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CATO News
All the latest news, updates and activity from the Council of Australian Tour Operators (CATO) 

  • Thu, May 11, 2023 12:13 PM | Deleted user

    The Council of Australian Tour Operators (CATO), in anticipation of its Annual General Meeting on Tuesday, May 16, 2023, has disclosed the names of the esteemed candidates for the upcoming Board election.

    Dennis Bunnik, Joint CEO of Bunnik Tours, has been unanimously re-elected as the Chair of CATO for an additional two-year term, serving CATO with a decade of commendable leadership through to the 2025 AGM.

    In addition to Bunnik’s re-election, CATO proudly presents six exceptional nominees contending for four available board positions. This includes the following incumbent board members vying for re-election:

    • Julie King - Founder & CEO, Julie King & Associates and Founder of Bonailie
    • James O’Donnell - Finance Director, The Travel Corporation Australia (TTC)

    In addition, CATO is pleased to announce the participation of new candidates who have entered the fray for this year's election:

    • Chad Carey - Managing Director, Chimu Adventures
    • Martin Edwards - Co-Founder & Chief Exploration Officer, The Explorer Society
    • Yvette Thompson - General Manager - Sales & Partnerships ANZ, Intrepid Travel Group
    • Ingrid Berthelsen - Joint CEO, Evolution Travel Collective

    Brett Mitchell, Managing Director – Intrepid Travel ANZ, will not be re-standing following a six-year term on the Board.

    The final results will be announced at the AGM following the closure of member voting on Friday, prior to the event.

    "We are truly delighted to witness such a strong interest from our membership to participate in the CATO Board, a testament to the Board's outstanding credibility and accomplishments. On this occasion, I would like to acknowledge Dennis Bunnik for his ongoing commitment and also extend our gratitude to Brett Mitchell for his invaluable contribution during his six-year tenure on the CATO Board," advised Brett Jardine, CATO Managing Director


  • Mon, April 24, 2023 4:49 PM | Deleted user

    The Industry Gathers for a Thought-Provoking Event on Sustainable Tourism Practices

    The Council of Australian Tour Operators (CATO) successfully held its inaugural World Earth Day Lunch on Friday, April 21, 2023, with the theme for event being a touch of green. The largest gathering for a CATO event in Queensland, the event boasted over 80 attendees from all sectors of the travel industry and was held at Fortitude Valley's urban-style resort, The Calile Hotel, selected for its notable sustainability initiatives.

    Major sponsor for the event and MC, Sean Martin, Managing Director, APAC of G Adventures spoke about the company's mission to change people's lives through travel and its sustainability initiatives. G Adventures is working towards a net positive impact on the planet. In partnership with Brisbane-based Reforest, G Adventures also gifted all attendees the opportunity to plant a tree by scanning a QR code.

    Emanuele Attanasio from the Italian National Tourist Board, supporting sponsor of the event, highlighted the importance of sustainability in Italy and measures that can be taken to avoid over-tourism. In Italy, 48% of the population are interested in sustainable tourism, and several initiatives have been implemented towards sustainable infrastructure and responsible travel.

    A panel discussion, moderated by Sean Martin, featured Damian Perry (Hurtigruten – supporting sponsor of the event), Michelle Degenhardt (Flight Centre Travel Group), Heidi Hauf (Boeing), and Toni Ambler (The Travel Corporation). The panellists discussed challenges in promoting responsible travel, the need for education and standardising sustainable tourism measurements, and strategies for decarbonising the travel industry.

    Key takeaways from the event emphasized the importance of developing a genuine understanding of responsible travel practices, initiating sustainability-focused activities within businesses, and working collaboratively and transparently as an industry. Working with a global framework such as SDG’s, supporting the growth of Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) and raising awareness among the flying public, tourism operators, corporate leaders, and policymakers were also identified as crucial steps.

    As the peak industry body for the land-supply sector, it is important that we take a lead in highlighting the need for a sustainable and responsible approach to travel. Our industry is responsible for 3% of global carbon emissions and although we are not some of the highest emissions industries, we still make a significant contribution” said Brett Jardine, Managing Director of CATO.
     
