ACTA Advances Advocacy Efforts in Canada and Partnerships Abroad

(Left Image: Patrick Branco Ruivo, Director General of SETE – Société d’Exploitation de la Tour Eiffel with Suzanne Acton-Gervais, ACTA President. Right Image: MP John Brassard, Barrie South—Innisfil, Ontario with Suzanne Acton-Gervais, ACTA President)

Dear ACTA members,

Over the past two weeks, I had the pleasure of meeting with Patrick Branco Ruivo, Director General of SETE – Société d’Exploitation de la Tour Eiffel, during his visit to Canada. He shared that more and more Canadians are visiting the Eiffel Tower — more than 200,000 this year alone — and highlighted the diversity of exclusive and VIP offerings now available, including fine-dining restaurants, personalized tours, seminars, and partnerships with the Comité Colbert.

I found his insights and offerings particularly inspiring for Canadian travel advisors seeking to create curated, experiential travel opportunities for their clients — a reminder of how international collaboration can spark innovation and enhance the value of the services our members provide.

In addition, I met with the Policy Advisor to Minister Rechie Valdez, Minister of Women, Gender Equality and the Secretary for Small Business and Tourism, as well as with Assistant Deputy Minister, Policy, Serge Bijimine and his senior staff at Transport Canada, and several Members of Parliament.

My focus during these discussions was on advancing ACTA’s pre-budget submission recommendations and our submission to the Competition Bureau’s study on airline competitiveness in Canada. I continue to remind MPs that travel agencies and travel advisors are represented in every elected official’s riding — and that our members are an essential part of Canada’s travel economy and tourism ecosystem.

As part of my recent engagements, I also met with Richard Smart, President and CEO of TICO, and members of TICO’s Board of Directors, who were convening as part of their strategic planning process. We discussed ACTA’s priorities, members views (as informed by the ACTA Ontario Regional Committee) and the importance of reviewing the Travel Industry Act, as was recommended in the Auditor General’s report.

These meetings are a cornerstone of ACTA’s ongoing advocacy work — ensuring that policymakers, regulators, and industry partners understand the challenges and opportunities facing our sector, and that the travel agency and advisor community remains a recognized and respected voice at every level of government.

The ACTA Membership Drive is now underway. Your membership is important — it strengthens our collective voice and ensures we can continue advocating for the success of Canada’s travel agencies and travel advisors. I encourage all members to renew and remain engaged in ACTA’s work. Together, we are connected by purpose and by the unified voice that drives our industry forward.

This past week, Fiona Bowen, ACTA’s Membership Manager, hosted a meeting of our Independent Travel Advisor Committee (ITA), while Kathrina Thilavanh, Manager, Marketing and Communications, hosted our Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility (DEIA) Committee. Both are important and valued groups that bring meaningful insights and perspectives to ACTA’s work. Each session sparked excellent discussion and ideas that will help shape future initiatives for our members and the broader travel industry.

ACTA Partners with Spain for 2025 International Destination Conference

ACTA has partnered with the Tourist Office of Spain for our 2025 International Destination Conference, taking place in Castilla y León from October 27 – November 1, 2025. Over six days, participating travel advisors will immerse themselves in the history, culture, and authenticity of Castilla y León; connect with local tourism providers and strengthen key business relationships; enhance product knowledge and destination expertise; and develop social-media and business-building skills through interactive workshops and experiences.

Keep your eyes on ACTA’s social-media channels if you’d like to follow us along — this promises to be an unforgettable and enriching experience for our members.

Coming Soon: 2026 ACTA Summits and Events

The ACTA team has been hard at work and will soon be announcing the dates for our 2026 ACTA Summits, to be held in Toronto, Montréal, and Vancouver. We’re also planning a Hill Day in Ottawa and several regional Roundtable events to continue strengthening relationships, sharing insights, and advancing our advocacy agenda across Canada.

More details will be shared soon — stay connected with ACTA for updates!

As this edition concludes, ACTA continues to move forward with purpose — advancing our advocacy priorities, strengthening our partnerships, and supporting the success of Canada’s travel agencies and travel advisors. I look forward to sharing more updates and progress with you in two weeks.

Warm regards,
Suzanne
President, ACTA

2025-10-23 14:32:06

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