Agents plead guilty to TICO charges

A pair of Ontario travel agents have plead guilty to TICO charges, while another has been charged with a series of offences under the Travel Industry Act, The Travel Industry Council of Ontario said this week.

Robert Van Kleek plead guilty and was convicted of one count of operating as a travel agent without registration; he was placed on a two-year probation during which he ‘is not to engage in the sale, advertising, counseling or offering of travel services in Ontario, unless registered as a travel agent/wholesaler or he enters into a contract/employment with another registrant,’ said a release from TICO.

Byron Swayze/Globe Travellers Inc., operating as Pathway Tours, plead guilty to operating as a travel agent without registration, as well as operating as a travel wholesaler without registration. A fine of $1,500 for each count was imposed.

Pathway Tours operated in London and elsewhere in Ontario. Robert Van Kleek was a director and officer of Pathway Tours.

Meanwhile, 974764 Ontario Ltd., operating as Valhalla Travel and Tours, and Birgit Sondrup each face one count of failing to deposit customer funds into the trust account, operating as a travel agent without registration and operating as a travel wholesaler without registration.

Valhalla Travel and Tours operated in Keswick and elsewhere in Ontario. Its registration was revoked effective Feb. 14, 2014. Birgit Sondrup was an officer of Valhalla Travel and Tours. The first court appearance is scheduled for Nov. 28, at the Ontario Court of Justice in Newmarket.