Louise Gardiner is currently a Traveltrend Navigator at Wired for Travel, where she curates journeys, groups & getaways for couple, singles and families. Louise was recently the Vice President of The Agency Solution by The Travel Agent Next Door where she oversaw the strategic development and sales of their new storefront agency services network across Canada.
During her 45-year career in the retail travel industry and as a senior leader with Carlson Wagonlit Travel, Louise was responsible for setting and implementing CWT’s leisure strategy for the Associate Franchise Program in Canada. She was responsible for the overall leisure operational execution and financial success of 140 leisure travel locations which represents $1B in sales within Canada. Louise lead CWT’s Loyalty, Marketing and Leisure Supplier management teams to assist in developing existing and new associations with strategic loyalty and supplier partners. Louise oversaw CWT’s Noram Leisure Conferences and project managed the 250+ attendee event. She sat on the Canadian Executive Team and had executive ownership of the CWT Canada Associate Program Leisure Operations Division.
Louise brings years of experience in the Leisure travel industry and has a proven track record in running successful operations and building strong teams. Since joining CWT Canada in 2004, Gardiner managed branch fulfillment for both the leisure and mid-market corporate segments. She also oversaw the Company Owned Canada Leisure Division, Associate Franchise Network, and the North American Product Solutions Technology Team. She was instrumental in ensuring all branches were financially sound and delivered a consistent service and product offering across Canada for all CWT’s preferred membership customers.
Prior to joining Carlson Wagonlit Travel, Gardiner was Vice President of Tripcentral.ca and the Meissner Travel Group of agencies in her hometown of Kitchener Ontario. During this time, she was honoured with the CWT Outstanding Associate Branch of the Year and the KW Better Business Bureau Integrity Award.
Louise sat on the Travel Industry Council of Ontario Board for 6 years and served as Treasurer and Board Member of the Association of Canadian Travel Agents (ACTA). She also sat on the ACTA Regional Ontario Council. She was pleased to take on the part time professor position at Conestoga College Doon Campus in Kitchener inspiring her students to follow in the same career path as she did. She received the prestigious ACTA Gerald Heifetz Advocacy Award for 2024 for her support of the travel industry over the last four decades.
Louise has been a Rotarian for over 30 years. She has taken on many roles in Rotary including President of her Rotary Club in 2002 and 2020. She also served as the Chair of the Kitchener Rotary Club Charitable Foundation and is currently Past President of Kitchener Rotary. In 2002 she was nominated as Kitchener Waterloo Woman of the Year for her philanthropic Rotary service. In 2024 she was nominated for Senior Citizen of the year.
