CITAP+’s People

Board of Directors

Alice Lin

CITAP+ President, RTO Director (Southeast Asia)

CAL Travel International Ltd., Director

Born in Taipei, Taiwan, Alice immigrated to Canada in 1996 and has been working at CAL Travel since 1999. Before becoming an RTO, she started her tourism industry career in Taipei as a member activities coordinator at a private golf club and then worked as a hotel front desk supervisor. After work, she enjoys reading, travelling, skiing in winter and biking in summer. Alice has served on CITAP+ Board for more than a decade, volunteering at every different position all the way up to the president. In 2017, she coordinated the annual Chinese Speaking Guide Training program with the committee team in Vancouver, which has achieved over 200 graduates so far in three years.

John Webster

CITAP+ Past President, CUS Director (Accommodation)

Sandman Hotel Group|The Sutton Place Hotel Company, National Account Manager, Tourism and Travel

John is a born traveller. Having grown up on Vancouver Island, there was always something new and exciting to discover over the mountains or across the Salish Sea. A graduate of Queen’s University at Kingston, John has been in the tourism industry for over 30 years. John owns and operates his own travel industry sales and marketing organization providing representation services, marketing and tourism product development to a variety of accommodations, attractions, sightseeing and soft adventure companies. In addition to being a CITAP+ Board of Director, John is an active Travel Trade Marketing committee member for the Vancouver Hotel Destination Association (VHDA) made up of 35 downtown Vancouver hotels who contribute towards the Vancouver Destination Marketing Fund (DMF). John is an active outdoorsman, has been married to Susan for the past 25 years, has two grown children, and always seems to be planning the next adventure or training for the next marathon or cycling event.

Lorne Nakada

CITAP+ Vice President, CUS Director (Accomodation)

Hyatt Regency Vancouver, Senior Sales Manager, Tour and Travel

Lorne is born and raised in Vancouver, BC and is a proud and avid Vancouver Canucks fan. He started in the tourism industry in 1988, first as a Japanese inbound operator tour coordinator, followed by outbound manager for a couple of Japanese outbound travel agencies , hotel sales manager for a Five Diamond property, a resort property, and the last seven years as senior sales manager for The Hyatt Regency Vancouver. Lorne passionately supports all of CITAP+’s functions and initiatives and is driven to see CITAP+ get to the next level. He regularly attends Rendez-Vous Canada, Showcase Canada Asia, and Focus Canada Japan. Please feel free to contact Lorne anytime for any assistance to promote travel from/to the Asia Pacific.

Andy Shimizu

CITAP+ Treasurer, RTO Director (Japan)

JTB International (Canada) Ltd., General Manager, Compliance & Business Development

Born and raised in Vancouver, trained as a professional accountant, first called to the tour and travel business in 1987… that amazing journey continues.
His strong interests in Asian Pacific — Canada relations, culture, economics, and tourism have inspired an interest to serve industry advocacy through strong partnerships.

Industry volunteer positions: presently, committee member — policy committee TIABC.

Past positions: board member/treasurer — Tourism Richmond; Travel Industry Advisory Group, Consumer Protection BC; advisory committee — International Markets, Destination Canada

Kazuto Bessho

CITAP+ Secretary & RTO Director (Japan)

Maple Fun Tours Ltd., President

Kazuto Bessho is the President of Maple Fun Tours Ltd., a Receptive Tour Operator in the Tourism Industry for 40 years.

Kazuto was born and raised in Vancouver, BC. Before devoting himself fulltime to Maple Fun Tours, Kazuto was trying to find his way. Working in a variety of industries such as a server, construction worker, retailer – you name it, he tried it. However, in the end, it seems like Kazuto was destined to be in the Tourism Industry.

The company was originally founded by his Father and Mother. Seeing his parents work so hard to start and build the company, Kazuto feels strongly about expanding and sustaining the company for another 40 years or more.

On his days off, Kazuto enjoys golfing, travelling, hiking, going to the gym and reading. He is also an avid eater, and is always intrigued in new dining experiences and trends.

