TICO - Travel Industry Council of Ontario Advertising and Pricing Standards Questions and Answers 1 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A TICO-registered travel agency places an online advertisement for a one-week all-inclusive vacation package. The ad prominently displays a price of '$999 + taxes'. Which TICO regulation does this advertisement violate?
- The requirement for all-in pricing. (Correct answer)
- The rule regarding the use of the TICO logo.
- The requirement to specify the travel wholesaler.
- The rule against advertising prices in Canadian dollars.
Correct answer: The requirement for all-in pricing.
According to Ontario Regulation 26/05, any representation that refers to a price must set out the total amount a customer is required to pay. This includes all fees, levies, service charges, surcharges, and taxes. Advertising a price as 'plus taxes' is not compliant with the all-in pricing requirement.
Question 2: A travel agency is creating a large print advertisement for a local newspaper. According to Section 31 of Ontario Regulation 26/05, which of the following pieces of information MUST be included in the advertisement?
- The agency's phone number and hours of operation.
- The personal home address of the agency's manager.
- The agency's registered business name, address, and TICO registration number. (Correct answer)
- The names of all certified travel counsellors employed by the agency.
Correct answer: The agency's registered business name, address, and TICO registration number.
Section 31 of the regulation requires that representations, such as print ads, must include the registrant's business name, address, and TICO registration number. While a phone number is common, it is the registered business details and TICO number that are mandated.
Question 3: Which of the following statements about advertising travel services in Ontario is considered false, misleading, or deceptive under the Travel Industry Act, 2002?
- Advertising a 'from' price as long as a corresponding 'to' price and date range are also included.
- Using a photo of a hotel's beachfront, when the advertised package is for a room with no view. (Correct answer)
- Clearly stating that a mandatory counselling fee will be added to the advertised price.
- Specifying that the advertised price is only available for a limited time.
Correct answer: Using a photo of a hotel's beachfront, when the advertised package is for a room with no view.
Section 28 of the Travel Industry Act, 2002, and Section 32 of the Regulation prohibit false, misleading, or deceptive statements. Using a picture that does not accurately represent the travel services being offered, such as showing a premium view for a standard room, is considered misleading.
Question 4: An Ontario travel agency wants to promote a 'Deal of the Day' on its Instagram story. Due to the limited space and temporary nature of the post, which information is NOT required on the individual story post itself?
- The all-inclusive price of the travel service.
- A brief, accurate description of the trip.
- The registrant's business address and TICO number. (Correct answer)
- The name of the airline or cruise line, if applicable.
Correct answer: The registrant's business address and TICO number.
While social media is not exempt from advertising rules, TICO recognizes that individual posts or stories are limited space mediums. Therefore, these posts are exempt from Section 31, which requires the business name, address, and registration number. However, this information must be present on the main profile page (e.g., the Instagram bio/profile). All-in pricing rules still apply if a price is mentioned.
Question 5: A travel agency advertises a cruise with pricing 'From $1,200'. To be compliant with TICO's advertising standards, what else must the agency include in this representation?
- The price in US dollars for comparison.
- A list of all possible optional shore excursions.
- The previous, higher price of the cruise.
- A 'to' price and the applicable range of dates. (Correct answer)
Correct answer: A 'to' price and the applicable range of dates.
TICO's guidelines state that if you advertise a 'from' price, you must also include a 'to' price and the corresponding date range for which those prices are available. This ensures the consumer has a clear and realistic understanding of the potential costs.
Question 6: A consumer sees an advertisement for a vacation package at a specific price. They contact the travel agency immediately to book it but are told the advertised price is no longer available. This practice is prohibited because the advertised price must be:
- Guaranteed for at least 72 hours after the ad is published.
- The lowest price offered in the last 6 months.
- Available at the time the advertisement is accessible to the public. (Correct answer)
- Approved by the travel wholesaler before being advertised.
Correct answer: Available at the time the advertisement is accessible to the public.
A key principle of TICO's advertising regulations is that the registrant must ensure the advertised price is actually available for purchase at the time the advertisement is made public. Advertising a price that is not obtainable is considered a misleading representation.
TICO - Travel Industry Council of Ontario Advertising and Pricing Standards Questions and Answers 1
A TICO-registered travel agency places an online advertisement for a one-week all-inclusive vacation package.
The ad prominently displays a price of '$999 + taxes'.
Which TICO regulation does this advertisement violate?