This week: Air Canada Vacations and Sandals hosted travel execs in Jamaica; profit sharing continued at Ensemble; Tully Travel was honoured by Forbes; three Canadian travel advisors got a taste of Utah on a special FAM; Fora Travel touted new tech; and First in Service has expanded into Mexico.
Air Canada Vacations
Air Canada Vacations, in partnership with Sandals Resorts, recently hosted its annual Executive Retreat at the luxurious Sandals Montego Bay in Jamaica. The four-day event brought together key national account partners, Air Canada Vacations’ executives, and VIP guests for a unique blend of strategic collaboration, relaxation, and philanthropic engagement.
This year’s attendees included (banner photo): Richard Vanderlubbe – TripCentral; Zeina Gedeon – Trevello Travel Group; Steve Elliott-Pepin – Voyage à Rabais; Richard Villeneuve – Voyage En Direct; Sylvain Lastere – Groupe Atrium; Jane Clementino – TravelSavers; Greg Luciani – TravelOnly.
“This retreat was a powerful reminder of what we can achieve through strong, long-term partnerships,” said ACV VP Nino Montagnese. “Our collaboration with Sandals is built on shared values such as excellence, innovation, and community. Bringing together our top partners in such a meaningful setting allows us to deepen relationships, align on future opportunities, and collectively support the communities that welcome our travellers.”
Erminia Gallina, Director of Sales, and Elish Tait, Manager of National Accounts, led a strategic presentation highlighting Air Canada Vacations’ latest initiatives and reinforcing its commitment to partner growth.
One of the most impactful moments of the retreat was the ‘Healthy Eating Breakfast & Reading Road Trip,’ organized by the Sandals Foundation. Attendees visited a local school to share breakfast, read with students, and even helped paint a mural, a meaningful, hands-on contribution that added colour, creativity, and connection to the day. Air Canada Vacations also donated school supplies to support the students and further contribute to the local community.
Ensemble
Ensemble reports it has achieved its third consecutive year of profit sharing.
“When Ensemble was acquired, we knew that a fair and transparent profit-sharing model would be essential to building trust with our members and was a distinguishing factor for us,” said Michael Johnson, President of Ensemble. “That’s why we’ve taken deliberate steps to ensure every member understands where they can earn, what programs drive profitability, and how to take advantage of them. “This year’s payouts also reflect the direct impact of our focus on improving margins and additional revenue opportunities for members.”
This year’s profit-sharing announcement comes ahead of Ensemble’s second annual Beyond Extraordinary Experiences event under the theme of Redefining Excellence. From July 21–24, 2025, top-performing advisors will travel to Tuscany for a curated program that includes attending Andrea Bocelli’s 20th anniversary concert at the Teatro del Silenzio in his hometown of Lajatico. The itinerary also features a private pre-concert dinner hosted by the Andrea Bocelli Foundation with members of the Bocelli family, as well as a series of cultural and dining experiences in and around Florence.
Tully Luxury Travel
Toronto-based Tully Luxury has been named among the first Forbes Travel Guide endorsed travel companies worldwide. Forbes Travel Guide is the only independent global rating system for luxury hotels, restaurants, spas, and cruises. Its anonymous professional inspectors evaluate properties and services based on up to 900 rigorous standards, with an emphasis on personalized, high–touch service. Forbes’ endorsement of select travel companies reflects a new benchmark of trust and excellence in luxury travel planning.
“Tully Luxury Travel is honoured to be among the first companies worldwide to receive this coveted Forbes endorsement,” said Mary Jean Tully, Founder & CEO. “It reflects our dedication to delivering transformative experiences for our clients around the world and our belief that true luxury is defined by the individual.”
Utah
Three Canadian travel advisors (photo above) recently visited Utah as winners of the “Sell Your Way to the USA,” hosted by the Utah Office of Tourism and its partners. The FAM participants included Maria Karagioules, Voyage International, Montreal, Alida Lio, The Travel Agent Next Door, Toronto; and Sue Kos, Bee Travel, Edmonton.
“Like many U.S. states, Canada is the top international market for Utah,” says Tera Atwood, Global Markets Manager, Utah Office of Tourism. “We were one of the only states that stayed invested in Canada during the pandemic, and we are absolutely staying committed to the market now with our participation in Sell Your Way to the USA as just one example.”
The FAM explored three of northern Utah’s premier destinations: Salt Lake City, Logan and the Heber Valley, showcasing all they have to offer in the off-season.
Fora Travel
Fora has launched a powerful new tool that enables its travel advisors to save travellers their clients money even after they’ve already booked their trip. Combining cutting-edge tech with human travel expertise to redefine what it means to book smarter.
Here’s how it works: Fora’s new price drop feature automatically monitors every refundable GDS booking made through an advisor. If the rate for the same room drops by at least 5% and $50, advisors are notified and can either rebook the same room at the lower rate or upgrade their client to a better room for the same price.
Fora also recently rolled out a suite of upgrades to its Advisor Portal, including AI-powered hotel search, advisor-to-advisor delegation, smart itinerary building, and client review tools – all designed to streamline planning, booking, and client management in one seamless platform.
First in Service Travel
F1S has announced the formal launch of its operations in Mexico, appointing respected travel industry leader Nancy Mendoza as General Manager for Latin America (LATAM). Based in Mexico City, Mendoza will oversee the First in Service travel advisor relations across LATAM, as well as the strategic direction of the company throughout the region.
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