Diana Valler, CHRO of TravelBrands (part of the HIS Group), was awarded HR Leader of the Year at the Canadian HR Awards. The awards, hosted by Human Resources Director Canada (HRD Canada), recognize executive HR professionals who have demonstrated outstanding leadership.

＜Award Category＞
Canadian HR Awards -  Canadian HR Leader of the Year

＜Key Initiatives Leading to the Award＞

The strategic focus on fostering a performance-driven, people-centric culture in the HR strategy led to measurable improvements in employee engagement, leadership capabilities, and organizational resilience.

 1. Succession Planning & Mentorship Programs for Future Leaders
TravelBrands introduced Succession Planning and Mentorship Programs for Future Leaders as a systematic succession planning framework focused on high-potential talent. This initiative included assessing the readiness of individuals in roles critical to leadership, along with targeted development plans. The formal mentorship program paired emerging leaders with experienced executives, emphasizing inclusion and fostering a diverse talent pipeline. These efforts strengthened both their strategy and culture, positioning the organization for sustained success in a rapidly evolving business environment.

 2. Implementation of 360-Degree Feedback
The successful implementation of a company-wide 360-degree feedback system fostered open communication, continuous learning, and self-awareness. Employees and leaders gained valuable performance insights from their peers, direct reports, and supervisors, enabling them to create more balanced and actionable development plans.
 

3. Regular 1-on-1 Coaching for Employee Development
Recognizing the importance of individualized support in a hybrid environment, regular 1-on-1 coaching between managers and direct reports focused on active listening, feedback, and growth. To support this model, leaders were trained on the most effective coaching methods for these one-on-one meetings.

4. Great Place to Work® Certification for the Second Consecutive Year
Achieving the Great Place to Work® Certification for the second consecutive year reflects sustained cultural excellence. An outstanding 86% of employees responded favorably to the question, "Is this a great place to work?" This result was driven by strategic HR initiatives, including enhanced feedback mechanisms, inclusive engagement programs, and a renewed focus on recognition and rewards.
 
5. Support for SickKids
We brought renewed momentum to our long-standing partnership with the SickKids Foundation. Through company-wide engagement, cross-departmental collaboration, and a company matching program, we raised $602,000 this September.