35th ACTA Travel Industry Golf Tournament celebrates Wendy Paradis’ tenure

There was just as much action off the course as on the links yesterday for the 35th annual ACTA Travel Industry Golf Tournament at the Royal Ontario Golf Club as supplier sponsors set up stands offering cocktails, refreshing cold towels, ice cream bars and displays to win some awesome prizes all over the course. In fact, the greens near hole 9 transformed into a rum bar complete with Barbados representatives dressed in colourful festival attire.

“Welcome to the 35th ACTA Travel Industry Golf Tournament. Today marks my last official day as the president of ACTA and I would like to wish all of you a nice day on the course,” shared Wendy Paradis before the tournament kicked off with 156 golfers taking part in this year’s event, which included a welcome by vibrant carnival performers thanks to The Bahamas.

Addressing the crowd for the first time in her new role, the new ACTA president Suzanne Acton-Gervais shared, “it’s a pleasure to be here with all of you, the incredible and vibrant travel community. I couldn’t think of a better way of starting my first day and getting to meet so many of you — including the ACTA team.”

Thirty-nine teams set out to take part in the Texas Scramble Best Ball Format, with competitions along the way that included Ladies’ & Men’s Longest Drive, Ladies’ & Men’s Closest to the Pin and Ladies’ & Men’s Closest to the Keg. Participants included tourist boards, airlines, tour operators, insurance companies, hoteliers, consortia reps and travel advisors.

In a rare golf occurrence, Stephen Smith of Direct Travel aced a hole in one shot, with several participants joking that drinks were on him for the rest of the day.

After a day of golfing under the summer sun, a cocktail and dinner reception was held in the club house to announce the winners of a 50/50 draw, grand prizes like system-wide Air Canada tickets and a seven-night stay at a Hyatt Inclusive Collection resort, as well as as the top teams in the tournament. Notably, even those who were below par got a prize for being the Most Honest Golf Team.

“This is ACTA’s 35th travel industry golf event. We’re proud of this milestone, 35 years of valued connections, celebrating the spirit of the travel community,” said Marco Pozzobon, director, marketing, communications & partnerships at ACTA. “We love hosting this event because it’s one of those rare and special moments where we can get out of the office, away from the four walls, head to the outdoors and enjoy our industry.”

Celebrating Wendy Paradis

During the course of the evening multiple speakers toasted to Paradis, who is stepping down as president after nine years at the helm, including gaining national acclaim for her advocacy efforts in support of travel agencies and travel advisors during the pandemic.

“Wendy, your impact has been profound, your legacy will be lasting, on behalf of everyone here, the entire ACTA community, thank you for your leader and mentorship,” added Pozzobon.

Paradis, who will help Acton-Gervais transition into the new role, told PressToday she’s looking forward to taking ukulele lessons and travelling more with her partner, who is already retired.

“I started in the travel industry over 40 years ago and I was so proud to be representing travel agencies and travel advisors on behalf of Canada’s retail travel industry,” Paradis said to a standing ovation. “At ACTA you all know, our goal is to advocate to both government and travel suppliers on behalf of travel agencies and travel advisors. I am so proud of how much education and professional development we’ve been offering to the travel advisor community year after year after year.”

After her first trip to Europe at the age of 16, Paradis recalled being smitten with the travel industry.

“I was so thrilled, smitten, with this industry, I loved everything about it, most especially our airline tickets that were booked through a small Etobicoke travel agency called TravelBug so I decided at 16 years old that I would become a travel advisor and I did,” she shared. “I went to college, then to university and got a business degree. I worked in so many positions — travel advisor, travel manager, regional director, vice president and now president of ACTA and I will say that the absolute best, most engaged team I’ve ever worked with is the ACTA team.”

Meanwhile, Acton-Gervais shared that she worked with Paradis on the Canadian Travel and Tourism Roundtable throughout the pandemic during her role with the National Airlines Council of Canada, in their efforts to get aviation travel reopened.

