ACTA has appointed its 2023 Independent Travel Agent Advisory Group. It's part of the advocacy organization's mandate to represent advisors as well as agencies across all regions and affiliations.
According to ACTA, its Travel Agent Advisory Group is comprised of independent travel agents from across Canada, from different host agencies and with strong regional representation. Its responsibilities include advising ACTA on advocacy issues specific to independent travel agents.
“We are thankful to all those who applied and we look forward to working with this excellent and representative group of independent travel agents this year,” said Wendy Paradis, ACTA President.
The organization says it received an overwhelming expression of interest from its call to apply. It's still welcoming expressions of interest from independent travel agents in Manitoba. Please contact Avery Campbell, Director of Advocacy and Industry Relations acampbell@acta.ca
The 2023 ACTA Independent Travel Agent Advisory Group held its first meeting of the year this week. Its members are:
- Alicia Haldane, CTC, Nexion Canada (Ontario)
- Amanda Beaver, TravelOnly (Ontario)
- Camille Hillis, Independent by Flight Centre (British Columbia)
- Coleen Rogg, The Travel Agent Next Door (Saskatchewan)
- Debbie Ford, CTC, Trevello (Nova Scotia)
- Johanne Berthiaume, Passion Voyage (Quebec)
- Linda Skehor, Travel Best Bets (British Columbia)
- Onanta Forbes, Travel Time (Alberta)
- Pierrette Pilon, Expedia Cruises (Quebec)
- Sheila Gallant-Halloran, Vision Travel (Ontario)
- Judith Coates, The Travel Agent Next Door (Ontario)
Coates was a founding member of the grassroots organization ACITA, The Association of Canadian Independent Travel Advisors, which was launched in 2020. Coates resigned from ACITA in JUL, 2022 to focus on her travel business.
Open Jaw asked ACITA about the relationship between the two organizations. Co-founder Brenda Slater told Open Jaw that ACITA has a "collaborative relationship" with ACTA "as our goals align."
"ACITA has not been part of ACTA’s ITA committees. However, we meet regularly and in fact did so the same day we met with Minister of Transport," Slater said. "ACITA is consistent in our advocacy and meetings with ACTA as well as our wonderful supporters within the government.”
In addition to the Independent Travel Agent Advisory Group, ACTA also engages the National Board of Directors, Regional Advisory Councils, the Travel Agency Leaders Advisory Group, the CCTA, CTC/CTM professionals, and other member groups as part of broad industry consultation on advocacy issues.
“These groups enable ACTA to develop advocacy priorities that engage the interests of all segments of membership to ensure government and supplier advocacy is comprehensive,” said Paradis.
