Association of Canadian Travel Agencies and Travel Advisors

Profile narrative

The Association of Canadian Travel Agencies and Travel Advisors (ACTA) is the national trade association representing travel agencies and travel advisors across Canada. Founded in 1977, it operates as a non-profit organization dedicated to advocating for the interests of its members with federal and provincial governments, regulatory bodies, and other industry stakeholders. ACTA provides a range of professional development programs, including the Certified Travel Counsellor designation, and offers resources such as legal counsel, insurance products, and technology tools to support member businesses. The association also facilitates networking through conferences, trade shows, and regional events, and publishes industry research and best practice guidelines. Its mandate includes promoting consumer confidence in the travel agency sector and advancing professional standards through education and ethical guidelines.

Headquartered in Canada, ACTA serves a membership base that includes independent agencies, franchise networks, and home-based advisors, though specific membership numbers are not publicly disclosed in the available sources. The organization is governed by a board of directors elected from the membership and maintains a staff team that manages advocacy, education, and member services. A distinguishing attribute of ACTA is its role as the primary liaison between the travel agency community and government on issues such as consumer protection legislation, airline passenger rights, and tourism policy. The association also collaborates with international bodies such as the World Travel Agents Associations Alliance to represent Canadian interests globally. In April 2025, the association experienced a cybersecurity incident involving unauthorized access to its email system, which prompted a forensic investigation, notification of authorities, and implementation of additional data safeguards; the breach did not involve financial information and there was no evidence of misuse of accessed personal data. The incident underscored the association's handling of member profile information and its commitment to transparency with its constituency.

Incidents

1 incident linked to this organisation.