ACTA’s Acton-Gervais delivers a positive message at Eastern Canada Summit

More than 500 travel advisors were on hand for ACTA’s Eastern Canada Summit at the Toronto Congress Centre yesterday (Sept. 11) to hear the association’s new president, Suzanne Acton-Gervais deliver a strong and positive message on what the future holds for travel advisors and the role ACTA plans to play to make sure that that future is realized.

Acton-Gervais offered her audience a snapshot of where the industry was at today and the opportunities that were at hand, telling members that: “ACTA is here to represent, support and champion you.”

She also offered a look at how the market has been performing, telling her audience that ACTA members are reporting “moderate” to “strong” growth in 2025, and despite all of the economic uncertainties, the good news is that Canadians want to travel.

As for where Canadians are heading, Acton-Gervais said that sun destinations continue to lead the way; Europe is strong; and there is strong interest in Asia and other long-haul destinations.

And while travel to the U.S. is down – point out that air travel to the U.S. is down 17.4% and car travel to the U.S. is down 37.4% — she said that overseas trips are up 7% to 9% and travel in Canada is strong.

Looking ahead to 2026, Acton-Gervais told her audience that although consumer confidence declined in 2025 and is essentially ‘neutral,’ the outlook for the coming year is for moderate growth, with sun destinations, Europe and Asia all showing strength.

In this environment, ACTA’s president said that the association will continue to do what it does best and that’s advocate, educate, connect and promote for its members.

As well, Acton-Gervais said that ACTA is looking at ways to attract the next generation of travel advisors and is currently running a campaign to attract that next generation. And she also urged ACTA members to get involved in helping to bring new people into the industry.

Acton-Gervais said that she is “excited about the future and the positive indicators” and made it clear that ACTA “will be here to support members.”

And she concluded: “Together we are stronger and together we shape the future of Canadian travel.”
Stay tuned for more an upcoming issue.

During the Summit in Toronto, the 2025 ACTA Awards were presented as follows:

Leisure Travel Advisor Award

Winner: Barry Davis, Transat Travel Shaganappi, Calgary, AB

Corporate Travel Advisor Award

Winner: Marie Cotsopoulos, Direct Travel, Toronto, ON

Tomorrow’s Leader Award

Winner: Sarah Campbell-Krausert, Uniglobe Carefree Travel, Saskatoon, SK

Ches Chard Education Award

Winner: Kali Gray, Trevello Travel Group, Winnipeg, MB

CTC/CTM Lifetime Achievement Award

Winner: Czarina Sastaunik CTC, Uniglobe Carefree Travel in Saskatoon, SK

Gerald Heifetz Advocacy Award

Winner: Liz Fleming, North South Travel

Go to www.acta.ca for more.

In the photo

Seen here, from l to r, are Manulife’s Jennifer Maver; ACTA president Suzanne Acton-Gervais; and BranchUp’s Michael Drever.