad incumbents
- Air Canada Vacations: Airline-owned tour operator division of Air Canada offering vacation packages, flights, and hotels. Comparable to TravelBrands' Encore Cruises and tour operator businesses as a Canadian tour operator, though vertically integrated with a major carrier advantage.
- Expedia Group: Global online travel agency conglomerate (Expedia, Hotels.com, Vrbo). Comparable to TravelBrands' consumer-direct retail brands as a competing channel for Canadian consumer travel bookings, though significantly larger and OTA-led versus TravelBrands' agent-led model.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
TravelBrands social profiles
Digital presenceTravelBrands compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance2 records
TravelBrands financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
TravelBrands leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles7 records
TravelBrands subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries5 records
TravelBrands funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
TravelBrands M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about TravelBrands
What does TravelBrands do?
TravelBrands is a Canadian travel company that operates as a B2B2C distributor of travel products. It serves Canadian travel agents via the Access+ all-in-one booking platform (covering flights, hotels, cruises, packages, car rentals, transfers, tours, attractions, and specialty travel) while also selling directly to Canadian consumers through a portfolio of retail e-commerce brands such as redtag.ca, itravel2000.com, Flights.ca, Cruises.ca, and Merit Travel. The company combines wholesale operations (Intair for air consolidation, Encore Cruises for cruises, Exotik Journeys for tours) with retail storefronts, supported by a Loyalty Rewards Program for travel agents.
Is TravelBrands a public or private company?
TravelBrands is a private company. It is classified as corporate owned and is currently operating.
When was TravelBrands founded?
TravelBrands was founded in 2013. It employs 101 to 250 people.
Where is TravelBrands based?
TravelBrands is headquartered in Mississauga, Canada, in the North America region.
How does TravelBrands make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Travel Agent Commissions are the primary driver. The others are retail Travel Products, wholesale/Tour Operator Revenue and cruise Packages.
Who are TravelBrands's main competitors?
Emerging players on record are G Adventures and Intrepid Travel. Direct peers are Nexion Travel Group, Ensemble Travel Group, Transat A.T. Inc., Flight Centre Travel Group and Sunwing Travel Group. Direct Travel is listed as a regional player. Broad incumbents are Air Canada Vacations and Expedia Group.
Does TravelBrands have an API?
No public API is recorded for TravelBrands.
What industry is TravelBrands in?
TravelBrands's product category is Travel Agency Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is THAKAJAG, Wholesale Distribution Platforms & Switches (B2B Booking Engines/Marketplaces), with a secondary code of THAKAJAJ, White-Label Travel Supply Providers (B2B2C Inventory & Packaging). Its NAICS code is 561510.