    “We look forward to this becoming an annual event in the calendar to support the wider industry” added Jardine.
     

  • Tue, April 18, 2023 8:46 AM | Deleted user
    • The Council of Australian Tour Operators (CATO) have today announced their full program of speakers for the forthcoming Crisis, Risk and Resilience Conference. This will be held in Sydney at Novotel Sydney Central on Monday 15th May 2023.

      A full program of speakers has been carefully curated, to bring diversity across various sectors of the industry, relevant to key scenarios of crisis and risk. These speakers include:

    • Chad Carey, Managing Director, Chimu Adventures who will share a moving review of crisis in action, and how travel businesses must be prepared for the unexpected.
    • Aaron Zoanetti, Partner & Travel Law Specialist, Pointon Partners and CATO Board Director, who will cover the critically important topic of Legal Essentials – Agent or Principal.
    • Brad Kelly, Director, Gow Gates Insurance, will look at the reality of travel risk, the value of assessing and understanding your vulnerability and risk aversion.
    • Greg Hay, General Manager Operations – Sydney Airport will share an inside view on Airport Operations and Disaster Preparation at our primary gateway to the world.
    • Nik Devidas, Managing Director, Rock IT will cover the important topic of Cyber Security whilst providing real examples of mistakes organisations make and how to avoid them.
    • Allisa O’Connell, Head of People & Culture, Flight Centre Travel Group will cover Crisis Leadership, and how the impact of a crisis can be minimised by well-prepared teams, and effective decision-making.
    • Roslyn Ranse, Founder of Travel Agent Achievers will moderate a panel of experts from across different sectors, who will share their view on changing landscapes, and what the future may hold for each of their specialties. These include:
    • Adventure: Lisa Pagotto - Founder, Crooked Compass
    • Student: Jamie Wansey - Managing Director, Student Horizons
    • Touring: Aleisha Fittler - Executive General Manager, Scenic
    • FIT: Brad McDonnell – Managing Director, Entire Travel Group
    • Youth: Sean Martin – Managing Director, G Adventures

    Appointed as Master of Ceremonies for the conference is Mark Carter - International Speaker, Trainer, Author and Coach. Mark has over 25 years’ experience as a global learning and development professional and his TEDx talk was the movie trailer for his latest book, ‘Add Value’, published globally by Wiley.

    The event will conclude with a Q&A with Mark Carter and CATO Chair Dennis Bunnik, prior to networking.

    “We are delighted to confirm Smartraveller and Ebury Partners as our key sponsors of the Crisis, Risk and Resilience Conference, and thank them for their support. I would also like to acknowledge all speakers who have committed to this important event for our industry, and looking forward to the learnings we will all share”. said Brett Jardine, CATO Managing Director.

    Tickets to the CATO Crisis, Risk & Resilience Conference are selling quickly. Register here


  • Thu, April 06, 2023 1:34 PM | Deleted user

    The Council of Australian Tour Operators (CATO) today announced a stellar line-up of speakers for their forthcoming World Earth Day lunch which will be held at the Calile Hotel, Fortitude Valley, Brisbane on Friday 21st April 2023.
    “As the peak industry body for the land-supply sector, it is important that we take a lead in highlighting the need for a sustainable and responsible approach to travel.” Added Jardine.

    • Michelle Degenhardt - FCTG, Chief Sustainability Officer (Retail)
    • Heidi Hauf – Boeing, Regional Sustainability Lead (Aviation)
    • Damian Perry – Hurtigruten, Managing Director (Cruise)
    • Toni Ambler – The Travel Corporation, Managing Director - TTC Touring Brands (Tour Operators)
    CATO has also confirmed that Sean Martin, Managing Director of G Adventures will Emcee the event and moderate the panel. G Adventures is the major sponsor for the event and the Italian National Tourist Board and Hurtigruten are confirmed as supporting sponsors.  
     

