Breaking ground: ACTA launches Accessible Travel Advisor Directory

ACTA has officially launched its Accessible Travel Advisor Directory — a first-of-its-kind Canadian resource connecting travellers with travel advisors specializing in accessible travel for both visible and nonvisible disabilities.

The initiative is a key component of ACTA’s Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Accessibility (DEIA) commitments, reinforcing ACTA’s dedication to advancing accessibility across Canada’s travel industry.

The directory features 34 vetted travel advisors from across the country who have demonstrated experience and commitment to accessible travel planning.

In October, ACTA invited qualified members to apply through a formal application process to ensure advisors listed meet established criteria and standards.

Suzanne Acton-Gervais, President of ACTA, said that: “Accessible travel is not a niche — it is a necessity. Every Canadian deserves the opportunity to explore the world with confidence and dignity.”

Acton-Gervais continued: “The launch of the Accessible Travel Advisor Directory reflects ACTA’s commitment to ensuring travellers with visible and non-visible disabilities can connect with knowledgeable and empathetic professionals who truly understand their needs. I am proud of the ACTA team and our DEIA Advisory Committee for their leadership and dedication in bringing this important initiative to life. This marks a meaningful step forward in building a more inclusive and responsive travel industry.”

The directory addresses a critical gap in the industry by providing a trusted, centralized resource for Canadians seeking knowledgeable support in accessible travel. It will also serve as a referral tool for travel advisors who encounter clients requiring specialized accessibility expertise beyond their own scope of experience.

Committee member Tanya Rabe, Accessibility Specialist, Right Foot Adventures, said that: “As a person with a disability, accessible travel is deeply personal to me and is the very reason I became a travel advisor specializing in accessible travel. I know firsthand how overwhelming, isolating, and discouraging travel planning can feel when accessibility is uncertain or misunderstood.”

And Rabe continued: “Being part of ACTA’s DEIA Advisory Committee and helping bring the Accessible Travel Advisor Directory to life has been incredibly meaningful, because this work is about dignity, confidence, and being seen—and about changing how our industry shows up for travellers with accessibility needs.”

Said Rabe: “With ACTA taking the lead in accessible travel for Canadians—one step at a time— this directory represents real progress. For the first time, travellers with accessibility needs have a place to turn to find qualified travel advisors who truly understand their realities, not just on paper, but through lived experience and genuine empathy. My hope is that this directory reassures travellers that they don’t have to advocate alone, and that there are professionals who truly get it and are committed to helping travellers of all abilities experience the world with confidence.”

The Accessible Travel Advisor Directory is available through the “Find an Advisor” section of the ACTA website, and can also be accessed directly at: https://www.acta.ca/accessible-traveldirectory.php

ACTA will continue accepting qualified advisors on a rolling basis to expand the directory and further strengthen accessibility expertise nationwide.

To be included in the directory, travel advisors must:

• Be a current ACTA member in good standing
• Have a minimum of two years of advisory experience
• Have completed at least three accessible travel bookings, or one supervised accessible travel case with mentorship
• Demonstrate familiarity with common accessibility considerations and potential challenges

Go to www.acta.ca for more.