TICO launches new consumer awareness campaign

The Travel Industry Council of Ontario has launched a consumer awareness campaign that urges travellers to book vacations with TICO-registered travel agencies and websites to avoid disappointment when going on a trip.  

The campaign, which launches today (Jan. 18), includes a TV commercial which will air over the next four weeks in Ontario, depicting a family trip affected by common travelling oversights, such as arriving at the airport with an expired passport.

Dorian Werda, TICO's vice-president of operations, told PAX that the campaign's message is the result of a recent series of roundtable discussions conducted with agency owners and agents. During these discussions, the participants asked TICO to "depict to consumers the possible pitfalls of what could happen when a consumer bypasses using an Ontario travel agency/agent (whether online or in person) when booking their travel services," Werda said.

TICO believes the new campaign will encourage consumers to look for its branded logo when hiring a travel agent to ensure they have all the information they need before travelling. TICO is also advising travel agents and wholesalers to make sure their businesses contain the TICO logo on their websites, ads, invoices, promo cards and brochures.

To access TICO’s logos and marketing materials click here. To view TICO’s new television commercial click here.