Chapter 2. Travel Services
2.2 Travel Services in Canada
Travel Agencies
Travel agencies are the retail side of the industry. Working in cooperation with suppliers throughout the distribution chain, travel agencies provide an important link for the consumer to connect with the best options for a successful trip. Planning vacations or business trips can be complicated matters and qualified agents can help the traveller with professional services.
In Canada, advocacy for travel service organizations and professional certification for individuals is provided by the Association of Canadian Travel Agencies (ACTA). ACTA is an industry-led, membership-based organization that aims to ensure customers have professional and meaningful counselling. Membership is optional, but it does offer the benefit of ensuring customers receive the required services and that the travel agencies have a membership board for reference and industry resources (ACTA, 2020b).
Spotlight On: Travelcuts Travel Agency
Travelcuts is 100% Canadian owned and operated. As a student, you may have seen its locations on or around campus. With a primary audience of post-secondary students, professors, and alumni, Travel CUTS specializes in backpack-style travel to a variety of destinations. It is a full-service travel agency that can help find flights for travel, book tours with a variety of companies including GAdventures or Intrepid Travel, assist in booking hostels or hotels, and even help with a “Live and Work Abroad” program. For more information, visit Travelcuts website.
Although travel agencies may be located in a specific community, the agencies and their representatives may operate internationally, within Canada, or across regions. Examples of some of the more recognized larger travel agencies and agents operating in Atlantic Canada include the Canadian Automobile Association – Atlantic (CAA Atlantic), Maritime Travel, and Flight Centre.
Tour Operators
Many different types of tour operators work across Canada and the World. Tour operators can specialize in any sector or a combination of sectors. A company may focus on ski experiences, as is the case with Destination Snow, or perhaps wine tours in Napa, CA, which is the specialty of Reserve Wine Tours. These operators specialize in one area but there are others that work with many different service providers.
Spotlight On: Canadian Association of Tour Operators
The Canadian Association of Tour Operators (CATO) is a membership-based organization that serves as the voice of the tour operator segment and engages in professional development and networking in the sector. For more information, visit the Canadian Association of Tour Operators website.
Tour operators can vary in size, niche market, and operation capacity (time of year). An example of a niche Nova Scotia tour operator is Brier Island Whale and Seabird Cruises on Brier Island, NS. This operator offers specialty whale-watching tours in a variety of boat styles (zodiac or Cap