No glass ceilings, says Air Canada & ACV at Women in Business event

At Air Canada Vacations (ACV) and Air Canada, "there are no glass ceilings," representative from both brands said at the third-annual Women in Business event on Tuesday (Mar 25) at The Vue Event Venue in Etobicoke.

What started as an idea in 2020 is now an annual celebration of amazing women who drive the travel industry forward.

In an interview with PAX, Christine Faulkner, manager, sales operations and planning at ACV, which produced the event, explained the overall concept: 

"Let's get together, let's empower each other, let's chat, let's talk about all the things that we struggle with from day to day, whether it be personal or professional. At the end of the day, we thought there are so many women in our industry, why not get them together?" she said. 

Leadership and innovation

Industry veterans Dina Bertolo, vice president of product and development at Air Canada Vacations, and Rose Cosentino, vice president of global wholesale and retail sales at Playa Hotels and Resorts, led an engaging panel discussion that offered raw, honest insights into women's leadership.

Their stories were an example of resilience, highlighting the challenges women have navigated through the years in a traditionally male-dominated industry.

The discussion went deep into key issues such as work-life balance, overcoming professional obstacles, and embracing technological changes.

Cosentino shared her thoughts on AI and travel, advising to "use AI as a tool to help your job, make it easier to embrace how you can have more efficiency.”

She emphasized that technology is an opportunity, not a threat, and encouraged women in the industry to prioritize customer relationships and personalization.

With regards to work-life balance, both panelists shared personal struggles and triumphs. Bertolo reflected on the guilt many working mothers may experience, while Cosentino shared her journey through a cancer diagnosis, mentioning the importance of kindness, self-care, and looking after one another.

Regarding the importance of empowering women in leadership roles, Bertolo stated that “supporting each other is the best form of leadership you can give to anyone."

Amplifying women's voices

Following the panel, keynote speaker Brenda Andress delivered a passionate message on empowerment and self-confidence.

As the founder and president of SheIS, a non-profit uniting the sports world to mobilize fans to grow women’s sports, Andress shared a personal story of receiving the Women of Distinction award by the YWCA for her work with the Canadian Women’s Hockey League.  

Recalling the moment she sat next to a Nobel Prize winner while waiting to be called on stage to receive her award, Andress shared how she felt both humbled and overwhelmed. When Andress finally walked onto the stage, she confidently declared, "I just want to tell everybody in this room that I'm worthy and deserving of this award," a statement she said that silenced the entire room of over one thousand women.

Andress encouraged the Women in Business attendees not to minimize their accomplishments. "We, as women, are worthy and deserving but we have to believe it ourselves." She emphasized that every woman is worthy of the career, love, and decisions she desires.

Andress also mentioned the ongoing fight for equity in women’s sports, noting that "only two per cent of all investment dollars go to women" even though female athletes have achieved many sporting accomplishments that are not widely publicized.

She is currently seeking funding to develop an app that is an aggregator of content. Unlike other platforms where women's stories are typically “way down there," her app will place top priority on amplifying women's voices around the world so their stories are “front and centre.”  

The app will also build a platform that is a safe space for young girls and women, she said. 

Andress wrapped up her presentation with a compelling question: "Do you believe you are worthy and deserving? Because the language you use depicts whether you actually believe it or not".

As Air Canada Vacations celebrates its 50th anniversary, the event provided a chance to pause, celebrate, and continue shaping the future together.

"We’re here because of all the ladies in this room and everyone we work with. They trust us, know our brand, and we want to keep improving,” said Faulkner.

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