Air Canada Vacations kicks off Dream Makers in Halifax with new routes & tools

Air Canada Vacations (ACV) is hitting the road with new destinations, expanded product, fresh advisor tools – and a few superheroes along for the ride.

The tour operator brought its annual Dream Makers fall product launch to Halifax Wednesday night (Sept. 2), welcoming roughly 350 travel advisors to the Cedar Event Centre for an interactive evening that put ACV’s latest developments in the spotlight ahead of the busy winter selling season.

Reflecting on the night, Erminia Gallina, director of sales at Air Canada Vacations, called the energy in the room “electric.”

Halifax is the first stop on ACV’s cross-country Dream Makers roadshow, which combines product presentations with a supplier trade show, giving travel pros an early look at the company’s expanding sun and global portfolio.

But Dream Makers has evolved into more than a traditional product launch.

Over the years, the events have also become a stage for ACV to reveal new technology, booking enhancements and advisor initiatives designed to make selling its vacations easier – and this year’s edition continued that trend.

Among the developments previewed in Halifax was a new B2B platform, with ACV turning to its advisor partners for help deciding what it should be called.

The company also teased an upcoming interactive game that will give advisors another way to engage with – and be rewarded by – the tour operator.

And there was no shortage of artificial intelligence in the room.

ACV invited advisors to create personalized AI-generated superhero avatars, turning the activity into a friendly competition as creations appeared on a leaderboard throughout the evening.

More routes, more places to sell

New and expanded air access was a major theme of the evening.

Among the destinations highlighted were Mazatlán (MZT), Roatán (RTB), Mérida (MID), Quito (UIO), Santo Domingo (SDQ) and Tenerife (TFS), reflecting the continued expansion of Air Canada’s network and, in turn, the vacation options ACV can package.

For the Halifax market specifically, ACV put the spotlight on new service to Montego Bay (MBJ) and the return of Barbados (BGI).

The company also reminded Atlantic Canadian advisors of the range of direct options available from Halifax, including Cancún (CUN), Punta Cana (PUJ), Nassau (NAS), Barbados, Montego Bay and Orlando (MCO).

READ MORE: Winter Is Coming: Nino Montagnese on ACV’s Cuba pivot, luxury push, sargassum & Revnet

Barbados, in particular, represents a new destination for Halifax this year, adding another non-stop Caribbean option for travellers looking to escape the East Coast winter.

The expanded network feeds into a larger message ACV is bringing across Canada this fall: its product portfolio continues to grow.

That includes more long-stay options and new packages, building on what the company characterized as a successful recent Europe season.

A Revnet solution

ACV is also preparing for a change on the travel advisor side as Softvoyage decommissions Revnet (an action that, as previously reported, has been delayed beyond the original Sept. 1 deadline).

The legacy blue-screen system remains popular because it offers functionality advisors can't always access through current distribution channels, including certain connector bookings and more complicated reservations.

For ACV, connectors are the biggest concern.

As PAX first reported, ACV is working to incorporate more connectors into GDS channels. But it is also developing a workaround.

Currently, advisors can email connectors@vacv.com and ask ACV to add a connection to a file.

But they will have another option: a dedicated phone line.

“We won't put the onus on advisors to email and wait,” Nino Montagnese, ACV’s vice president, told PAX in a previous interview. “We'll open up a customer service line – or res line – that is specifically for connectors, because adding a connector is quick.”

In the meantime, ACV has been working to identify the functionality of Revnet and how advisors use it.

“It is legacy, but we all need to evolve to new tools,” he said. “I think it's now up to the trade to find ways to get the functionality that they had elsewhere, and it's up to us tour operators to provide it someway or somehow.”

ePackages gaining ground

ACV also highlighted the continued growth of its ePackages, both in terms of the destinations available and the earning opportunity for travel advisors.

The dynamic packaging option gives agents greater flexibility to pair flights and accommodations while accessing a wider selection of destinations, and ACV is backing that growth with increased commission opportunities for its advisor partners.

All about cruise

Cruise was another important part of the Halifax presentation.

ACV showcased cruise pricing and benefits to demonstrate the value available through its cruise program – a category the company has been steadily developing as it encourages advisors to think beyond its traditional sun-package roots.

That focus is about to extend into training in a significant way.

In another first for ACV, the company revealed plans for a new training academy, with more details expected shortly.

As part of the initiative, 170 travel advisors will board a Norwegian Cruise Line ship to become fully “ACV Certified at Sea,” combining education with firsthand cruise experience.

BOGO is officially here

Another initiative now moving into full swing is ACV’s recently launched BOGO offer.

The program has officially rolled out, and ACV indicated in Halifax that it is already seeing results.

The concept adds another sales tool to the advisor toolbox as ACV heads into the critical winter booking period, when Canadians traditionally begin looking south for sun escapes.

Dream Makers heads west

Judy Munden, ACV's key accounts manager in Halifax, said it was "so wonderful to see travel advisors from across Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, and PEI come together for the evening." 

"Some travelled several hours to be with us, which really speaks to the dedication and commitment of our travel advisor partners," she told PAX. 

"Alongside our amazing supplier partners, it was a fun and interactive evening learning what’s new at ACV, and connecting with one another. We’re incredibly grateful for the time, energy, and enthusiasm they brought to our event, they truly are our super heroes!"

With Halifax completed, Dream Makers will now head west, making its Calgary debut on Sept. 8, marking a new stop for the roadshow in 2026.

The tour continues in Edmonton on Sept. 9 and Vancouver on Sept. 10. It then moves to Quebec, with an event in Montreal on Sept. 14, followed by another first-time Dream Makers destination, Quebec City, on Sept. 15.

The cross-country series wraps up in Toronto on Sept. 22.

"Our annual product launch events are one of the highlights of the year, offering us an opportunity to connect directly with our travel advisor community from coast to coast," said Gallina in a previous statement.

“We're especially excited to expand the tour to Calgary and Quebec City this year, allowing even more advisors to experience these engaging events and discover what's new for 2026.”  

Don't miss a single travel story: subscribe to PAX today!  Click here to follow PAX on Facebook.