The Australian Travel Agents Co-operative (ATAC) has wrapped Future Focus 2026, celebrating a milestone 40 years of community, resilience and entrepreneurial spirit.
From September 10 to 13, the milestone event lit up Pier One in Sydney’s Walsh Bay with keynotes, panel discussions, networking expos and celebrations.
Looking back over the legacy of the past 40 years, the conference focused firmly on the future of the travel industry, exploring the opportunities and challenges facing independent travel businesses and the role of collaboration in navigating what comes next.
ATAC chairman, Jack Taylor, said the milestone was an acknowledgement of both the co-op’s long-standing members and those who had joined just weeks earlier.
“It shows that the independent movement is alive and strong and that there’s so many folks out there that truly want to be a part of something much bigger than themselves,” Taylor said.
“While they may be scattered throughout Australia, they’re certainly much stronger together.”
The co-op edge
AI was also on the agenda, with sessions exploring how travel professionals can use the technology to complement their expertise rather than compete with it.
Presentations were followed by a Mediterranean-inspired long lunch on the pier, hosted by Intrepid Travel.
The conference also provided plenty of opportunity for members to connect with ATAC’s industry partners, with a partner networking expo on Friday bringing the two groups together before a champagne send-off and Sydney Harbour dinner cruise sponsored by Viking Cruises.
For Taylor, the strength of the co-op lies in its distinctive membership model and the entrepreneurial spirit of those who choose to join.
“ATAC is very unique, and a part of that uniqueness, as you said, is that it means we’re not something for everybody,” he said.
“Who we are is for those entrepreneurial, independent travel minds that want to be part of something a little bit bigger than themselves. And the diversity within our membership shows that. It doesn’t mean you have to fit a particular mould, but it certainly means that you need to be capable of being a strong, independent entrepreneur and contributing to something far bigger than yourself.
“We’re really glad to be supporting like-minded folks who thrive and strive on wanting to not just be a member, but be an owner and be the only shareholders within the organisation.”
Celebrating 40 years
For members, Taylor said that the conference offered plenty of takeaways.
“Apart from immense pride around being here as a part of the 40th celebration, right through to obviously how members can better utilise AI to enable greater, stronger, connected customer relationships, as well as the power of the cooperative movement,” said Taylor.
After four decades, Future Focus 2026 offered a reminder that while the travel industry continues to change, ATAC’s central proposition remains much the same: independent businesses are stronger when they work together.
