ACTA Board Holds Strategic Planning Session at Transat HQ in Montreal
by Bruce Parkinson
(Pictured from left to right: Lyne Côté, Michael Johnson, Monica Johnstone CTC, Julie Sareault and Renée Boisvert
from Transat, Suzanne Acton-Gervais, Marco Pozzobon, Melanie Carter CTM, Kamal Dames, Gary Gaudry, Mark
Greenwood, Peter Keyter. Not pictured: Brian Robertson, Rocky Racco, Zeina Gedeon, Heather Calvert & Serge
Malaison)
The Association of Canadian Travel Agencies and Travel Advisors (ACTA) Board of Directors and President gathered in Montreal last week for a strategic planning session focused on shaping the Association’s future direction for 2027–2029. The meeting was hosted at Transat headquarters.
Guided by the organization’s four pillars—Advocate, Educate, Promote and Connect — ACTA says Board members engaged in discussions on the evolving needs of agencies and advisors, opportunities within the travel industry, and ACTA’s ongoing role as the national voice of the travel advisor community.
Board members reflected on ACTA’s accomplishments, assessed emerging priorities, and explored ways to enhance the value delivered to members across Canada.
“ACTA extends its sincere appreciation to the Transat team for their exceptional hospitality,” said Suzanne Acton-Gervais, ACTA president.
“Hosting the Board at its headquarters offered far more than a meeting venue — it provided an opportunity to experience the organization firsthand and gain a deeper understanding of its culture, operations, and commitment to excellence. Board members were impressed by the engagement, professionalism, and pride evident throughout the company,” Acton-Gervais added.

Renée Boisvert, Vice President, Product and Tour Operator Sales and President of Transat Distribution Canada (TDC), and Julie Sareault, Commercial Director, delivered an executive presentation that ACTA called a highlight of the event.
“The Transat presentation was informative, engaging, and exceptionally well received. Their openness in sharing Transat’s vision, business developments, and evolving product offerings provided valuable insights and enriched the Board’s discussions,” ACTA said in a statement.
“Given the strong interest it generated, ACTA looks forward to exploring future opportunities to share these updates with travel agencies and travel advisors across Canada.”
ACTA said the success of the planning session was made possible by the dedication and active participation of ACTA’s Board of Directors, who committed several days to engage in discussions focused on the future of the Association and the members it serves.
“I recognize the significant professional and personal demands on their time, and I am deeply grateful for the dedication they bring to ACTA and the travel agencies and travel advisors we represent,” Acton-Gervais said.
“The quality of the discussions, the diversity of perspectives, and the willingness to engage in thoughtful and constructive dialogue were evident throughout our time together. This session reinforced how fortunate ACTA is to have such a dedicated, experienced, and engaged Board. Their collective expertise, integrity, and shared commitment to our members give me great confidence in the future of our Association and the industry we support.”




