Canada’s travel retail landscape is changing dramatically – so much so that ACTA is preparing a significant report due in October detailing a foundational shift in the industry that includes higher wages for employed agents, but new ones being hired as sole proprietors (aka independent agents).

ACTA President, Wendy Paradis told the close to 500 travel agent attendees at the association’s Eastern Canada Summit last week in Toronto that the post-pandemic evolution of the retail industry is “a surprise, but not a surprise,” adding that the evolution towards independent agents is “the biggest growth in our industry,” and that “there has been a significant shift since 2019.”

Paradis explained that “travel agencies that are opening, there is a shift that instead of hiring employees, they actually are working with sole proprietors – so, travel advisors who are working on 100% commission. (It’s) a very different landscape from 2019 to 2024.”

As for travel agencies that have employees, Paradis says, “We’re seeing continued mergers and acquisitions. We saw that prior to 2019, but that has really sped up since the pandemic.

“And the good news,” she continued, “is that travel advisor employees have had a significant increase in wage compared to 2019.”

Paradis says ACTA in concluding its research on the twin trends and releasing a “high level” report in October.