Going Places in 2025: Looking Ahead with ACTA President Wendy Paradis

Wendy Paradis, ACTA (Photo Credit: PHOTO: courtoisie de l'ACTA)

The Association of Canadian Travel Agencies and Travel Advisors (ACTA) works for you, advocating on behalf of the retail travel industry. Its mission is straightforward: "To represent the unified voice of Canadian travel agencies, independent travel advisors, and other travel professionals through strategic advocacy, education, certification, and active member engagement." TravelPulse Canada was pleased to have the chance to chat with ACTA President Wendy Paradis about what's coming up in 2025.

TravelPulse Canada: What excitement does ACTA have planned for 2025?

Wendy Paradis: We have a number of educational and networking events planned for 2025! For the first part of the year, we will be busy with weekly product and destination webinars, along with a LIVE session on Fraud prevention in February. More and more, we are receiving outreach from travel agencies and travel advisors from across Canadian struggling with consumer fraud. We have gathered together some travel agencies, travel advisors and travel suppliers who will be sharing their grass root best practices and processes to reduce fraud.

In March, we will be having travel advisor networking events with ACTA supplier partners in Alberta and Manitoba, and then our Canadian Travel Industry Summits will take place in September in Toronto, Vancouver, and Montreal. . After our Canadian Summits wrap up, we will turn our focus to our international experiential learning events which will take place in Europe in October and November.

See Save the Date for ACTA National Industry Networking Events for more information.

TPC: What are the trends in the travel industry you are watching for 2025?

WP: So far, ACTA Members are telling us that 2025 is shaping up quite well. Bookings continue to be brisk, and our members are busy – which is fantastic. One area that ACTA will be focussed on in the coming days and weeks is watching for potential impacts of new USA policies regarding borders tariffs that have dominated the news recently, and how these policies may impact the Canadian Travel Industry. It is early days, and we will be watching the situation closely.

TPC: A recent piece in the Toronto Star said travel advisors "are back." Do you agree with that statement?

WP: Absolutely. As the article mentioned, “though online booking is convenient and works well for straightforward trips, when it comes to a stress-free, well-planned vacation, travel advisers are a traveller’s secret weapon.” The amount of information available online is often overwhelming and a well educated, experienced travel advisor can cut through the excess information and recommend some excellent, personalized options to ensure a high quality and memorable travel experience.

TPC: Is there an aspect of ACTA you think is something advisors should know about, but don't?

WP: Travel Agencies and travel advisors are quite engaged with many of ACTA’s education resources including our webinars, in-person Canadian Travel Industry Summits, and international destination experiences. Some areas travel agencies and travel advisors may not be aware of is our extensive business insurance offering which includes some important safeguards including Errors and Omission insurance for both Travel Agencies and Independent Travel Advisors, Health, and Dental and Life Insurance plans. We also provide substantial savings with our Member Perks programs with hundreds of vendors that include products ranging from laptop computers to travel and entertainment savings.

TPC: Is there a message or any parting words you'd like to share with folks reading this piece?

WP: ACTA is the voice of Canadian Travel Agencies and Travel advisors. We are a vibrant community of industry colleagues, and it is incredibly important for us to work together and speak as one strong voice promoting and advocating the value Travel Agencies and Travel Advisors bring to the travel industry and how we enhance the traveller experience. If you are a Canadian travel agency or a travel advisor, please consider joining ACTA in 2025 – we are stronger together!

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