January 28, 2025 - Charged: Travelgirl Inc. and Tarcia Brown
Mississauga, ONT. – The Travel Industry Council of Ontario (TICO) has charged Travelgirl Inc. with one count of operating as a travel agent without being registered.
Additionally, TICO has charged Tarcia Brown with one count of operating as a travel agent without being registered and one count of being an Officer and Director of a corporation and failing to take reasonable care to prevent the corporation from committing an offence.
It is alleged that Travelgirl Inc. and Tarcia Brown sold travel without TICO registration. Tarcia Brown will appear in court on April 2, 2025, in Whitby, Ontario in relation to these charges.
In October 2024, Tarcia Brown pleaded guilty to criminal charges related to fraud when selling travel, with sentencing to take place in April 2025. This is a separate matter from TICO’s charges.
Individuals convicted in Court of offences relating to the Travel Industry Act, 2002 are subject to fines of up to $50,000 and/or prison terms of up to two years. Corporations are subject to fines of up to $250,000.
TICO prosecutes unregistered companies and individuals to maintain a level playing field and the integrity of Ontario’s travel marketplace to ensure consumers are confident purchasing travel from registered professionals.
About TICO
Formed in 1997, the Travel Industry Council of Ontario (TICO) regulates Ontario’s approximately 1,925 travel agencies, booking websites and tour operators. TICO administers the Travel Industry Act, 2002 on behalf of the Ontario government. As a consumer protection organization, TICO facilitates a consumer complaints process and administers the Ontario Travel Industry Compensation Fund. By booking travel with a TICO-registered business, consumers have access to added protection. To verify if a company is registered with TICO, and for helpful information and resources, visit www.tico.ca.
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Media contact
Kristina Wilson
Stakeholder Relations Manager