Michael Levinson
Michael Levinson is a Canadian independent director and strategic advisor. He served as Chair of the Board of Directors of the Travel Industry Council of Ontario (TICO) from May 2021 to February 2026, a position to which he was appointed by the Ontario Minister of Government and Consumer Services.[1][2] During his tenure, TICO was the subject of a Value-for-Money Audit by the Auditor General of Ontario.[3]
Career
Hospitality operations
Levinson was the founding partner of two suite hotels in downtown Ottawa: the Albert at Bay Suite Hotel and Best Western Plus Ottawa Downtown Suites, which he operated for approximately 35 years.[2] He served as President of the Ottawa Gatineau Hotel & Motel Association and Vice President of the Ontario Hotel & Motel Association, and was a board member of the Human Resources Executives of the Canadian Tourism Research Institute (CTRI), a division of the Conference Board of Canada.[1][4]
Technology
Levinson founded a technology company in the 1990s focused on online hotel reservations, among the first such platforms to operate.[2]
Travel Industry Council of Ontario
Appointment as Board Chair
On May 11, 2021, Levinson was appointed Chair of the Board of Directors of the Travel Industry Council of Ontario (TICO) by the Ontario Minister of Government and Consumer Services, succeeding Jean Hébert.[1][5][6]
TICO is a not-for-profit corporation mandated by the Ontario government to administer the Travel Industry Act, 2002 and Ontario Regulation 26/05, governing approximately 2,100 travel retailers and wholesalers registered in Ontario and administering the Ontario Travel Industry Compensation Fund.
Minister's Orders
In August 2023, the Ontario Minister of Public and Business Service Delivery issued five orders to TICO while Levinson was Board Chair. The orders required TICO to restructure board composition so that no more than 34% of directors were drawn from the travel and wholesale industry, establish a nominations committee, and create an Industry Advisory Council reporting to the Board.[7][8]
Auditor General Value-for-Money Audit
In December 2023, the Office of the Auditor General of Ontario released a Value-for-Money Audit of TICO, examining the organization's administration of the Travel Industry Act and its effectiveness in protecting consumers. The audit contained 16 recommendations, nine directed at TICO and six directed jointly at TICO and the Ministry of Public and Business Service Delivery.[3][9]
Departure
Levinson's term as Board Chair concluded on February 25, 2026, after nearly five years of service. He was succeeded by Andrew Gibbons, a former vice-president at WestJet.[10][11][12]
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 "TICO welcomes new Board Chair". Travelweek. May 11, 2021. Retrieved March 2026. Check date values in:
|access-date=(help) - ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 "Appointee Biographies — Michael Levinson". Ontario Public Appointments Secretariat. Retrieved March 2026. Check date values in:
|access-date=(help) - ↑ 3.0 3.1 Value-for-Money Audit: Travel Industry Council of Ontario (PDF) (Report). Office of the Auditor General of Ontario. December 2023. Retrieved March 2026. Check date values in:
|access-date=(help) - ↑ "TICO Announces New Board Chair Michael Levinson". Open Jaw. May 12, 2021. Retrieved March 2026. Check date values in:
|access-date=(help) - ↑ "New Chair for TICO". Travel Industry Today. Retrieved March 2026. Check date values in:
|access-date=(help) - ↑ "TICO mulls mandatory refresher courses, exams for registrants". PAX News. Retrieved March 2026. Check date values in:
|access-date=(help) - ↑ "Changes to TICO's Board of Directors Composition". Travel Industry Council of Ontario. August 2023. Retrieved March 2026. Check date values in:
|access-date=(help) - ↑ "Dawson, Townshend elected to TICO board as Industry Directors". Travelweek. October 12, 2023. Retrieved March 2026. Check date values in:
|access-date=(help) - ↑ "Ontario's Auditor General Releases TICO Value For Money Audit". TravelPulse Canada. December 7, 2023. Retrieved March 2026. Check date values in:
|access-date=(help) - ↑ "Former WestJet VP Andrew Gibbons appointed Chair of TICO Board". Travelweek. February 2026. Retrieved March 2026. Check date values in:
|access-date=(help) - ↑ "TICO Appoints Andrew Gibbons as New Board Chair". Open Jaw. February 23, 2026. Retrieved March 2026. Check date values in:
|access-date=(help) - ↑ "Andrew Gibbons appointed as TICO's new Board Chair". TravelPress. February 2026. Retrieved March 2026. Check date values in:
|access-date=(help)
External links
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