TravelBrands

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).

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

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

• Wholesale travel services
• Retail travel agency
• Travel booking platform
• Airline consolidation services
• Cruise wholesaling

Headquarters

HQ city

Mississauga

HQ country

Canada

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Operations, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. 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.
2. 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.
3. 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.
4. 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

Core 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

Named customers3 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration2 records

Feature4 records

Partnerships

14 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Intrepid TravelcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 28 April 2026TravelBrands 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.
• CeetizcoreTechnology or Integration · 11 December 2024Ceetiz, 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 CruisescoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 17 September 2024TravelBrands' 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 MeasurecoreTechnology or Integration · 4 June 2024TravelBrands 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 VoyagesminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 June 2023TravelBrands' Encore Cruises introduced Virgin Voyages as a new cruise line partner. Travel agents can earn $100 bonus commission on any sailing.
• Celebrity CruisescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerTravelBrands 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 CelebrationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHost 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 SystemminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerTravelBrands recognized as Top Seller for Swiss Travel System at Swiss Travel System Excellence Rewards Tour 2024.
• Norwegian Cruise LinecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLongstanding 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 CruisescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLongstanding partnership with MSC Cruises. Received Tour Operator Partner of the Year award in 2018.
• Seatrade Cruise GlobalminorOthersTravelBrands 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 CanadaminorOthersOngoing 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 FoundationcoreOthersTravelBrands 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).
• IntaircoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerIntair 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

Emerging 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

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UC1OkUuMMZHq3wETQWnUXc4w
• Facebookfacebook.com/groups/775161472534336
• Instagraminstagram.com/exotikjourneys
• Xx.com/travelbrandsi

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 records

Subsidiaries5 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about TravelBrands