Travel Leaders Network kicks off EDGE conference in Nashville

Travel Leaders Network’s annual EDGE conference has officially begun, with President Roger Block welcoming an audience of more than 1,700 travel pros. 

 EDGE will run from May 8-10 and is hosted at the Gaylord Opryland Resort & Convention Center in Nashville. 

“EDGE is at its heart a celebration of our travel advisor members,” said John Lovell, president of Travel Leaders Group, in a press release. “They will leave the conference with new knowledge they can use to build their agencies, and valuable new connections with our supplier partners. But my hope is that they also leave with the knowledge that their work is important, and that nothing can replace the knowledge and service they bring to their travellers.”

Comprised of 1,700 TLN members, staff and supplier partners, EDGE offers over 200 workshops, six General Sessions, an Experience Lounge so attendees can learn about Travel Leaders Network offerings, informative speakers and a gala awards dinner to close the conference out. At the gala, member awards will be announced, and those who have achieved Specialist Certifications will be honoured.

On Sunday, May 7, there were two pre-EDGE events for two of the Leaders Alliances. 

The Luxury Leaders Alliance hosted the Luxury Forum, and the Independent Advisor Leaders Alliance will had the Host Agency Forum. 

Both groups had a day of intense learning and networking in their respective areas, with talks by leading supplier partners. TLN’s members represent some of the largest host agencies in the industry, and the Network is one of the top sellers of luxury travel in the world.

EDGE’s keynote speaker will be Freddie Ravel, Grammy-nominated artist and speaker who has worked with artists like Madonna, Prince and Earth, Wind & Fire. He will show EDGE attendees how they can tap into the power of music for greater success.

EDGE attendees and the general public will have the chance to support the Family Bonds Foundation. 

In honour of the EDGE gathering, Family Bonds will hold a silent auction and raffle with prizes like luxury cruises and vacation packages, hotel stays, premium airline tickets, electronic devices, and more. 

The fundraiser will run close at the end of EDGE, at 11:59 p.m. on Wednesday, May 10. Bids may be placed, and raffle tickets purchased by texting “BondsEDGE” to 243725.

“I am looking forward to an amazing conference,” said Block. “EDGE is a highlight of the year for many, including me. As the pandemic recedes into the horizon, we are beginning to see the rise of AI and explore how travel advisors can navigate that and harness its power for the good of our industry. The bonds forged and new friendships made every year at EDGE are significant, and as we come together to make those connections, it is a powerful testimony about the power of the human touch a travel advisor provides. It’s the best three days of the year, and since every EDGE conference is better than the last, I can’t wait to see the memories from EDGE 2023 in Nashville.”

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