Race Day: On Location for the Air Canada and United Airlines Race

by Jen Mallia
Last updated: 3:00 AM ET, Sun October 18, 2026

For 20 years, Air Canada has hosted an amazing race, testing the skill and creativity of select travel advisor partners in destinations across the globe. In recent years, United Airlines has joined the event, allowing American and Canadian advisors to get together to join the fun.

This year, the race was held in Porto, Portugal. 15 advisors from the U.S. and 15 advisors from Canada were selected from a pool of approximately 1,500 who completed training modules from the airlines. The participants were all thrilled to be chosen. Kim Hartlen of Kim Hartlen Travel in Halifax said, “No matter who wins the race, we are all already winners for having been chosen to come here.” It was a sentiment repeated by other advisors as they sat for a celebratory drink beside the Douro River having made their way through the narrow streets of Porto, answering trivia questions and completing fun challenges along the way. Activities included a stop at Torreao Restaurant and Bar, which is part of an organization that supports the unhoused community. Participants put together hygiene packages with socks, underwear and dental kits that were distributed within the community that night.

cruise

The group of advisors was divided into teams of five, some with an honorary media guest. Teams had had the chance to meet each other at the opening reception at the five-star The Lince Santa Clara Hotel and during the day prior to race day on a private Douro River cruise and visit to a local winery, La Quinta de Pachea, where guests ate lunch on the terrace and took part in a wine painting session and port blending activity.

Ana Paula Souza, Director, Canada Sales Global Accounts at Air Canada says that hosting the event with United Airlines goes beyond regular FAMs or corporate challenge events. “The meaning of our industry is friendship,” she explained warmly. This race is a chance to express that in a tangible way.

opening

Adam Lucido, Director, Global Agency Partnerships at United Airlines says that the airline takes very seriously its relationship with advisors, stating how important advisors remain for travellers. “You connect them with the moments that matter most!” Lucido also spoke about the fact that joining Air Canada to plan and host the race with the destination was an easy decision. “We admire the idea to honor the best of the best,” he said.

For the race, TravelPulse was embedded with Team 5, a.k.a. Team Awesome, a.k.a. The Sweaty Fives, made up of team captain Jenn Soum, of TTAND in Calgary, AB; Jill Payne, Reed and MacKay in Rochester NY; Tracy Misner, Travel Services of SWFL, Cape Coral FL; Danette Vega, BCD Meetings and Events Clayton, DE and navigator extraordinaire, Deidre Zacharias, Maritime Travel, Prince Rupert, BC.

team awesome

Despite being recently acquainted, the team bonded quickly and shared many laughs as we traipsed through Porto’s winding streets. Not to brag, but we were the first team to finish, although points to award the winning team are still being tabulated and will be announced at a gala dinner reception on Sunday night.

The event concludes with FAM trips throughout Northern Portugal, themed on Wine, Gastronomy, Nature and UNESCO Heritage.

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