Susan Postma
Regional Manager | CAA Manitoba
Winnipeg, MB, CANADA
Susan oversees CAA Manitoba's retail and travel services with more than a decade of experience.
Spotlight
Biography
Susan has an extensive Retail and Store Operations background, previously holding various management positions for two national retailers prior to joining CCG in 2011.
Susan leads the Manitoba retail team at CAA Club Group, which includes all Travel, Travel Insurance and Members Services Associates, as well as the Travel Insurance Services Team, and the Merchandise, Warehouse and Distribution team. She also serves as a media spokesperson.
Her priority focus is on customer service and experience, team building, product knowledge and sales.
Susan is an avid traveler, with a variety of travel experience across all of Canada to as far as the Middle East and Peru. She is knowledgeable about travel and tourism trends, having lead the Travel Retail team since 2011.
Industry Expertise (2)
Retail
Travel and Tourism
Areas of Expertise (3)
Coaching
Customer Service
Team Building
Education (1)
University of Manitoba: B.A., Psychology 1990
Media Appearances (7)
Tips to save some money for those looking to travel
CTV News Winnipeg online
2023-02-01
For those who are wanting to escape the winter but also save some money on travel, CAA Manitoba has some tips. Susan Postma, the regional manager for CAA Manitoba, said the earlier you plan, the better. "It's great to be able to book in advance, get you some availability. If you see a seat sale now, we are recommending that you book that seat sale now," said Postma. She said the last-minute seat sales aren't as "plentiful" as they were before the pandemic. "The closer you get to when you want to go, you may see some higher price. You might also struggle to sometimes find that availability, say for a car rental or a hotel." Another tip from Postma to save money is to keep track of any reward programs you might be a part of. "People lose track of how much they have, so we really do encourage you to take a look at what points you may have with a credit card program or those Air Miles. Take a look at the details, see if there are any expiry dates. You may have a car rental already paid for that you're not even aware of." Postma said when booking trips, people should also look at what their food costs might be – especially with the price of food increasing. She recommends choosing all-inclusive destinations or hotels that offer complimentary meals to help reduce the price. When a trip is booked may also be a factor in how much someone pays. "If you can avoid some of those peak times, travelling on the weekend or looking at spring break, those peak times will typically be higher. So if you have flexibility when you want to travel, midweek or even mid-month, it can make a difference." She notes even certain attractions could be cheaper, depending on the time of year. For those who still want to get out in the next month or two, Postma says a travel agent might be the key to finding some savings, as they are aware of promotions and other options for travellers.
'Sustained interest' to travel abroad: CAA
Sarnia News Today online
2023-01-25
Postma said this time of year is typically a busy time to travel and that they're really seeing a sustained interest. "Sometimes there can be peaks and valleys in the booking season, but right now we're seeing people are expressing a real want to travel. Some are traveling in the short-term. They probably booked their spring break, and if they haven't, some are still looking for spring break, but we are seeing people making plans for summer, we're seeing people booking into even next year." Postma said if it's not part of active travelling right now, people are certainly making those plans. She's also encouraging would-be travelers to look into travel insurance. "They can cover things like cancelled flights or lost luggage or medical expenses. So, very important to ask those questions about what travel insurance coverage you need and how it best supports your trip planning." Postma said in general, they are seeing some higher pricing due to demand, availability and some inflation.
CAA talks the importance of travel insurance after recent international travel events
Global News Winnipeg tv
2023-01-10
Susan Postma is a regional manager with CAA Manitoba; she joins Global News Manitoba to give an update on recent events disrupting travel in Mexico and tells viewers about the importance of travel insurance when plans go awry.
Rising fuel costs put damper on summer road-trip plans, survey says
Winnipeg Free Press print
2022-05-09
There’s pent-up demand for travel after two years of a pandemic, said Susan Postma, CAA Manitoba’s regional manager. "(People are) eager to book a trip, they’re eager to connect with family," she said. Still, CAA Manitoba isn’t yet seeing 2019 road trip levels. Volume is around 70 to 75 per cent of pre-pandemic bookings, Postma said. "The price of gas is not to be discounted," she said. "When (some travellers) see the gas prices, then maybe they aren’t venturing as far."
Rental car crunch
Winnipeg Free Press print
2022-03-24
"Already into December, we’re seeing reservations coming through," said Susan Postma, a regional manager at CAA Manitoba. The travel company has noticed "pockets of availability" when helping clients rent vehicles, she said. Trip planning is on the rise, she added. Peak season — June, July and August — is currently the hardest for renting. "My recommendation would be to certainly reserve now," Postma said. "You can always look closer to departure for other opportunities, whether it be pricing or type of vehicle."
CAA unveils five new luxurious experiences for travellers looking to explore Canada in a new way
Newswire online
2022-03-16
Longing for your next adventure? Look no further because CAA Manitoba has unveiled a new set of luxurious travel packages designed for travellers who are ready to embark on an iconic Canadian adventure. As part of each package, travellers will be flying on a CAA chartered jet with all business class seating, offered in partnership with Air Canada. They will be joined only by those travelling on a Premier Collection tour. Itineraries are curated with affordable luxury in mind.
Manitoba traveller questions $8,500 fines after PCR test results rejected at border
CTV News online
2022-01-14
Susan Postma, regional manager with CAA Manitoba, said it is important to ask questions about insurance coverage prior to your trip. “When there are active advisories there are different parameters of coverage that would be supported by an insurance policy,” Postma said. “It’s very unique to the traveler.” McKillop and her daughter thought their Aruba results would be accepted and did not see anywhere in the rules a test specifically from the U.S. was required for re-entry to Canada. At the time, Canada was allowing residents who travelled to the U.S. for less than 72 hours to return without proof of a negative PCR test.
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