“More Than a Recognition Event:” ACV’s Nino Montagnese on the 2026 Executive Retreat

In early summer, Air Canada Vacations welcomed its top-performing travel partners to Lisbon, Portugal, for its annual Executive Retreat, hosted by Vice President Nino Montagnese.

The event brought together leading travel agency owners, and leaders from across Canada to celebrate their achievements, strengthen relationships, and exchange ideas on the evolving travel landscape.

Held from May 24 to 29, 2026, the retreat recognized the outstanding contributions of Air Canada Vacations’ top partners whose dedication continues to drive shared success.

Hosted in Lisbon, Portugal, the program gave participants the opportunity to experience some of Lisbon’s most iconic highlights while connecting with industry peers, sharing insights, and celebrating their achievements.

A highlight of this year’s retreat was a leadership and strategy session focused on industry trends, emerging opportunities, and the evolving travel landscape. Air Canada Vacations’ senior sales team also shared updates on key priorities, including technology investments, product innovation, and advisor support.

“The Executive Retreat is much more than a recognition event; it is an opportunity to celebrate our partners’ accomplishments while spending meaningful time together discussing the future of our industry,” said Montagnese. 

“In Lisbon, we shared exciting updates on our investments in technology, advisor support, and new ways of doing business. Our goal remains simple: to strengthen our partnerships and provide travel advisors with the tools, resources, and opportunities they need to thrive. When our partners succeed, we succeed.”

Air Canada Vacations extends its sincere gratitude to Visit Portugal and Turismo de Lisboa for their partnership and exceptional hospitality. Their support helped create an unforgettable experience showcasing Portugal’s culture, history, gastronomy, and natural beauty.

As the retreat concluded, qualifying partners received a Save the Date invitation for the 2027 Executive Retreat, reaffirming Air Canada Vacations’ commitment to recognizing excellence and investing in long-term partnerships. Planning is already underway for next year’s event, which promises another exceptional experience celebrating shared success.

“Our partners are at the heart of everything we do,” added Montagnese. “The strength of these relationships continues to fuel our growth, and we are excited about what lies ahead. We look forward to working together throughout 2027 to create new opportunities, deliver exceptional customer experiences, and build on our shared success.”