Mike Foster, a tireless advocate for travel advisors in this country who built one of Southern Ontario’s largest agencies, says he is retiring, including stepping down at the end of the year from his position as President of Nexion Travel Group-Canada.

During his 45-year tenure in the travel industry, he has also been a long-standing board member of both the Association of Canadian Travel Agencies and Travel Advisors (ACTA) and the Travel Industry Council of Ontario (TICO).

In a letter sent to Nexion colleagues, London, Ont.-based Foster wrote: “As all of us in the industry know, no matter how nice the hotel, there comes a time to check out.”

He continued, “This is perhaps the best time for me to step down from this role. I do so with nothing but pride in the work that I have been a part of, and confidence in a company that I know is on the path to a very bright future. My colleagues are truly the best in the industry.”

Hired in 1981 to open a travel agency, he eventually became its owner. The agency was then acquired by Nexion Travel Group and re-named Nexion Travel Group-Canada. Foster led the team that built one of the region’s largest agencies serving leisure, corporate, group and incentive travel, as well as independent contractor agencies. Nexion Travel Group-Canada began serving independent contractor agents in Canada in 2013.

“Working with Mike has been a privilege,” said Jackie Friedman, President of Nexion Travel Group. “Over his long career, he has helped hundreds of people start their own travel businesses, making our company and our industry stronger and more diverse. He has played a tremendous role in the continued growth and success of Nexion Travel Group-Canada. We are all indebted to him for his outstanding leadership.”

Nexion Travel Group is a fully accredited host agency, offering membership to independent travel professionals since 1995, and part of Internova Travel Group,