    In formally announcing the speakers, CATO Managing Director, Brett Jardine said “CATO has assembled a fantastic panel of experts from four different sectors of the travel industry. Guests will be inspired by these leaders, through a thought-provoking and impactful panel discussion, designed to educate and stimulate further conversations”.

    Our panellists include:

    Tickets to the event are selling out quickly at $135 per individual or $1,350 for a table of ten. This includes a two-course meal, beverages and post event networking. The event is open to all members of the travel industry, being held for the first time in Queensland.

    Register for event here


  • Thu, February 23, 2023 9:46 AM | Deleted user

    The Council of Australian Tour Operators (CATO) and the New Zealand Outbound Travel Suppliers Association (NZOTSA) have today met in Auckland to finalise a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the two peak industry bodies to collaborate in a number of areas.

     “There are numerous synergies and potential benefits through the cooperation of services and sharing of relevant intellectual property across Australia and New Zealand which makes our MOU very exciting”, said CATO Managing Director, Brett Jardine.

    “As our sector of the travel industry continues to rebound at a rapid pace, the MOU puts in place the groundwork to allow further expansion of the land supply sector across the Tasman Jardine added.

    NZOTSA Chairman, Joe O’Sullivan confirmed “the intent of this MOU is to explore, discuss and develop areas of mutual benefit for members across each organisation and the region in general”.

    Both parties noted that exploration of relevant activity will revolve around (but may not be limited to) advocacy efforts, member education, research, trade distribution, administrative capability, and networking opportunities.

    CATO and NZOTSA board members. L-R: Joe O’Sullivan, NZOTSA Chair; Marija Kapiteli, MD Croatia Times Travel; Brett Jardine, Council of Australian Tour Operators (CATO) MD; Robyn Galloway, MD Innovative Travel; Paul Dymond, MD Wendy Wu Tours and LISA Pagotto, MD Crooked Compass & CATO Vice Chair.


  • Thu, February 16, 2023 8:18 AM | Deleted user

    The Council of Australian Tour Operators (CATO) have today launched their Crisis, Risk and Resilience Conference which will be held in Sydney on Monday 15th May 2023.

    “The CATO Crisis, Risk & Resilience Conference will bring together participants from across the entire travel and tourism sector, with subject matter experts and industry leaders providing valuable insights through panel discussions and keynote presentations” said Brett Jardine, CATO Managing Director

    “We have curated an insightful program which will include topics critical to travel businesses such as; legal matters, crisis communications, cyber security, insurance risk and crisis leadership as well as sector specific discussion, delivered by a number of prominent experts” added Jardine.

    Of particular note for travel agents, will be a keynote address to be delivered by CATO Board Member and Travel Law Specialist, Aaron Zoanetti. Well-known for his expertise and in-depth knowledge of travel law, Zoanetti will provide a detailed analysis around the opportunities and risks associated with dealing directly with DMC’s and offshore suppliers.

    All travel and tourism professionals are invited to register with tickets priced at $180 +GST for CATO members and $220 +GST for non-members. Tickets include a full day conference, morning tea, lunch and networking drinks, post event.

    CATO have released a prospectus for potential sponsors and the full event program will be available in the coming weeks at www.cato.travel/events

    Tickets to the CATO Crisis, Risk & Resilience Conference are available here


  • Mon, December 12, 2022 7:57 AM | Deleted user


    The Council of Australian Tour Operators (CATO) “Industry Christmas Lunch Event” held yesterday in the Ivy Ballroom and Pool Bar in Sydney, saw 300 members of the industry come together to celebrate in festive spirit with optimism for the year ahead

     

    Guests were warmly welcomed with networking drinks, courtesy of Welcome Sponsor – The Travel Corporation and entertainment provided by Crooked Compass & Tourism Promotion Authority Papua New Guinea.

     

    Richard Taylor successfully emceed the event where the industry heard from CATO Chairman, Dennis Bunnik and Managing Director, Brett Jardine, followed by exciting destination updates from Platinum Sponsor- Qatar Tourism, Richard Styles, Gold Sponsor - Korea Tourism Organization, Ryan Archibald, After Party Sponsor- New Caledonia Tourism, Rebecca Marchal and Tourism Promotion Authority Papua New Guinea, Douglas Keari and Lisa Pagotto from Crooked Compass.

