Mary de Almeida receives ACTA’s 2024 Leisure Travel Advisor award

Mary de Almeida was presented with ACTA’s 2024 Leisure Travel Advisor award at this year’s ACTA Summit in Toronto.

With decades of industry experience, Mary de Almeida Manager of Bob Family Travel Team at TravelOnly was nominated by peers in the travel industry for the honour.

Pat Probert, owner of Bob Family Travel Team at TravelOnly, observed: “Mary has been in the travel industry for over 40 fabulous years. Mary started her career at the Holiday Inn Don Valley in Toronto in 1982. Mary went on to join CAA in 1984 as a hotel reservations counsellor in downtown Toronto at the Carlton office beside Maple Leaf Gardens, then became manager of the hotel reservation department. After her time there she managed the CAA Clarkson branch, then Mississauga City Center location. This location moved a couple of times over the years and Mary ended her long career at CAA in 2011. During Mary’s tenure at CAA, she was nominated twice for the Diamond Award. This prestigious Diamond Award was for the associate at CAA who went above and beyond, and Mary was humbled to have won it.”

Probert says de Almeida’s career has been a rewarding one.

He pointed out that: “Being a travel advisor has enabled Mary to travel the world and meet so many people along the way. Mentoring agents in the travel business has been very rewarding and fulfilling, especially when you see agents go on to become so successful. Mary is most happy when she is able to fill clients’ dreams to become a reality. Many clients will only travel if Mary is escorting the group as they know all they have to do know when to show up at the airport. Our clients have become our lifelong friends.”

Probert says it’s unclear how much longer de Almeida will continue to work in an industry she loves but once you have travel in your system it is hard to get out.

And he noted that Mary is also humbled by the industry advisors that recommended her for this prestigious award including Sarah Boville, Amanda Beaver and others.

Said Probert: “Mary is currently looking at options on how long she will be in the industry after escorting one of the largest groups she will ever escort to Japan in March 2026 on Celebrity with other Travelonly agents, friends and other clients with the Bob Family Travel Team at Travelonly.”

And he added: “After 40 plus years working endless hours in the industry it would be nice to cut back and enjoy life and travel more.”

As well, de Almeida is grateful to be able to work with the Bob Family Travel team that includes Maria, Rob, Martina, Wendy, Shellie, Autumn and their leader, Probert.

Probert notes that: “Creating a better experience for your clients will have them coming back trip after trip and you will travel the world with clients who become friends. Travel is a unique business and one people with drive and determination should look at getting into.”

Meanwhile, de Almeida is receiving praise from other Bob Family Travel colleagues as well, with Wendy Sedore saying joining the Bob Family Travel Team several years ago was a “pivotal moment in my career because of Mary de Almeida. It does not surprise us to hear Mary was awarded the Leisure Travel Advisor Award of the year with ACTA this year. While I had experience in various industries and corporate environments, travel was entirely new to me. The opportunity to work alongside and learn from the best in the industry has truly been a highlight of my professional journey.”

Sedore continued: “Mary’s vast experience and knowledge are remarkable, but what truly sets her apart is her incredible patience and deep understanding of the industry. She genuinely cares about the industry, those she works with and other travel advisors and is always available to provide guidance, no matter the time or situation.”

And Sedore added: “In just six months of working with Mary, I gained more insight than I did in two years of working independently.  Her willingness to share her expertise and systems has benefitted many, and I feel incredibly fortunate to have her as both a mentor and a friend. Working with Mary is a privilege, and I am proud to call her my friend.”

Autumn Fiske in turn says de Almeida has been “one of my top mentors in travel and tourism. Without her mentorship, I would not be where I am today as a travel advisor. She is compassionate and always willing to give advice for best practices and how to further my career. While completing my master’s degree in Tourism at Royal Roads University in Victoria BC, I’ve been working with Mary and Bob Family Travel and her expertise has been an immense help in furthering my career.”

Fiske added: “The flexibility and support she has given me to pursue higher education, will set me up for long term success in the industry.  One day I hope to achieve the knowledge of Mary and want to congratulate her on being awarded Leisure Travel Advisor Award of the year with ACTA.”

“Mary has been instrumental in the travel industry and seems to be the glue that holds Bob Family Travel Team together making them the number one team year after year at Travelonly,” says Rob Pittelli who is also on the team.

Pittelli continued: “With great care and patience, she has guided and helped all of us on our team and others in the travel industry in our training and development, not to mention all the problem-solving assistance she’s provided.  Mother Mary as some of us call her has indeed been a staple in the Industry for the past 40 years and our Clients have been better off because of her expertise and patience. Congratulations Mary on being awarded ACTA Leisure Travel Advisor Award of the year and for 40 Years of care for your Clients.”

Probert said: “This is such an honour for Mary and to be on the same team and work with Mary every day makes my day easier.  Mary is so thorough that we never worry about leaving clients stranded at an airport because of the checks and balance Mary has implemented throughout the team.”

He continued: “Working together with the entire team builds confidence and gives us ideas to bring new product, destinations and working with our suppliers to give clients and friends the dream trips so many want.  Without Mary’s attention to detail on some of our complicated trips some of these trips may never happen.”

And Probert concluded: “Travel has been in Mary’s DNA since school and I know she will be involved one way or another whether it is travelling or escorting a group or two in the future. We are all stronger because of Mary and congrats on being presented with the Leisure Travel Advisor Award of the year from ACTA, a great organization to belong to if you are a travel advisor.”