“As the incoming president of ACTA, I feel deeply honoured to join and lead this remarkable community. Before I speak about the journey ahead, I also want to take a moment to recognize someone whose leadership has profoundly shaped the ACTA we know today,” Acton-Gervais said. “Wendy, your tenure as president has been nothing short of exceptional… You’ve led ACTA through some of the most challenging years in our history with clarity, compassion and unwavering commitment to our members. Because of you, ACTA is stronger and a more resilient association.”

Acton-Gervais noted that she is committed to building upon the trust placed in ACTA, amplifying its members and ensuring it remains a powerful resource for innovation.

“I’m excited to listen, learn and to lead together with all of you,” she added. “Wendy, while your title may be changing, I know your presence and your wisdom will remain an invaluable part of our journey ahead.”

Meet the winners

Top Mixed Teams (score of -7) – Sponsored by Air Canada and Air Canada Vacations: Mason Spencer – Air New Zealand, Elisa Wong – Direct Travel, Joel Arroyo – Air New Zealand, Anthony Saba – Goway & Gregory Luciani – TravelOnly, Kit Neil – Tully Luxury Travel, Sonia McKeon – Uniglobe Travel, Mark Stubbert – Ensemble; Top Ladies Team (score of +6) – Sponsored by Air Canada and Air Canada Vacations: Diane Zeppieri – Auto Europe, Pat Rotz – CAA Niagara, Megan Marut – Butterfield & Robinson, Mikyla Mosley – Britt & Company Travel; Top Men’s Team (score of -5) – Sponsored by Air Canada and Air Canada Vacations: Rocky Racco – TTI Travel, Michael Degrace – Air Canada, Sanjay Kopalkar – Mondee Canada, Roberto Gennaro – Redtag.ca. 

Most Honest Golf Team – Sponsored by Enterprise Mobility: Racquel Queensborough – Jamaica Tourist Board, Jennifer Svoboda – Freedom Holidays, Diana Shulist – Freedom Holidays, Michelle Theoret – Travel Café Experience. Ladies’ Closest to the Pin – Sponsored by the Tourist Office of Spain: Ornelo Strefi – Continental Currency Exchange. Men’s Closest to the Pin – Sponsored by the Tourist Office of Spain: Colin Wood – VoX International.

Ladies’ Longest Drive – Sponsored By Air Canada and Air Canada Vacations: Birdie Chavarria – NorthStar Travel. Men’s Longest Drive – Sponsored By Air Canada and Air Canada Vacations: Mark DiVito – OS Travel. Ladies’ Closest to the Keg – Sponsored by Visit Portugal: Sonia McKeon – Uniglobe Travel. Men’s Closest to the Keg – Sponsored by Visit Portugal: Andrew Alleyne – Barbados. Best Photo Award – Sponsored by Allianz Global Assistance: Ricardo Maharaj – Hyatt, Quinn Brown – Bahamas, Laurie Keith – Boutique Travel Services, Tracy Keith – Romantic Planet Vacations. Hole In One Competition – Sponsored by Sandals/Unique Vacations: Stephen Smith – Direct Travel.

Grand prize winners (raffle draw)

• 4-night stay at Grand Hyatt at Baha Mar in Nassau & Paradise Island for 2, airport transfers, 5-day Valet Parking at Park’N Fly, and 2 Air Canada Economy Class round trip tickets – Compliments of Bahamas, Park’N Fly and Air Canada. Winner: Tarik Achab Zekri, Qatar Airlines
• Two round-trip Air Canada Economy Class round trip tickets for North America – Compliments of Air Canada and Air Canada Vacations. Winner: Raquel Queensborough, Jamaica Tourist Board
• Two round-trip Air Canada Economy Class tickets for system wide travel – Compliments of Air Canada and Air Canada Vacations. Winner: Louise Gardiner, Wired for Travel, The Travel Agent Next Door

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