ACTA’s inaugural International Conference kicked off in Portugal’s Azores Wednesday with 150 travel advisors from across the country, plus several partners and media, including Travel Industry Today, for a program of learning and on-the-ground experience in the island archipelago.

Maria Gonveia, Canadian market manager for the Azores, an island chain in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean between Portugal and North America, said, “It is with great pleasure that we welcome the ACTA conference to our islands. Having representatives from the Canadian travel industry here is a testament to the growing bonds between Canada and the Azores.”

Ranking fifth among foreign markets – and with a large diaspora – Canada has “special significance” for the Azores, she added.

Canadian agents are taking part in two morning conference sessions, anchoring a week of FAM activities that includes whale watching, on two of the chain’s nine islands, Sao Miguel and Terceira.

Stay tuned for for more coverage from the conference in upcoming issues of Travel Industry Today.