05 APR 2019: We’ve been down this road with ACTA before. But inappropriate partnerships and alliances seem irresistible to the Association of Canadian Travel Agencies whose name alone should be the hint that they presumably work on behalf of all agencies – and that includes consortia. With that as a given they cannot offer one entity preferential treatment over others. No ACTA! Not a good move!

But, here we go again.

The statement reads:

“Global luxury travel network Virtuoso has become the exclusive consortium partner of the Association of Canadian Travel Agencies.”

How can they do that? Isn’t ACTA, as a member-based association representing the Canadian retail travel sector, supposed to have a level playing field?

Well, the field just tilted sharply –

• As part of the agreement, Virtuoso’s 185 Canadian travel agency locations will receive an annual 30 percent rebate on their ACTA membership up to (CDN) $750.
• Virtuoso agency members may instead use these savings to register their advisors to attend ACTA Premium Networking Events.
• ACTA will also provide Virtuoso members with a 30 percent discount on the price of Certified Travel Counselor and Certified Travel Manager registration fees.”

That’s favoured status for one group within the sector and I’m pretty sure I’m not the only one that finds it unacceptable.

“We are looking forward to working closely with Virtuoso since we are aligned on a common goal: advancement of the retail travel sector and Canadian travel industry at large,” said ACTA president Wendy Paradis.

“Virtuoso’s powerful voice will be a welcome addition to our work in enhancing the professionalism of travel advisors and advocating for them as well as Canadian travellers.”

No, that’s not how it works.

ACTA’s goal is – or should be – as Paradis says – that of an advocate for the advancement and enhancement of professionalism within the retail sector and the Canadian travel industry at large.

Virtuoso may be in accord with those goals – surely it is – but it is first and foremost a corporate entity with far more immediate goals for its own growth and profit – not that of the industry at large. And that -for Virtuoso – is completely acceptable.

But why on earth should it be given special benefits/rebates/discounts when other consortia, travel agencies – both large and small – struggle along and have to pay the full shot? The retail industry today has more than sufficient competition from international OTAs, airlines, hotels, cruise lines and other suppliers enticing travellers to bypass the agent and book directly – does the Canadian retail sector really need to see ACTA in an ‘exclusive consortium partnership’ with what is in reality a wealthy and successful competitor?

ACTA should be committed to helping the entire sector. Choosing “exclusive partners” and providing them with perks is playing favourites.

And that is just wrong.