Ensemble Sets Record for New Members

Ensemble Travel Group reports that 67 new member agencies have joined the organization since January 2011, reflecting the largest nine-month gain in member acquisition for Ensemble in the last decade. Broken down by country, Ensemble Travel Group welcomed 42 new agencies in Canada and 25 in the United States.

“Our ‘high-touch, high-profit’ approach to member acquisition is far exceeding our expectations,” said Ensemble Travel Group’s Joe Jiffo, vice president, Business Development. “In addition to a new staffing structure, recently launched North American initiatives such as our new air booking tool, along with our flagship Ensemble Exclusive programs and other lead-generation tools, position us as a good fit for these agencies’ short- and long-term goals.”

The new acquisitions reflect many diverse business models, from the traditional brick-and-mortar and home-based to the host and host/franchise operations, Ensemble said.

“I’ve always been impressed with Ensemble’s reputation and how highly respected they are by their travel partners,” said Susan Mirabito, vice president, Travel Operations, Travel Network/Vacation Central in Englewood Cliffs, NJ. “But when I personally reached out to them, they really superseded my expectations. Their marketing tools and a dedicated and caring executive and support staff were exactly what we were looking for.”

“Every decision we make on a corporate level has our IC’s (Independent Contractors) in mind,” said Ken Gagliano, president and co-founder, Travel Planners International in Maitland, FL. “So for us, it’s critical we align ourselves with an organization that shares in our vision and understands the needs of our affiliated agents. We feel like we’ve found that with Ensemble Travel Group.”

Rod Fernandez, co-president, Affordable Tours in Stafford, TX said: “We have been very impressed with the Ensemble organizational structure and the quality and professionalism of their people. Some key factors in our decision to join Ensemble were the strong supplier relationships that will definitely be a big plus for us, and the fantastic cruise groups and hosted cruises program.”

New Ensemble Travel Group member agencies in the US: AffordableTours.com, Air Sea Travel, Atlas Travel International, Beyond Group Travel, Inc., Carson Travel, Choice Destinations, Cruise Masters, Cruises and Tours Worldwide, D. Tours Travel, Inc., Dolphin Vacations, Flite II Travel, Inc., Great Southern Travel, Indigo Journeys LLC, Jazzdagen Tours, Professional Travel Inc., Skyscraper Tours, Inc., The Vacation Center, Travel Advisors Sunnyvale Inc., Travel Network/VacationCentral, Travel Planners International, Travel Ways, Viva Voyage, LLC, World One Travel.

New Ensemble Travel Group member agencies in Canada: Able Travel, Access Advantage Travel Ltd., Aldershot Travel, All About Travel Ltd., Always Travel, Apollo Travel, Aquarius Travel, Collacutt Travel, CTC Travel Group, Discovery Travel, Freedom Tours & Travel, G.W. Clark & Co. Inc., Garner Travel International Inc., Holiday Market Travel, Jackie's Travel, Mardi Gras Voyages, McCarten Travel, Michael Holland Travel Ltd., New Sky Travel, North South Travel, Now Destinations, Omega Travel Service LTD, Redback Travel, Stellar Travel, The First Travel Inc., Tripzter Travel, UNIGLOBE Collins Travel, Vacations Plus, VIP Travel Group Ltd., Visions Travel, Voyage DK Travel, Voyage Excellent Travel, Voyages Ahuntsic Inc., Voyages Caleche Inc., Voyages Cortravco Inc., Voyages Le Village Hudson, Voyages Lennoxville, Voyages Taormina, Voyages Terra Nostra / Terra Nostra Travel, Voyages VP&A.

Founded in 1968, Ensemble Travel Group is a member-owned international organization of approximately 850 professional travel agencies in the U.S. and Canada.

Visit www.joinensemble.com