This week: ACTA is concerned over cuts, Ensemble ups tech ante, Utah Office of Tourism hosts Canadian travel advisors, Flight Centre Canada gets a gift partner, and Collette collects food donations.
ACTA
It was a busy week for ACTA, not least in objecting to Air Canada’s decision to cut some agent commissions.
Association president Suzanne Acton-Gervais stated: “ACTA believes Air Canada’s decision to significantly reduce travel agency and travel advisor compensation will have serious consequences for many travel businesses across Canada. The reaction from members has been swift, with many agencies describing the changes as an unexpected and significant blow to their businesses…
“The timing and implementation of this decision have also raised concerns. Announced with a short transition period, the changes came as a surprise to many agencies that had already made business, staffing and investment decisions based on existing arrangements.
“We recognize the longstanding relationship between Air Canada and the travel agency community and remain hopeful that the airline will carefully consider the concerns being raised across the industry. Given what appears to be a more positive geopolitical outlook in the Middle East and the significant correction in oil prices since these measures were announced, we hope Air Canada will reconsider its decision and continue discussions with the travel agency community.”
ACTA/Transat
Meanwhile, the ACTA Board of Directors and President gathered in Montreal for a strategic planning session focused on shaping the association’s future direction for 2027-29 and advancing ACTA’s leadership on behalf of Canada’s travel agencies and travel advisors. The meeting was hosted at Transat headquarters (banner photo).
Guided by ACTA’s four pillars – Advocate, Educate, Promote and Connect – board members engaged in discussions on the evolving needs of travel agencies and travel advisors, opportunities within the travel industry, and ACTA’s ongoing role as the national voice of the travel advisor community.
“Hosting the board at (Transat) headquarters offered far more than a meeting venue, it provided an opportunity to experience the organization firsthand and gain a deeper understanding of its culture, operations, and commitment to excellence,” said ACTA president Suzanne Acton-Gervais. “Board members were impressed by the engagement, professionalism, and pride evident throughout the company.”
Ensemble
Ensemble has announced the continued expansion of its technology ecosystem with the addition of three new strategic partnerships: Tern, Travefy and Travel Industry Solutions (TIS). The new partners build upon Ensemble’s growing portfolio of advisor-focused technology solutions, creating a comprehensive suite of smarter tools designed to support every aspect of a travel business from booking and itinerary management to marketing and lead generation to legal compliance and financial operations.
“Technology should empower advisors to spend less time managing their business and more time growing it,” said Kristina Boyce, SVP of Member Services at Ensemble. “Our technology ecosystem is purpose-built for the modern travel advisor and represents one of the most comprehensive collections of solutions available anywhere in the industry. We continue to invest in best-in-class partners and platforms that help our members operate more efficiently, serve clients at a higher level, and ultimately build stronger, more profitable businesses.”
Utah Office of Tourism
Three Canadian travel advisors, winners in the “Sell Your Way to the USA” incentive campaign, were recently hosted by Utah Office of Tourism and its partners. FAM Participants included Kristina Ziegler, Stonetown Travel, Baden, Ont.; Brett Tabor, Revolution Travel, Charlottetown, PEI; and Vanessa Barone, Sportscorp Travel, Bolton, Ont.
“Canada continues to be one of Utah’s most important international markets,” says Tera Atwood, Global Markets Manager, Utah Office of Tourism. “Programs like Sell Your Way to the USA allow us to thank top travel advisors for their support while showcasing the incredible range of experiences available throughout Utah.”
Known for its Mighty 5 national parks, Utah showcases a diverse range of outdoor adventures, wellness experiences and scenic landscapes. This year’s FAM focused on Northern Utah, highlighting Heber Valley, Vernal and Salt Lake City.
Flight Centre Canada
Global gift card, rewards, and incentives platform Tillo has announced a new partnership with Flight Centre Canada, giving businesses a new way to offer one of the country’s most recognized travel brands and helping them deliver rewards that resonate with customers and employees alike.
Through the partnership, businesses can now offer Flight Centre Canada gift cards as part of flexible, experience-based reward programs – spanning employee recognition, consumer incentives, cashback platforms, loyalty schemes, and gift card malls.
Available through Tillo’s API integration, which connects partners to thousands of brands globally, the addition of Flight Centre Canada makes it straightforward for businesses of any size to incorporate high-value travel rewards. Tillo will also serve as Flight Centre Canada’s preferred resale partner for the term of the agreement.
Collette
Collette marked Travel Advisor Appreciation Month recently with a series of six in-person events across North America, including Toronto/Burlington and Halifax, bringing together travel advisors for celebrations that combined connection, recognition, and community impact.
This year’s events were guided by a central belief: travel should be a force for good, with impact extending beyond the journey and into the communities that advisors call home. To bring this to life, each event incorporated a local food drive in partnership with regional food banks.
Advisors were invited to participate by bringing canned goods and contributing through on-site QR codes. The Collette Foundation matched monetary donations up to $25 per contribution and donated $1 for every food item collected.
Across all six events, the advisor community made a meaningful collective impact: 514 food items donated and $1,449 raised for local food banks (incl. Feed Nova Scotia, Halifax, and Burlington Food Bank.
“Travel Advisor Appreciation Month is about creating meaningful moments of connection that help advisors learn more about our experiences and sell with confidence,” said Jaclyn Leibl-Cote, President & CEO of Collette. “Bringing that together with a shared commitment to giving back reflects the kind of partnership we value most.”
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