     

    CATO MD, Brett Jardine held a thoughtful Q&A with Matt Leedham from Karryon on his contribution to the industry during the pandemic with his work on Together in Travel. The After Party then progressed to the Ivy Pool Club, where the industry mixed and mingled until late hours of Thursday evening.

     

    “Through the generosity and support of all our sponsors, the industry was entertained and rewarded with lots of exciting prizes. We are deeply appreciative of the contribution from our sponsors to make this event such a success and look forward to this becoming the sought-after annual event in our calendars”, said Brett Jardine, Managing Director, CATO.

     

    “I would also like to acknowledge the wonderful work of Lisa Maroun and her team who supported us in creating and executing with precision, our inaugural CATO Industry Christmas Lunch Event” added Jardine.


  • Fri, November 18, 2022 9:36 AM | Deleted user

    The Council of Australian Tour Operators (CATO) leadership today met with Senator Don Farrell, Special Minister of State and Minister of Trade and Tourism in Adelaide, to call for the opening up of Australian air capacity by way of a 12-24 month Open Skies Agreement. 

    CATO Managing Director Brett Jardine, Chair Dennis Bunnik and Vice-Chair Lisa Pagotto raised the Open Skies Agreement during far reaching discussions with the Minister, that focused on fast tracking the recovery of the travel and tourism industry. 

     

    “Our tour operator and wholesaler members are seeing their post-covid recovery curtailed by the severe lack of airline capacity and the resulting high prices being demanded by airlines.”said Brett Jardine, Managing Director, CATO.

    Currently international airlines’ access to landing slots in Australia is governed through bi-lateral agreements between countries. A recent CAPA Aviation Conference in Adelaide advised that Australia’s international air capacity is at only 57% of pre-covid levels.  This is severely restricting travel and tourism recovery.  An Open Skies Agreement would allow any airline, unlimited capacity to fly into Australia.

    CATO believes opening up air-capacity will provide the largest single boost to the recovery of the travel and tourism industry post-covid. It will create jobs throughout Australia, facilitate the growth of exports and help address critical labour shortages.

    “The positive impacts of an open skies strategy will be felt throughout the economy.” added Jardine.

    CATO represents the land supply sector of the Australian travel industry. CATO tour operators and wholesalers create, market, and deliver domestic and international travel product sold both direct to consumers and through travel agencies. CATO members enable Australians to explore the world and return home safely. Outbound international leisure travel generated an economic benefit of more than $12b per annum pre-covid, and helps to underpin international aviation capacity, an integral part of the travel and tourism ecosystem. 

  • Thu, November 17, 2022 4:03 PM | Deleted user

    'Tis the season to be jolly … and to celebrate the comeback of travel. Could there be a finer way to do this than at the CATO Christmas Lunch? Naturally, CATO thinks not. 

    ‘Tis the season to be jolly … and to celebrate the comeback of travel. Could there be a finer way to do this than at the CATO Christmas Lunch? Naturally, CATO thinks not. 

    But the proof’s in the pudding (the Christmas variety of course) – and with the event open to the entire travel industry for the first time and ticket sales far surpassing expectations, it’s shaping up to be one sweet occasion. 

    Platinum sponsor Qatar Tourism has booked their place as have many other industry luminaries. Have you?

    As the major media sponsor of the Christmas lunch, Karryon got the lowdown from CATO managing director Brett Jardine about what’s on the menu for the event, the importance of reconnecting, and how CATO (and the whole industry) has been much nicer than naughty this year. 


    CATO Managing Director Brett Jardine.

    How special does this year’s event feel? Is there a renewed sense of optimism in travel?

    This year’s event feels incredibly special. It is the first time we have opened our Christmas event to the wider industry and we are so excited to connect further with everyone and build on the positive momentum right now. 

