MISSISSAUGA — A limited number of Ontario travel businesses will see higher TICO renewal fees in 2026, as the regulator moves ahead with a targeted inflationary adjustment for its largest registrants.

The Travel Industry Council of Ontario has announced that the 2.4% increase will apply to renewal payments due on or after April 1, 2026, and will affect only registrants with Ontario gross sales exceeding $10 million. TICO says the change will impact approximately 10% of its registrant base.

There are no other fee changes being introduced, including for the Compensation Fund. For the remaining 90% of registrants, fee rates will remain at the levels established in April 2024.

“We recognize that businesses continue to face challenging economic conditions, and we have kept this adjustment as modest as practicable,” said TICO CEO Richard Smart. “TICO remains focused on protecting travel consumers, while being mindful of the financial realities faced by Ontario’s travel businesses.”

A breakdown of the fee change is as follows:

WHY THE FEE HIKE? 

According to TICO, the inflationary adjustment is intended to support the continued sustainability, quality and reliability of services provided to both Ontario travel consumers and registrants, at a time when operational costs continue to rise due to inflation.

From 2011 through 2024, TICO’s funding levels remained unchanged. While this approach limited short-term increases, the organization says it also meant funding did not keep pace with inflation or the evolving demands of consumer protection and regulatory oversight. As a result, a broader funding review and realignment took place in 2024.

Following that process, TICO committed to a more proactive funding model that includes regular reviews and modest inflation-based adjustments when required, rather than infrequent and more significant increases.

For questions about renewal fees or Compensation Fund assessments, email tico@tico.ca or call 1-888-451-8426.