Yu-Shan Tseng

CITAP+ RTO Director (Sino-China)

NTS Holding (International) Ltd., Tour Manager

Shan was born in Taipei, Taiwan, but was raised in Vancouver, BC. After joining NTS International Group, her work experience in tour operations, event planning, and administration has led her to excel in other areas of her life, such as volunteering with the Taiwan Chamber of Commerce in BC in her early 20s on various events, eventually leading her to sit on the board of directors with the Chamber of Commerce for the 2018-2019 term on the events committee. Her passion for event planning is evident in her work with NTS as well as the Chamber. In her spare time, she loves to experience different cuisines, and sharing this passion with her friends. She also finds time to play drop-in volleyball to stay active and continue to meet and connect with new peers.

Gillian Beath

CITAP+ RTO Director (Australia)

Journeys Across Canada, President & Owner

Gillian was born and raised in the UK. She started in the travel industry working for a UK receptive handling tours all over Europe and the UK before moving on to manage the incentive travel division of a UK receptive. In 1990 she took a career break to travel the world which brought her to Vancouver where she fell in love with the active, outdoor, spontaneous lifestyle of the west coast. In 1992, she emigrated to Canada and founded Journeys Across Canada, an RTO specialising in custom group and FIT from international source markets as diverse as Australia,  Sweden, Netherlands, Israel, and Chile.

Gillian loves outdoor activities including hiking, kayaking and skiing. She also loves food, is always interested in new flavours and dining experiences.

David Lin

CITAP+ RTO Director (Southeast Asia)

GS Travel (Vancouver) Ltd., President

David was born and raised in Taipei, Taiwan. He came to Vancouver, BC as a student in 1985. In 1989, he became a landed immigrant and obtained his Canadian citizenship in 1992. David was known as one of the youngest entrepreneurs who studied and worked in business during his university days. He has successfully marketed and promoted the Canadian tourism industry to the Far East market for almost 25 years, with extensive background working with various levels of the Taiwan Chamber of Commerce (BC, Canada, North America, and World).

Victor Pun

CITAP+ RTO Director (Sino-China)

Winners Vacation Inc., President

Victor immigrant to Vancouver from Hong Kong in 1997. After graduating from university, he joined in China International Travel Service. In 1989 Victor moved to Hong Kong and set up his own travel agency doing business with clients in Taiwan, South East Asia and United Sates. Victor works as Managing Director at Winners Vacation Inc. since 2002. He is in the industry as RTO for more than 3 decades, he is Managing Director of Winners Express Charter Coach Ltd. as well. Victor was CITAP+’s Director (Sino China) from 2015 to 2018.

Nancy Johnston

CITAP+ RTO Director (Europe)

Jonview Canada, Vice President Contracting & Product

Nancy was born and raised in Toronto. After graduating with a Degree in Business Finance from Ryerson University, she enjoyed personal travel through Europe then started her 30-year career with Jonview Canada. She is a member of HEDNA (joining the Jonview IT team on distribution solutions), is a member of the Destination Toronto Travel Trade Advisory Council and sits on advisory boards of national hotel brands. More recently, she completed a mini-MBA with Schulich School of Business.  

Throughout this time a continued passion for travel has remained, along with personal hobbies of yoga, running and wind down time to read.

Rhonda Hughes

CITAP+ DMO Director

Travel Alberta, Manager, RTO Development

Rhonda Hughes is the RTO manager for business development at Travel Alberta. She is responsible for growing product offering from receptive tour operators and for handling the RTO relationship for Alberta. Rhonda has over 20 years of hospitality and tourism experience and always had a passion for tourism. She has been working with RTOs for over 15 years and has travelled extensively internationally for both work and personal. She has a long background in tourism and has worked in a wide range of tourism organizations, from restaurants and hotels, to Tourism Calgary and Travel Alberta. She has her Bachelor of Commerce degree from the University of Calgary, specializing in hotel and resort management, along with her diploma in hotel and restaurant management from the Southern Alberta Institute of Technology, and is currently working towards achieving a certificate for emerging leaders from the University of Calgary. Rhonda was born and raised in Alberta, and enjoys doing anything outside, from skiing to hiking, along with being a foodie at heart.

