Travel Women We Love: ACV’s Erminia Gallina

It’s a good thing Erminia Gallina listened to her grandmother.

The Air Canada Vacations Director of Sales says she was destined to be a teacher and about to go into Teachers college, when she went, what she calls, “completely rogue” and switched to travel and tourism school instead.  She then applied to Skyservice as a flight attendant and for another position at Sunquest.

“My grandmother told me if I took the Skyservice Flight Attendant job, she would cut me off,” she told Travel Market Place Canada with a laugh. “And I loved my grandmother so much, so I said ok, I’ll take the Sunquest job.  I thanked her for basically blackmailing me and being a typical old-school Italian grandmother who was worried I was risking my life as a flight attendant for leading me to where I am today.”

Gallina started in the trenches at Sunquest, working in the call centre before moving into cruise and later inside and outside sales, before becoming a general manager.  When asked if that background helps her in her current role, she nods.

“It gave me confidence. I knew the backend reservation systems to the product, to the people we’re talking with on the line in the agency world. I’m such a huge advocate for travel advisors, because I started off with them and I’m still friends with some of them from my call center days. It really helped to make a difference in how I grasp the travel agency community. They are reason of why I am successful today and owe them a lot.”

Only a few decades ago, women in travel had to break through many barriers and glass ceilings to have a seat at the table. Gallina appreciates the efforts of women before her, enabling her and others in the industry to succeed and thrive.

“I had heard so many stories when I first started in our industry from 20, 30 years ago and I thank these amazing women who tore down barriers, so I didn’t have to go through that,” she says.

“It was a generation that struggled so women would be recognized and given the chance to be elevated and I’m so thankful for that.

Because of that, it’s almost been the opposite for me; in fact a few of my mentors are men. They all told me they saw a spark, a go-get ‘em type of mentality and gave me opportunities. They never handed anything to me, I always had to prove myself, but the fact that was my experience is largely due to the women before me who paved the way. And I respect and am grateful for these women who have paved the way to help my path easier.”

Is this an industry Gallina would recommend to someone curious about starting a career in it?

“I would say come join us, let’s do it. This industry is incredibly resilient, we always make our way forward. It’s exciting. It’s ever evolving. It keeps you on your toes. You’re constantly learning so many new things, there’s never a dull moment.”

Gallina states that she has not kept her business and personal lives separate in her job. She attributes her success to working with top-notch teams in the industry. Co-workers and suppliers have become good friends, and she wouldn’t have it any other way. In fact, it’s a big reason she loves the industry so much and encourages others to join in. 

“To me my mission is to search for the perfect team and if I don’t see it at first, I help create it. We spend so much of our time working, how can we not try and make work personal and love the people you spend most of your day with.”

“I want to encourage, especially the newer generation, to consider a career in travel. Of course, for the ones in our industry who have more experience, I encourage them to take the newer ones in.  Coach them, mentor them, take them under your wing and teach and motivate them, because there’s so much potential.

I wake up every day, and I truly love my job. I truly love talking about travel and all different aspects of travel. I truly love being and working for the airline carrier of the country.”

And just like that, Gallina’s mentoring journey has now come full circle.