The trophies have been handed out. The ballroom has cleared. The sparkly dresses have been packed away.
In Episode 5 of You Came to the Right Place, co-hosts Natasha Lair and Jen Mallia go behind the scenes of the 2026 TravelPulse Canada Readers’ Choice Awards.
Recorded just days after the awards, the episode feels less like a formal recap and more like the afterparty conversation.
Lair and Mallia cover everything from the explosive reactions inside the ballroom and the rise of ultra-competitive categories to music, fashion commentary, and why the Readers’ Choice Awards mean so much to the industry.
l to r: Robert G. Sullivan, CCO and President, Northstar Travel Group; Mary Pat Sullivan, EVP of Marketing & Partnerships, Travel Group, Northstar Travel Group; Denise Heffron, 2025 Canadian Travel Hall of Fame inductee; 2026 inductees Lisa M. Pierce and Lindsay Pearlman; Natasha Lair, Managing Editor, TravelPulse Canada. (Photo Credit: Jason Lee)
“The energy in the room this year was completely different,” Lair says during the episode. “It feels like we’re hosting a party at our house.”
But beneath the humour and behind-the-scenes stories is something more meaningful: a reminder of just how connected the Canadian travel industry really is.
Jen Mallia & Natasha Lair - 2026 TPC RCAs (Photo Credit: Natasha Lair)More than 300 advisors, suppliers, tourism boards, cruise lines and airline representatives gathered for the event, celebrating the people and brands voted on by the advisor community itself. From emotional Canadian Travel Hall of Fame inductions to explosive crowd reactions when winners were announced, the night reflected an industry that continues to show up for each other.
And naturally, because this is You Came to the Right Place, there’s also a Pulse Check rapid-fire breakdown of the night’s biggest moments — including best dressed, loudest reactions, emotional highlights and which table became the "hype squad."
Episode 5 of You Came to the Right Place is now available on all major podcast platforms.
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Why It’s Worth a Listen
With a “kitchen table” vibe and a focus on advisor voices, You Came to the Right Place carves out space for conversations that go beyond surface-level trends.
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