ATIA kicked off the second Beyond Borders Conference 2025 in Brisbane this morning with a powerful opening address from Chair Christian Hunter, who announced new initiatives designed to give independent agents a stronger voice, modernise accreditation, strengthen advocacy and enhance industry data capabilities.
Speaking to a packed room, Hunter set an energetic and collaborative tone for the day ahead, describing the event as “a celebration of industry leadership, innovation and collective impact.”
“This is about making sure every member has a voice,” Hunter said. “ATIA isn’t just for the big companies.”
Independent agents at the forefront with CITAA
One of the most significant announcements was the creation of the Council of Independent Travel Agents and Advisors (CITAA) – a new leadership committee that will give independent agents a direct voice within ATIA.
“This committee gives independent agents a leadership role within the association,” Hunter said. “It builds on our promise from last year to create more formal streams for each of our member segments to have a stronger voice.”
CITAA will stand as an independent committee of the board with the same status as the Association of Travel Management Companies (ATMC). It’s a direct response to strong engagement from independent agents during ATIA’s Pulse Series, where members asked for more input and transparency.
“We know that 62 per cent of our members are small, independent businesses,” Hunter said. “It’s vital that this significant cohort has a clear voice in setting the priorities and guiding our advocacy work.”
ATAS review: trust, modernisation and cyber readiness
Hunter also unveiled the findings of an independent review of the ATAS – Australian Travel Accreditation Scheme, led by Michael Tresize, former ACCC executive and NSW tribunal member.
The review, which included broad consultation, produced seven recommendations and two suggestions – five of which ATIA’s board has accepted in full.
Key recommendations included:
- Making public liability insurance optional for agencies that do not deal with customers in person.
- Making professional indemnity insurance optional for tour operators.
- Considering mandatory cyber insurance from 2027.
- Modernising training pathways to make entry into the industry more flexible.
- Requiring biennial professional development training on the ATAS Charter and Code.
“By updating insurance requirements, we can reduce unnecessary costs while maintaining quality,” Hunter explained. “And by broadening training pathways, we can attract and retain the best people while maintaining high standards.”
The mandatory professional development component will be included in membership fees to ensure consistent compliance and elevate trust in the scheme.
Strengthened data insights with Roy Morgan partnership
Hunter announced a new data partnership with Roy Morgan, expanding ATIA’s travel trend reporting and giving members – including smaller agencies – access to powerful consumer insights.
The partnership will deliver annual deep-dive reports on future travel intentions, starting later this year with a focus on land-based leisure travel, followed by corporate travel insights in early 2026.
“We wanted to ensure that even our smallest members can benefit from forward-looking data,” Hunter said. “This partnership gives us unparalleled insights into what travellers want, where they want to go, and how much they’re willing to invest.”
New protection scheme: AIPP on the horizon
Hunter also revealed major progress toward the creation of a new ATIA Insurance Protection Program (AIPP), designed to offer members access to affordable, comprehensive cover for public liability and professional indemnity, as well as future protection products.
A global search for an insurance partner has been completed, with formal announcements expected in the coming weeks.
“This scheme will give members access to premiums that reflect their accredited status,” Hunter said. “It’s about shifting how insurers view the travel industry – and rewarding members for the compliance and risk frameworks they uphold.”
The new scheme is expected to be live by March 2026.
Major advocacy win: exemption from aviation scheme
Hunter singled out a “major win” for ATIA and its members, with travel agents and tour operators successfully excluded from a new federal aviation industry ombuds scheme following sustained lobbying.
“There’s often a lack of understanding of how the travel ecosystem works,” Hunter said. “We backed our case with evidence – IATA resolutions, agency agreements, ADMs, member testimonials – and made our argument real and credible.”
“ATIA is my association”
The chair closed his address with the launch of ATIA’s refreshed strategic marketing campaign, “ATIA is My Association”, designed to clearly articulate member value and showcase advocacy impact.
The campaign will include member benefit cheat sheets, transparent funding breakdowns and authentic member testimonials shared across digital channels.
“This campaign is about strengthening the connection between ATIA and each and every one of you,” Hunter said. “Together, we can shape a stronger and more resilient future for our sector.”