    Absolutely there is a renewed sense of optimism. We are seeing and hearing it from our members and while we have all banded together through the toughest times our industry has faced, as we rebuild it is even more important to stay connected and continue those relationships, which were strengthened during these times of adversity.

    Why did you open up this year’s event to the whole industry? Will future events follow?

    The past 2.5 years have been about unity, a collective voice and a collaborative approach to our industry. CATO has led the way by being the backbone of our sector and we could not have achieved what we did without our industry partners. This event is as much a thank you as it is a celebration as we all continue to move forward. 

    It is also an opportunity for CATO members to reconnect with the trade and their partners. Having the broader industry at our luncheon will allow another layer of face-to-face connection that has been missing for so long and as we all know, these sorts of events stimulate new connections and opportunities, which at present are endless. We intend to continue this theme with future events.


    CATO Board Members with Tourism Research Australia in Canberra in June.

    What has the response been from the industry?

    The response has been incredible. The interest and ticket sales have far surpassed where we thought we would be a month out from the event and this shows how keen everyone is to reconnect and celebrate the highs and lows of what has passed and what is to come. We are so glad CATO can be a catalyst to reconnect our members and so many industry partners.

    What can guests expect from this year’s Christmas Lunch?

    This Christmas Lunch is different to other Christmas functions. We will have some fun, educational elements, reflection and forward thinking. This is more than just a cocktail function; there will be a delicious three-course meal with drinks included and an incredible afterparty with plenty of time for networking.

    The Ivy Ballroom – what will the CATO Christmas Lunch hold?

    CATO memberships grew significantly during the pandemic – what was key to this success?

    Defining CATO members as the backbone of our industry was a critical part of our discussions with the government. Tour operators and wholesalers are the businesses that take the risk to invest in product development years before it is sold through their retail travel agent partners. 

    The traction that CATO was able to establish during the pandemic showed the power of unity to businesses in our sector and members have appreciated an industry voice specifically for them. The collective community strengthened during the pandemic and encouraged people to want to be part of something bigger. 

    CATO
    CATO Christmas event in 2020.

    What would you say to businesses considering CATO membership?

    If you are a participant in the travel industry and package domestic or international leisure travel products, you are deemed a principal. Chat with us about all the checks and balances required to operate in this capacity. 

    Many retail agents are unwittingly acting as principals without the right insurance and/or booking terms and conditions in place. There is nothing illegal about operating in this way however, we are aware that many business owners are potentially exposing themselves to serious financial risk.

    In addition to our tour operator and wholesale membership, we also offer a fabulous network of associate members, covering tourism boards, technology providers, airlines and other product/service providers, with a strong interest in engaging with the land supply sector. Contact us to understand what membership options are available. 

    CATO Trivia Event 2022.

    What does CATO have planned for 2023 and beyond?

    CATO is busy planning an expanded events schedule for the year that will focus on supporting our members’ needs and continuing to drive engagement with the wider industry. The major events will include a Crisis, Risk & Resilience conference, Annual Travel Trivia event and our CATO Industry Christmas Lunch, along with numerous other state-based events. 

    For more on the CATO Christmas Lunch, register here.

    Source: Karryon

  • Sat, November 12, 2022 7:44 AM | Deleted user

    "The CATO Christmas Lunch is now firmly on the travel industry calendar as the must attend event in Sydney, and with more than 250 tickets sold we anticipate an audience of well over 300.” said CATO Managing Director, Brett Jardine.

    “As we emerge from COVID, the pent-up demand for outbound land-based leisure travel is significant and we are excited to have Qatar Tourism supporting this iconic event, and the opportunity to showcase this wonderful destination.” added Jardine.

    "Qatar Tourism is delighted to be the platinum sponsor of the CATO industry Christmas lunch. We see CATO and its members as key partners in helping us promote Qatar to the Australian travelling public", said Qatar Tourism regional sales director, Richard Styles.

    The CATO Industry Christmas Lunch, held on 8th December at the Ivy Ballroom, is open to all travel industry participants. For those that have not yet secured their place, there are a limited number of tickets remaining – click here to purchase.



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