In September 2019, the Council of Australian Tour Operators (CATO) will mark its 20th year as an independent association representing tour operators and wholesalers who supply travel product for Australians travelling to domestic and international destinations.
Fittingly, at the travel industry’s ‘night of nights’ this Saturday (20 July) – The 2019 AFTA National Travel Industry Awards (NTIA) – CATO will, for the first time, launch The CATO Awards, to recognise and reward front line consultants across four niche travel categories, in a dedicated part of the AFTA NTIA Gala Dinner proceedings.
The inaugural CATO Awards are supported by a special group sponsorship comprised of Globus, G Adventures, Intrepid and The Travel Corporation, demonstrating the renewed collaborative focus of the land-supply sector.
“The CATO Awards are a great opportunity for the land-supply side of the travel industry – tour operators, wholesalers and tourism offices – to recognise talented travel consultants across specific market segments,” said Brett Jardine, CATO Managing Director, of the impetus behind the creation of The CATO Awards.
“As the industry evolves we are seeing the explosion of niche operators. Whilst the inaugural awards are focused on Group Touring, Adventure, Ski and FIT, our goal is to raise awareness of all travel intermediaries that are engaged with CATO, all of whom are proudly ATAS Accredited and supply the Australian travel industry.”
This year’s Awards will recognise the Consultant of the Year in each of four distinct categories – Group Touring, Adventure, Ski and Independent Travel (FIT) – nominated and judged in alignment with the National Travel Industry Awards process.
The 2019 CATO Awards Finalists are:
Adventure Travel
• Crandon Keddie, Cathie Rice Travel WA
• Jos Bauk, Peregrine Travel Centre WA
• Kelly Pinkerton, Student Flights Shellharbour NSW
• Leanne Flannagan Smith, Back Track Adventures QLD
• Rebecca Hausler, Temora Travel NSW
Group Touring
• Dayana Brooke, The Sustainable Traveller NSW
• Hannah Campbell, Global Journeys QLD
• Jo Gostin, FBI Travel VIC
• Lisa Campany, Flight Centre Edgecliff NSW
• Michelle Barker, Jayes Travel NSW
Ski
• Jenny Tucker, Travel Partners NSW
• Kelly West, Noller & Turner Travel Associates QLD
F.I.T.
• Ash Chawla, Global Sports Travel and Tours QLD
• Kieran Mackenzie, Altitude Travel Tea Gardens NSW
• Mathieu Cadart, Ucango Pelican Waters QLD
• Michelle Barker, Jayes Travel NSW
“CATO’s involvement at NTIA delivers an opportunity for us to highlight the significant value of the land-supply sector to a very engaged trade audience. This is the travel industry’s night of nights, and we look forward to being an integral part of the event,” Jardine added.
Guests at this year’s NTIAs will also have the chance to win amazing travel experiences thanks to CATO and Star Alliance, who have joined forces for the second consecutive year to create a mega NTIA prize pool giveaway, with members from both organisations.
Announcing the Star Alliance/CATO prize giveaway partnership for last year’s NTIAs (2018) are (L-R) Fiona Tse (Lufthansa Group), Sern Chupikulchai (Thai Airways), Tommy Lindblad (United Airlines), Rick Pomery (Air Canada), Brett Jardine (CATO), Jum Mu (Air China), Michael Hall (South African Airways), Kathryn Robertson (Air New Zealand), Frederick Lee (Singapore Airlines) and Pauline Leong (Thai Airways)
Each fantastic prize for 2019 includes return airfares:
- 8-night Thai islands cruise for two (twin share) with Peregrine Adventures travelling aboard the Panorama II, courtesy
Star Alliance Partner Thai Airways & CATO Member Peregrine Adventure Cruising - 10 day Annapurna Trek with World Expeditions, one of the finest introductions to trekking in the mighty Himalaya, courtesy Star Alliance Partner Air China & CATO Member World Expeditions
- Spotlight on New York Tour .. Experience the “the Big Apple” alive with the holiday spirit on this spectacular 5-day tour, courtesy Star Alliance Partner Air Canada & CATO Member Collette
- 5 nights for two people at the all-inclusive Club Med Kabira Beach on Ishigaki Island in Okinawa Japan, courtesy Star Alliance Partner Eva Air & CATO Member Club Med
- A safari for 2 people (twin/Double Share) for 8 nights in Namibia and South Africa, courtesy Star Alliance Partner South African Airways & CATO Member Africa Safari Co.
- 5-day journey to Argentina and Brazil to discover some of the highlights of these two spectacular countries, courtesy
Star Alliance Partner Air New Zealand & CATO Member Chimu Adventures - Two Swiss Travel Passes valid for 8 consecutive days in 1st class across Switzerland. Plus a $500 Expedia travel voucher, courtesy Star Alliance Partner’s Singapore Airlines & Lufthansa (Joint Venture) & CATO Member’s Switzerland Tourism & Expedia TAP
- 5 nights in Aspen, Colorado for two with accommodation at Capitol Peak in Snowmass, lift passes and ski rentals from Aspen Snowmass, and airport transfers to/from Aspen Airport, courtesy Star Alliance Partner United Airlines & CATO Member Sno’n’Ski
LEARN MORE ABOUT CATO
Read the new CATO magazine – Ground Control – HERE.
The 2019 AFTA National Travel Industry Awards (NTIA) will be held on Saturday 20 July in the Grand Ballroom at the International Convention Centre, Sydney.
Travel Monitor is a proud Media Supporter of The 2019 AFTA National Travel Industry Awards (NTIA)
