The floodgates opened late last week, with a number of federal government announcements - including vaccine passports, new and renewed financial support for hardest-hit industries, specifically including the travel trade - offering a lifeline to travel agencies and advisors, and a clearer path forward to the full return of travel.
It was no coincidence. Behind the scenes, ACTA and travel retail executives were hard at work, getting meetings with the Prime Minister's Office, as well as Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland and other top officials, explaining the workings of the travel industry and pushing hard for policy changes to ensure its survival.
Open Jaw's Nina Slawek spoke with Ensemble Travel Group's CEO, David Harris, who was part of what he calls "tireless" advocacy efforts that finally bore fruit last week. He explains how they did it - and where there's more to come.
