ACTA Awards

In recognition of Travel Agent/Travel Agency Excellence

The Association of Canadian Travel Agencies (ACTA) is the national trade association representing the retail travel sector of Canada’s tourism industry. ACTA strives to promote excellence within the trade, and has six awards to recognize the best in the Canadian travel retail industry.

The ACTA Awards recognize excellence across a broad range of categories, gathering nominations from professionals in the travel industry, as well as recognition from a judging panel appointed by ACTA.

Award Categories

(1) Leisure Travel Agent Award
This Award recognizes a Travel Agent who shows versatility, innovation and has extensive knowledge of many travel options available to their clients. This individual has exemplary customer service skills, the ability to keep the client excited about planning their dream holiday, and always delivers.

(2) Corporate Travel Agent Award
Recognizes a Travel Agent who delivers excellent service to clients, living up to expectations and demands in a timely and efficient manner. This individual must have an excellent understanding of client’s needs from a global perspective, including transportation, destination knowledge, policies, visas, and many other travel requirements.

(3) Tomorrow’s Leader Award
This Award recognizes a young professional who shows potential as a leader of our industry. The individual will have a keen interest in issues that influence the future of travel and is a role model for other young professionals.

(4) Ches Chard Education Award
Industry Education and Professionalism Recognition
This Award was established in memory of Ches Chard. Ches played a key role in developing numerous educational programs within the industry and was instrumental in establishing the first travel school in the Atlantic Provinces.

The recipient will be an individual, a travel agency or a group of travel agencies that has demonstrated a significant commitment to professionalism, education and training and excellence in human resources management.

(5) Gerald Heifetz Advocacy Award
Industry Advocacy Recognition
This Award was established in memory of Gerald Heifetz. Gerald helped travel agents, business people and countless struggling immigrants through his law practice. He was instrumental in the foundation of ACTA and CITC. He established many of the laws that currently govern the Canadian travel and airline industry.

The recipient will be an individual or organization who in the most recent year has had a significant and positive impact on the role, status and sustainability of the Canadian Travel Industry.

Award Criteria

(1) Leisure Travel Agent Award
Candidates for the Leisure Travel Agent Award must meet the following eligibility requirements in order to be nominated:

  • must be a Certified Travel Counsellor (CTC) or Certified Travel Manager (CTM) in good standing;
  • must be working in an ACTA Member Agency at the time selection is made;
  • must not be a current employee, officer or director of ACTA at any time during the yearly period for which the award will be awarded; and
  • must have been a Travel Agent for at least two years.

(2) Corporate Travel Agent Award
Candidates for the Corporate Travel Agent Award must meet the following eligibility requirements in order to be nominated:

  • must be a working ACTA Travel Agent member in good standing at the time selection is made;
  • must not be a current employee, officer or director of ACTA at any time during the yearly period for which the award will be awarded; and
  • must have been a Travel Agent for at least two years.

(3) Tomorrow’s Leader Award
Candidates for the Tomorrow’s Leader Award must meet the following eligibility requirements in order to be nominated:

  • must be a working ACTA Travel Agent member in good standing at the time selection is made; and
  • must not be a current employee, officer or director of ACTA at any time during the yearly period for which the award will be awarded.

(4) Ches Chard Education Award
Candidates for the Ches Chard Education Award must meet the following eligibility requirements in order to be nominated:

  • must be an ACTA member in good standing at the time selection is made;
  • owner/manager must not be a current official officer of ACTA; and
  • must have been in business for at least two years.

(5) Gerald Heifetz Advocacy Award
Candidates for the Gerald Heifetz Advocacy Award must meet the following eligibility requirements in order to be nominated:

  • must be an ACTA member in good standing at the time selection is made;
  • must not be a current employee, officer or director of ACTA at any time during the yearly period for which the award will be awarded; and
  • has not been awarded in the past.

Rules and Regulations

Businesses or individuals are encouraged to nominate themselves or others for consideration using the Nomination Form (Coming Soon).

All awards require that the Nomination Form be filled out in full. A completed form supports the nomination in order to demonstrate how the nominee meets criteria for the award.

A judging panel appointed by ACTA will select one national award-winner for each category.

Winner Recognition

  • The Awards will be presented at one of the ACTA 2023 Travel Industry Summits taking place in September in Toronto, Vancouver and Montreal.
  • Finalists will be offered air transportation and 1 night hotel accommodation, if required.
  • News release with media pickup.
  • Posting on the ACTA Website.