by Bert Archer
Last updated: 7:40 AM ET, Tue June 10, 2025
Canadians won several awards and performed well at the Travelsavers Travel Market 2025 in Orlando this weekend. However, their numbers were much lower than expected.
Travelsavers declined to confirm the exact figures, but according to reports collected by TravelPulse Québec on site, approximately 60 registered participants canceled their participation, many due to reluctance to cross the border into the United States.
RELATED: Travelsavers Canada Honours Top Agencies and Partners at 2025 Travel Market
TravelPulse Québec had taken care to delete its social media apps and disable the biometric features of its devices before departure. Ultimately, the border crossing at YUL went smoothly and courteously.
The Canadian absences reflected a major topic of discussion among participants from both countries: the 70% decline in Canadian travel to the United States. During a panel discussion, Jane Ellas, a U.S. advisor and owner of Tootles and Nibs Travel (a member of Travelsavers' NEST program), noted a 5% decline in her business this year. Louie di Tacchio of Progress Travel in Ajax, Ontario, observed a 5% increase.
RELATED: Travelsavers: More Canadians Vacationing at Home Amid Rising Travel Costs
Wendy Paradis, outgoing president of ACTA, compared the Trump effect on travel to the United States to that of COVID, prompting numerous reactions.
Jane Clementino, SVP & GM of Travelsavers Canada, did not contradict this analysis, while specifying that COVID had left travelers with few or no choices, while Trump, and the 73 million voters who supported him, simply contributed to the emergence of new habits. Portugal and Croatia are among the popular destinations, "dupe destinations," according to Betsy Goldberg, head of communications at Travelsavers.
RELATED: End of an Era: Wendy Paradis Steps Down as ACTA President
Finally, in the same briefing, a general trend was highlighted: summer cruise bookings are down, and sales incentives should therefore soon be offered to advisors.
Topics From This Article to Explore
