A CareFlex revamp & “Options”: Key takeaways from ACV Dream Makers Toronto

The Greater Toronto Area edition of Air Canada Vacations’ (ACV) Dream Makers tour Thursday night (Sept. 18) was filled with applause.

But some moments from the standing-room-only spectacle – held at the Universal Eventscape in Vaughan, ON – created such excitement that the approximately 1,500 travel advisors in attendance erupted in cheers and, altogether, gave a standing ovation.

It was in response to key updates the ACV team has implemented in its systems, developed directly in response to agent feedback.

ACV’s CareFlex & CareFree programs, for one, will be revamped this November to provide more flexibility. Agents will be able to add these packages – which pay 20 per cent commission – to files up to 48 hours after booking.

CareFlex Plus, in particular, will soon give agents added flexibility to sell outside of the traditional three-day mark line, which is being shorten to 24 hours, said Erminia Gallina, ACV’s director of sales, addressing the audience.

READ MORE: Winter Is Coming: U.S. bookings slowly return & Tulum 2.0 – ACV’s Nino Montagnese unpacks 2025-26 trends, strategy

“We listened to you, we want to be competitive,” Gallina said, noting how ACV’s Facebook page for agents, the “Inner Circle,” is where key feedback from the trade is seen and collected. 

Another addition is “Options,” which allows travel advisors to put a file on option with no payment required, on hold for 24 hours. For some destinations, it will go up to 48 hours. This is an ACV first.

Five-city Canadian tour

It was just two of the many updates shared at last night’s winter showcase, the final stop of a five-city Canadian tour, also celebrating ACV’s 50th anniversary with a dazzling blend of entertainment, networking, and product announcements.

READ MORE: “We are evolving”: ACV Dream Makers brings sun collection to Vancouver

The Toronto stop – supported by headlining sponsors Bahia Principe Hotels & Resorts and Sandals and Beaches Resorts – marked the culmination of a tour that began in Halifax on Sept. 3 and visited Edmonton, Vancouver, and Montreal along the way.

Each city offered travel advisors a first look at ACV’s winter 2025–26 offerings, highlighting both the sun and global collections.

More than 100 participating suppliers were on hand last night to showcase new destinations, resorts, and experiences for the upcoming season.

Meanwhile, a striking wall installation showcasing ACV’s brochure covers through the years — created to celebrate the brand’s 50th anniversary — kept an eye on the room from the main stage.  

Key announcements

ACV’s 2025-26 brochure features 620+ hotels, including 42 new sun properties and 32 new U.S. additions, spanning 64 destinations.

Five destinations also make their debut: Cartagena (Colombia), Miches (Dominican Republic), Palm Springs & Napa Valley (California), and San Juan (Puerto Rico).

On the cruise side, travel advisors can now sell Virgin Voyages and CroisiEurope river cruises, with Avalon Waterways and Seabourn Cruise Line set to join the portfolio soon.

An expanded Play Collection includes 92+ resorts and 24 Play hotels across the U.S., alongside new long-stay packages in Spain, Portugal, Thailand, Indonesia, and global cruises.

There’s also been some global expansion: new routes with Air Canada now include Budapest, Catania, Palma de Mallorca, Shanghai, Rio de Janeiro, Santiago (Chile), Guadalajara, Guatemala City, Naples, Tepic, Puerto Escondido, Lima, Belize, Porto, Prague, and China, with Bangkok offering year-round service.

The ACV team highlighted key new routes, notably:

• Montréal to: Belize, Cartagena, Catania, Guatemala, Lima and Palma de Mallorca
• Halifax and Ottawa to: Nassau and Montego Bay
• Québec to: Fort-de-France
• Toronto to: Budapest, Cartagena, Guadalajara, Lima, Pointe-à-Pitre, Puerto Escondido, Rio de Janeiro and Shanghai
• Vancouver to: Bangkok, Huatulco and Tepic

“It doesn’t matter what route Air Canada adds to the collection, Air Canada Vacations offers land or tour options,” said Nino Montagnese, vice president of ACV, speaking to PAX in an on-site interview, which you can watch here.

The traditional beach vacations are selling “really well,” Montagnese said, but tours are also gaining steam as more Canadians seek culture-rich experiences – beyond the beach.  

One of ACV’s newest offers are campervan adventures in New Zealand and Australia, as well as rail journeys.

There are special niche vacations, such as ACV’s LGBTQ+ “Chill Out” events, Fitness Retreats, Wellness at Sea, and Judy’s Kitchen Party.

ACV also announced an updated GQT Platform, a soon-to-launch Groups Loyalty Program, and dedicated workshops and FAM trips (watch the “Inner Circle” for details).

Digital & self-service tools

ACV is continuing to invest in digital tools for travel advisors, including the launch of the digital Sun guide and enhanced Manage Your Booking functionalities.

Advisors can also now modify cruises, update loyalty numbers, handle special requests, manage airfare adjustments and book infants – any child that is under age two on the return portion of the flight – online. This task once required a call to the call centre.

ACV’s latest Travel Agent Toolkit has all the detailed hotel information agents need to know. 

Winter 2025–26 collection highlights

Other highlights for this winter include:

• Flexible ePackages combining flight and hotel options across Asia, South Pacific, Canada, Europe, and the U.S., including checked baggage and carry-on.
• Exclusive car rental promotions, with competitive pricing, and commission opportunities.
• Vacation Promise and Cruise Promise programs providing built-in peace of mind.
• Expanded product lineup with ACV&ME Loyalty Program rewards, allowing travel advisors to earn Aeroplan points, travel vouchers, and Visa gift cards.
• A full revamp of ACV&ME is also set to launch soon, as well as booking incentive offering the chance to win 50,000 prizes.

Air Canada has also added a fresh perk: as of September 1, complimentary beer, wine and snacks are now available on sun routes to Mexico and the Caribbean, aligning with what domestic and transborder passengers already enjoy.

And there’s more to come as ACV gears up to celebrate its 50th anniversary with travel advisors in Cancun, Mexico, from Nov. 4-7.

This exclusive event, which will see planes fly guests from Toronto and Montreal airports, will bring together agents from across Canada for an inspiring few days of connection, learning, and celebration.

When asked about last night’s sold-out Dream Makers event – specifically, the interest it generated – Montagnese expressed nothing but pride.

“I feel proud for the company I work with and proud for all the partners who came out,” he said.  “We have partnerships, we have friendships. We have their support, and they have ours.”

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Watch PAX’s one-on-one interview with Nino Montagnese, vice president of Air Canada Vacations, here. 

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