TORONTO — Christine James woke up on her birthday in July with a moment of clarity.
With nothing on her agenda but time for herself, she thought, “Wouldn’t it be nice if this was every day?”
That was when the long-time travel industry veteran and Vice President, Canada of Travel Leaders Network began seriously considering retirement after 27 years with the company and roughly 50 years in the travel industry. She began her career as an intern at Thomas Cook Travel in the mid-1970s, later becoming a Business Development Manager before joining Vacation.com, which transitioned to TL Network in 2017. Needless to say, the decision to retire was not made lightly.
“It took me about a month to make a final decision, not until the end of August,” she tells Travelweek. “I weighed all the pros and cons and reflected on what I’m going to miss about it all. But after making the announcement, I’ve just been overwhelmed by everyone’s reactions.”
Today, Oct. 30, marks James’s final day at Travel Leaders Network, following the company’s two-day ELEVATE Canada conference in Toronto on Oct. 28-29. Travelweek spoke one on one with James during the event, which gave her a final opportunity to connect with the members and supplier partners who have been part of her 27-year journey with the company.
“I definitely didn’t want to leave before these events,” she says. “I’d put so much work and planning into them, and it was also a fantastic opportunity – a golden opportunity, really – to see our members and supplier partners face to face for my final show.”
The response at ELEVATE has been emotional. James says that when she opened the general session, members and suppliers throughout the room stood up and applauded, giving her a standing ovation.
“I’ve had an outpouring of appreciation over the last two months, not just for what I’ve done for TLN members and suppliers, but also for the industry,” she says.
A CAREER BUILT ON RESILIENCE
Looking back on her career, James says she is proud of the growth of both Travel Leaders Network and the broader travel industry. She has seen the sector navigate major challenges, from the aftermath of 9/11 to airlines cutting commissions and, more recently, the COVID-19 pandemic.
“What inspires me the most is the resilience of this industry and how our advisors and owners have just bounced back,” she says. “They learn from all the challenges and come back even stronger at the other end. They adapt.”
The pandemic was an especially difficult period for the TLN team. James temporarily had to reduce her team from six people to three, but the organization continued supporting its members through virtual conferences, meetings and ongoing service.
“We still held on,” she says. “We really maintained the service we were providing our membership.”
For James, some of the most rewarding moments have come from hearing directly from advisors about the impact of her work. She recalls members telling her she has been an inspiration to women in the business and a role model.
“I was just doing my job and doing what I thought was right for the industry and for women in general,” she says. “That kind of feedback is very rewarding and very appreciated.”
A LEGACY BEYOND TLN
James says she was particularly moved to discover how far her influence extended beyond Travel Leaders Network’s own membership. At an Air Canada Vacations product launch in September, attended by 1,300 advisors, she was approached by advisors who were not part of TLN but wanted to thank her for her contribution to the industry.
“I really didn’t realize that people were paying attention outside of our network,” she says.
As for the legacy she hopes to leave, James points to her commitment, passion and love for the travel industry, along with the importance she places on integrity.
“I really believe in integrity. I can’t operate any other way because I feel if you truly believe in something and you’re sincere about it, it won’t feel like work when you’re doing it,” she says.
Her career has also pushed her beyond her comfort zone. James recalls that after 9/11, while working as a BDM, she was unexpectedly asked to speak with CBC. What she thought would be a phone interview turned into an early-morning studio appearance, followed by an invitation to appear on CTV with famed journalist Lisa LaFlamme.
She was nervous, she says, and had not slept before that first live national television interview. But the experience taught her an important lesson.
“When you push yourself beyond your comfort zone, it’s amazing what talents you discover in yourself,” she says.
LOOKING AHEAD
When asked what she won’t miss about the job, James says she’s looking forward to stepping away from the relentless pace of travel industry life.
“It’s going to be nice to wake up and not have six conference calls in a day, or think about your next meeting, or wake up at ‘dark-thirty’ to catch an early morning flight, unpacking from the last trip to repack for the next one,” she says.
As for what she’s most looking forward to in retirement?
“I want to spend more time with my family and friends and enjoy the holidays without the distraction of work. And, oh yes, actually travel without a laptop!”
That prospect comes as she prepares to leave a company she believes is well positioned for the future.
“With all our innovative tools and solutions, and the great people I leave behind, I feel very, very confident as I step away. The company is in incredible shape,” she says.
Travel Leaders Network is still recruiting her replacement, with Senior Vice-President of Member Service Megan Wollak leading the interviews for what James describes as essentially a general manager’s position, with responsibility for all aspects of the business.
And although she is retiring, James has left the door open to helping with the transition if needed. After 27 years, she says, some of the knowledge she has accumulated is difficult to capture entirely in documents.
“I can’t impart 27 years – a lot of it is up in my head,” she says. “So, yes, if they absolutely need me, I’m here. I want the company to succeed and I want our advisors and members to succeed.”
For the rest of us in the industry, chances are we’ll still see James from time to time. She has renewed her membership with the Association of Canadian Travel Agencies and Travel Advisors (ACTA) as a retiree and personal member, and intends to continue advocating for the sector.
Her final ELEVATE, then, is not simply a farewell to colleagues. It is a chance to celebrate a career shaped by relationships, hard work and a lasting commitment to Canadian travel advisors – while leaving the door open to whatever comes next.
To read our coverage of Travel Leaders Network’s 2026 ELEVATE Canada conference, click here.
Lead image caption: Christine James at Travel Leaders Network’s Elevate conference in Toronto, Oct. 29
