Celebrating strength and resilience at the Agents’ Choice Awards Gala

Last night, those in attendance at the Carlu for the Agents’ Choice Awards Gala were the first to find out this year’s favourites in 48 categories – as voted on by 6,979 travel advisors – in the 2026 Agents’ Choice Readership Survey, now in its 26th year. 

“Tonight, we celebrate something far greater than awards alone although that in itself is pretty spectacular,” shared Wendy McClung, executive VP, Baxter Media, taking the stage at the event to the crowd of 450. “We celebrate the spirit of an industry that never stops moving forward — no matter what turbulence may appear on the horizon. Strength and Resilience. If there’s one industry that truly understands those words, it’s ours.”

Fittingly, the gala kicked off with the first ever Strength & Resilience Award, presented to the Jamaica Tourist Board.

“In travel, resilience isn’t a buzzword on a slide deck. It’s the advisor who stayed on the phone at midnight because their client was stranded and panicking. It’s the supplier who rebuilt their product from the ground up because the market shifted overnight. It’s the destination that welcomed the world back — not when it was easy, but because their entire community depended on it,” shared MC Adam Reid. “Resilience in this industry is personal. It’s professional. And tonight, it gets celebrated.”

“Receiving the Strength & Resilience Award is a proud recognition of a truth Jamaicans have always lived: that our spirit is unbreakable and our capacity to rise above is unmatched. In the wake of Hurricane Melissa, we didn’t just recover—we rose and pushed forward with our Tallawah spirit. This award belongs to our team and our country, affirming our legacy that shows how Jamaica remains a resilient nation and a force to be reckoned with,” noted Angella Bennett, Regional Director Canada at the Jamaica Tourist Board. 

For 26 years, the annual Agents’ Choice Readership Survey has been gauging the sentiments of Canadian travel advisors in good times and bad, asking them to share who their supplier favourites are in a wide range of categories. This year’s opening reception featured TV screens so attendees could cheer on Canada, who went on to win 6:0 over Qatar.

“48 categories. 7,000 votes. Votes cast by Canadian travel advisors — the people in this room, and the community they represent from coast to coast to coast. No judges. No panels. No committees. Just the collective voice of the people who work in this industry every single day,” shared Reid. “That is what makes these awards mean something. That is what makes being called a favourite tonight worth something.”

Air Canada and Air Canada Vacations took home multiple awards, including the Above & Beyond Award, which recognizes a supplier who has gone the extra mile, doing all the little things to keep travel advisors up-to-date on their products, services, incentives and who take care of any problems that come up from time to time to make sure that their travel advisor partners can operate their businesses more efficiently and profitably.

“This award made us cry… Winning the Above & Beyond Award is incredibly meaningful because it reflects the passion, dedication, and heart that our entire Sales team brings to supporting our travel advisor partners every single day. It’s been quite a year for all of us but we managed to get through it all… together,” noted Erminia Gallina, Director of Sales, Air Canada Vacations. “This recognition belongs to each member of the team who consistently goes the extra mile to help advisors succeed and create unforgettable vacation experiences for their clients. A special thank you to Baxter, whose words and presentation touched us deeply, it genuinely brought tears to our eyes. Being recognized in this way is both humbling and inspiring, and it motivates us to continue raising the bar for the advisors who trust us as their partner. We are truly grateful for this honour.”

Among the first time favourites was Visit Portugal, earning Favourite Tourist Board – Europe.

“I was amazed, I was so surprised. It’s so rewarding for my job, for the work that I do. Thank you to everyone who voted for us, for the support and trust. It was an incredible night. I lack the words to express how happy I am,” shared Inês Almeida Garrett, the Director of Visit Portugal for Canada, who was also celebrating her birthday. 

“We are very honoured to receive this award and grateful to all the travel advisors who sell and promote Portugal,” added Laura Nesteanu of Visit Portugal. “We look forward to welcoming everyone to Portugal.”

Another first time favourite was the Japan National Tourism Organization, taking home Favourite Tourist Board – Asia.

“We are deeply honoured to be recognized by Canada’s travel advisor community and would like to sincerely thank all advisors who participated in the survey,” said Yuka Suzuki, Executive Director of the JNTO Toronto Office. “This award reflects the continued passion of travel professionals who champion Japan as a destination.  We look forward to strengthening our ties with the Canadian travel trade and welcoming even more visitors to experience Japan.”

Another multi-winner was travelbrands, who were named Favourite Consolidator – Intair Flights, Favourite Tour Operator – FIT and Favourite Travel Agent Incentive Program.

“We are incredibly honoured to be recognized by Canada’s travel advisor community,” said Nathalie Tanious, President & CEO of H.I.S. Canada Travel Inc., parent company of travelbrands. “These awards represent the trust and confidence that advisors place in our team every day, and that is something we never take for granted. We remain committed to supporting travel agents with the products, service, and innovation they need to succeed, and we sincerely thank every advisor who voted for us.”

Tourism Australia was the top vote-getter in Pacific/Oceania, welcome news to Tourism Australia’s Paul Larcher, who noted the Gala immediately followed Baxter Media’s TravelPress Live show, which Tourism Australia participated in and Larcher praised for being innovative.

“We’re very excited to win the Agents’ Choice Award,” continued Larcher, who thanked all the agents who voted for Tourism Australia and “who have supported us throughout the year.”

One of the highlights of the gala is recognizing suppliers from across the country with the Service with a Smile recognition. 

“Without supplier service reps and BDMs, that vital personal connection would be lost. Let’s forget about AI for a moment, because it’s those real relationships that make the travel agent and supplier partnership work,” shared Baxter Media’s Zephan McMillan. “Once again, Canada’s travel advisors have spoken. Tonight, we honour 29 dedicated individuals across the country, representing 23 outstanding companies.”

This year’s W.H. Baxter Lifetime Achievement Award was presented to Porter Airlines’ Bob Deluce. 

“We are nearing the 20th anniversary of Porter’s first flight this fall,” he noted. “Time moves quickly and we have accomplished a lot over the years. From revitalizing Billy Bishop Airport into an essential transportation hub, to redefining airline service standards, and more recently expanding our reach throughout North America with a new fleet of E195 aircraft, I like to think that we’ve made a very positive impression on the market place.”

Through a silent auction, the gala also raised $34,850 for Ernestine’s Women’s Shelter, a non-profit organization that provides advocacy, crisis intervention and shelter to women and their children escaping violence.

The gala followed the inaugural TravelPress Live!, which took place on Tuesday and Wednesday at Evergreen Brick Works. Here’s a look at the festival.