CAA Travel Celebrates 60 Years

When CAA opened its first travel agency in Ontario in 1961, it was then called World Touring Counselors Ltd. A few years later, in 1967, it was renamed CAA Travel (South Central Ontario) Inc. From that one modest location, CAA Travel has since expanded to 36 locations across the province, along with a website and a Travel Call Centre. As CAA Travel celebrates 60 years in the business, we speak to some of our long-tenured travel consultants about what they’re looking forward to the most when travel opens up again.

Evelyn Ward, Orillia Store, 32 years with CAA

Why I love being a travel consultant

I love bringing a holiday experience together. There is a great sense of accomplishment and satisfaction when it all comes together, and the end result is a unique travel experience that checks all the boxes for my valued clients.

What I’m looking forward to most when travel opens up again

Connecting with my loyal clients. Over my many years representing CAA Travel, I have made real connections with my clients and some have become valued friends, almost like family. I am excited to get back to the business of booking holiday experiences for them. Their delight and joy when looking forward to a lovely holiday experience is infectious and adds such a wonderful dimension to my job.

Janet MacDonald, Travel Call Centre, 33 years with CAA

Why I love being a travel consultant

I love giving experienced advice on a client’s prospective holiday—anywhere from a trip to Ottawa to an around-the-world cruise. We all know that most trips can be booked online, but knowing we can add extra CAA Member benefits and knowledge that you can’t get from the internet makes me smile.

What I’m looking forward to most when travel opens up again

I am most excited that people will finally be able to experience their long-awaited or postponed holiday because the world has become a healthier place. In my opinion, better systems will be in place and we can do what humans do best—interact with each other.

Amy Watson, London Store, 12 years with CAA

Why I love being a travel consultant

I love that I can be a part of helping people see the world. I truly believe that travel is a great way to open one’s heart and mind. And so as a travel consultant, I can help plan trips for clients to many different destinations and people will always come home with very different experiences.

What I’m looking forward to most when travel opens up again

I am looking forward to hearing my clients’ travel stories again—about the little restaurants or shops that they found, the landscapes they drove through and the interesting people they met along the way.

Cynthia Johnston, Belleville Store, 15 years with CAA

Why I love being a travel consultant

Being a travel consultant is more than being an advisor. It’s helping clients plan dream destination weddings, vacations and so much more—including booking flights for people to see loved ones in emergency circumstances or helping stranded people due to Covid-19. I strive to ensure each person has the best service possible, as each trip is unique and personalized.

What I’m looking forward to most when travel opens up again

When the world opens up to travel, I will be planning a trip with my family and friends to Jamaica to celebrate the important milestones of graduations and birthdays that we have missed.

Get more with CAA

When it’s time to travel again, speak with an experienced CAA Travel Consultant to help plan a future holiday. Call 1-855-660-2295 or visit CAA Travel online for more details.

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TICO Ont. Reg. #50014517. CAA Travel (South Central Ontario) Inc., 60 Commerce Valley Drive East, Thornhill, ON L3T 7P9.