The Association of Canadian Travel Agencies (ACTA) is reminding agents of three offers that agents and agencies alike can take advantage of; an early bird prize draw for renewals, a sponsorship incentive for new members, and an accelerated CTC designation path, which ends this week.

Early Bird Membership Renewal – Renew your ACTA membership by December 31, 2017 and be entered into a prize draw to win a VIA Rail travel voucher for up to $500. Membership kits were sent in early November and may have already arrived into your office.

Accelerated CTC Designation – In celebration of ACTA’s 40th anniversary, the organisation is offering both travel agent leaders the opportunity to accelerate attaining their professional designation of Certified Travel Counsellor (CTC).

The program presents a perfect opportunity for Canadian Travel Agents who have postponed completing their designation in the past, to realize the benefits of certification in a few simple steps.

Information on the accelerated program is available online and the process requires three simple steps that include enrolment, providing verification of ten or more years of experience, and submitting client and industry references.

Marriott Member Sponsorship Offer – As part of their 2017 partnership with ACTA, Marriott is offering new members $50 towards their ACTA membership.

ACTA currently offers membership for four types of members;

- Retail - ACTA's core membership category and made up of travel agencies across Canada

- Allied – For Travel Suppliers, this is a membership category comprised of companies or other organizations in the travel industry which are not travel agencies but wish to join ACTA to support the efforts and connect with this very important distribution channel.

- International - a membership category comprised of Travel Agencies or suppliers who do not operate in Canada but are looking to connect with the Canadian Travel trade and/or familiarize themselves with best practices and tools being used in our country.

- Travel or Tourism Educational Facilities - comprised of Educational Facilities who offer a Travel and Tourism program.

And in 2018, ACTA is offering a fifth membership type – Individual Contractor - a new membership category to address requests from independent agents, independent contractors and home-based agents who have not previously been included in ACTA membership.

For full details on ACTA membership, visit the membership page on their website or send an email to their membership team.

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