With so much information at our fingertips, booking travel online can be a major convenience. But it’s important to know who you’re booking with so you can be sure to have peace of mind.

All booking websites, in-person travel agencies and tour operators based in Ontario are regulated by the provincial government through the Travel Industry Council of Ontario, also known as TICO, and have to follow consumer protection laws.

Regulated travel booking websites must give you important details about your trip, such as any fees to change or cancel your booking.

The company must also provide information on the travel documents required by each person in your group, and anything that may affect your decision to book, such as whether a resort’s waterpark will be closed for renovations during your visit.

Booking websites registered outside of Ontario aren’t held to the same standard.

To verify if you are booking with a registered, Ontario-based booking website, you can check the agency search feature at tico.ca