William Hogg

CITAP+ DMO Director

Destination Sherbrooke, Account Manager- Tour & Travel, International & Emerging Markets

As Account Manager – Tour & Travel, International & Emerging Markets with Destination Sherbrooke, William Hogg has developed and deepened key relationships with tourism partners and travel buyers from the region, across Canada and around the world. The instigator of the Sherbrooke – Heart of the Townships brand, he continues to strategically develop product and position the city, partners, and the region in Canadian, American, and international (Asia-Pacific and European) leisure and tour & travel markets. Certified by the Global Sustainable Tourism Council and the Canadian Gay and Lesbian Chamber of Commerce for LGBTQ+ tourism, he also heads the Emerging Markets portfolio.

Sonya Stevenson

CITAP+ DMO Director

Destination Ontario, Marketing and Trade Consultant

Sonya Stevenson has been part of the International Marketing team at Destination Ontario since May 2000. Together with her colleagues, she is responsible for the development and execution of Destination Ontario’s consumer and trade strategy for international markets. The team’s work educates international consumers and trade on Ontario’s destinations and experiences through a variety of tactics, including integrated marketing campaigns, partnered Ontario product tours, business-to-business sales programs and marketplaces, and travel trade training programs. Sonya also manages the Ontario presence at Rendez-Vous Canada, the signature tourism marketplace for international travel trade to connect with Canada’s tourism industry partners.
Prior to her role at Destination Ontario, Sonya spent three years on the leisure travel team at Tourism Vancouver. She also conducted research on the community/regional impacts of tourism development at Simon Fraser University.
Sonya holds a Bachelor of Environmental Studies (Geography) from the University of Waterloo. Her love for tourism was sparked growing up on “Ontario’s West Coast.” She now lives in a small town outside of Toronto (with her two busy teenagers) and is passionate about her diverse Ontario adventures.

Elaine Xu

CITAP+ CUS Director (Others)

DUFRY (World Duty Free), Division Travel Trade Development Director

Elaine Xu is the director of Travel Development at Dufry North America Division. Building on her experience as director of Travel Trade Development at WDFG in charge of sales and promotions, she develops and maintains business relationships for strategic partnerships. With a focus on China and the rest of Asia, Elaine has been a driving force behind the exponential growth in Vancouver Airport Duty Free retail.

Elaine’s forte is relationship-building. With an MBA and a Bachelor of Commerce in industrial business management from Beijing, China, she has produced and implemented business strategies for expanding and enhancing opportunities between Canada and China, Japan, and South Korea.
Elaine speaks Mandarin.

Joe Jansen

CITAP+ CUS Director (Transportation)

Wilson’s Group, Executive Vice President

Joe’s career in the tour and travel industry relates primarily to tour and transportation services management in the Alberta and BC markets. He is currently a director and past president of the Saanich Peninsula Chamber of Commerce on Vancouver Island, serves on the Victoria International Airport Consultative Committee, and has actively marketed tour and transportation services in North American, European, and Asia Pacific markets. Wilson’s Group of Companies includes the BC Ferries Connector Service, the YYJ Airport Shuttle, Grayline Sightseeing Victoria, Vancouver Island Coach Lines, BC Connector, Tofino Bus, CVS Tours, and Wilson’s Transportation Ltd., an active BC based charter motor coach service.

Staff Members

Joe Volk

CITAP+, Executive Director

Born in Edmonton, Alberta, Joe was CITAP+’s chair of the board of directors from 1998–1999 and CITAP+’s president from 1999–2005. Joe was appointed as Executive Director of CITAP+ in early 2016 and currently feels privileged to be working in such a great association. Prior to joining CITAP+ as the executive director, Joe has had the most satisfying career within the tourism industry. In his more than 40 years in tourism, he has worked with Brewster Travel Canada, Rockies Heli Tours, Travel Alberta, and including a 33-year career with Via Rail Canada Inc. Joe holds a Master’s Degree in Management from McGill University and a certificate from the International Master’s Program for Managers.

Taneet Gill

CITAP+, Administration & Operations Officer

Taneet joined CITAP+ in November 2017 and serves as the Administration and Operations officer. She contributes to the overall success of the organization by effectively managing member relations, financial accounting and reporting, and providing support to the board.

Committees