Avalon Waterways & ACTA Kick Off 2025 European River Cruise Summit With 120 Canadian Advisors

The 2025 Avalon Waterways & ACTA European River Cruise Summit is officially underway, bringing 120 travel advisors from across Canada aboard Avalon Panorama for a week of hands-on learning along the Rhine.

Now in its third year, the summit launched from Basel on a roundtrip Basel-to-Basel sailing, giving ACTA member advisors a close-up look at Avalon’s Suite Ships and its Active & Discovery-style excursions. 

“ACTA’s priority is to ensure that our members have access to meaningful professional development and real-world learning opportunities that strengthen their expertise and highlight the vital role of the travel advisor,” said Suzanne Acton-Gervais, president, ACTA. 

“This year’s River Cruise Summit offered an immersive educational experience, giving travel advisors dedicated time to deepen their knowledge, connect with peers and partners, and gain firsthand insight that directly supports their business growth. We are grateful to Avalon Waterways, Switzerland Tourism and to our onboard partners, Air Canada and Manulife, for their presence and support throughout this week’s program. ACTA remains committed to initiatives that champion travel advisor professionalism, enrich industry connections, and advance the interests of the retail travel sector.”

The week has also emphasized advisor development—a theme echoed by the Globus family of brands.

“We are so proud to welcome travel advisors on board the Avalon Suite Ship® Panorama for this special event, designed to deepen our partnership and empower their continued success,” said Denise Harper, managing director, Sales Canada, Globus family of brands. 

“As a company, we’re deeply committed to investing in our travel advisors’ growth through hands-on experiences, dedicated training, and innovative tools to help them thrive. This event underscores our belief that when our advisors succeed, we all succeed—and we’re excited to support their journey every step of the way.”

ACTA noted that 20% of advisors onboard hold a CTC or CTM designation, and the association is currently running a promotion offering 30% off either credential until Dec. 5, 2025, using code 2025ACTA30.

Following a sold-out year of destination-based learning experiences in 2025, ACTA says planning for its 2026 programs is already underway. Members are encouraged to renew their membership and watch for upcoming announcements so they don’t miss out.

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