Ian Elliott departs TravelOnly for partner relations role at Ensemble

A much-loved member of the TravelOnly family is embarking on a new journey in his career.

Ian Elliott, who has been TravelOnly’s vice-president of sales and marketing since 2015, has accepted a role at Ensemble as the consortium grows its team with several appointments to key positions.

Effective Nov. 28, Elliott will join Ensemble as senior director of partner relations, Canada, PAX has learned.

In this newly-created role, Elliott will work with all of Ensemble's partners across land, cruise, tour and air in Canada. 

He will be based in Toronto and will report directly to Kristina Boyce, senior vice-president of operations.

TravelOnly’s Leia Marvin will take on the host agency’s sales and marketing responsibilities following Elliott’s departure.

The news was shared at TravelOnly’s 2022 Symposium at Sea, which is currently taking place on board the MSC Seashore in the Caribbean with stops in the Bahamas, Puerto Rico, St. Thomas and the Dominican Republic.

A “very difficult decision”

Leaving the TravelOnly family was a “very difficult decision,” Elliott told us at the conference, which PAX is covering exclusively.

“However, moving to Ensemble gives me an opportunity to connect with even more advisors across the entire Ensemble network while also maintaining the strong partner relationships I’ve developed over the past seven years,” Elliott said.

The travel pro said he has always been passionate about finding “the sweet spot” when contracting with partners to ensure a “win-win-win for the agency, agent and partner.”

“Now, I can build on those relationships and help members, like TravelOnly, sell more preferred partners, earn greater commissions and improve profitability,” Elliott said.

In a statement to PAX, Kristina Boyce, senior vice-president of operations at Ensemble, said the team is “thrilled” to welcome Ian aboard as the organization – which recently announced new branding, sales tools and strategies at its conference in Miami, Florida – continues to grow.

“Having been with one of our top member agencies for so long, Ian already knows many of our partners and will be able to step into this new role seamlessly,” Boyce said. “We are also truly grateful to TravelOnly’s owners, Ann and Greg Luciani, who have been so supportive of Ian taking on this new role.”

“He’s left a great legacy”

TravelOnly’s President and CEO Gregory Luciani told PAX that his host agency is in the midst of hiring more staff in the areas of technology, training, sales and marketing.

But he said it’s “always harder” to say goodbye to good employees, especially when it’s a family-run business.

“We always want what’s best for our people,” Luciani told PAX, commenting on Elliott’s move. “It’s sad to see someone of that level of talent go, but we’re happy it’s with Ensemble because that’s our consortium. In the end, he’s not too far away.”

“Ian’s a true professional and he’s left a great legacy.”

Gregory’s mother Ann, TravelOnly’s owner and CFO, echoed that sentiment.

“Ian is such a great guy. He went beyond his title. He did everything,” she said. “We wish him the best and we’ll for sure miss him.”

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