The Travel Industry Council of Ontario (TICO) announced it will introduce a targeted inflationary increase to renewal fees for a small segment of Ontario travel businesses, beginning April 1, 2026.
The 2.4% increase will apply only to registrants with Ontario gross sales exceeding $10 million and will affect roughly 10% of TICO’s registrant base.
Fee rates for the remaining 90% of registrants will remain unchanged at the levels set in April 2024.
“There are no other fee changes being introduced, including for the Compensation Fund,” TICO confirmed.
“We recognize that businesses continue to face challenging economic conditions, and we have kept this adjustment as modest as practicable,” said TICO CEO Richard Smart.
“TICO remains focused on protecting travel consumers, while being mindful of the financial realities faced by Ontario’s travel businesses.”
Fee Breakdown
The inflationary adjustment applies to renewal fees calculated per $1,000 of gross sales, with the following changes:
- $10M–$50M: from 0.2900 to 0.2970
- $50M–$100M: from 0.2700 to 0.2765
- $100M–$250M: from 0.2500 to 0.2560
- Over $250M: from 0.2300 to 0.2355
Registrants with Ontario gross sales of $10 million or less will continue to pay the current rate of 0.750, with no increase.
Why the change is being made
TICO says the adjustment reflects rising operational costs tied to inflation and is intended to support the sustainability and reliability of consumer protection and regulatory services.
From 2011 to 2024, TICO’s funding levels remained unchanged.
While that approach limited short-term increases for registrants, it also meant funding did not keep pace with inflation or the growing complexity of regulatory oversight. A broader funding review was conducted in 2024, leading to a commitment to regular reviews and smaller, inflation-based adjustments when required.
According to TICO, the increase is designed to align fees with cost pressures and is not intended to generate surplus revenue. The council says the targeted structure is meant to remain fair and proportional, without placing additional burden on small and medium-sized travel businesses.
Registrants with questions about renewal fees or Compensation Fund assessments can contact TICO directly at [email protected] or by calling 1-888-451-TICO (8426).
Topics From This Article to Explore
