CATO will merge with ATIA, subject to member approval, after both boards unanimously endorsed a joint future venture as being in the best interests of members.
The recommendation, to be voted on by CATO members at an EGM on Tuesday 9 June, follows extensive deliberation by both boards, which shared a united belief in the significant benefits the merger delivers for both membership bases.
The outcome is a single, peak industry body that brings together Australia’s travel agents, tour operators, wholesalers and travel management companies under one, stronger structure.
If members vote yes, CATO becomes a formally constituted and constitutionally protected Land Supply and Tour Operator division within ATIA.
The CATO name will be kept and there will be formal constitutional recognition. After 11 years as chair and 15 years on the board, Dennis Bunnik is set to stand down, a new Chair of the CATO division will be appointed and will hold a guaranteed seat on the ATIA Board.
“This merger is the result of an intensive and thorough process,” Bunnik said. “The CATO Board has worked collaboratively with the ATIA Board to explore every aspect of this path. We have pulled it apart and stress-tested it, to make sure all contingencies had been considered. This is where both boards landed and we landed here together.
“At every point, our focus has been on what is genuinely in the interests of CATO members. The answer is a structure that protects everything that makes CATO distinct including our name, our community, our events, and our independent voice while gaining the advocacy infrastructure, government relationships and national reach of ATIA. CATO comes into this from a position of strength, with that position protected by constitutional safeguard,” he said.
If CATO members vote to approve the merger proposal, ATIA members will vote at the ATIA AGM on 22 June to adopt a new constitution which enshrines CATO as a formal division of ATIA.
For CATO members who are also ATIA members, duplication will end with one membership, one accreditation scheme combining the best of both programs, one portal, a joint release said.
Christian Hunter, Australian Travel Industry Association chair said it is a significant moment for the Australian travel industry.
“For too long, the sector has spoken on the same issues from different platforms, and government has been direct with us about what that costs in terms of collective influence. This merger, should members of both ATIA and CATO approve it, resolves that: one body, one advocacy position, one relationship with ministers, departments and regulators.
“ATIA members gain a stronger, more representative organisation. Our joint ATIA-CATO members enjoy the many benefits of the removal of duplication of fees, accreditation and process. The whole Australian travel industry gains a unified voice. That is the right outcome for every member.
“Under ATIA’s A30 strategic plan, we committed to ensuring every segment of the travel industry has structured, meaningful representation including through dedicated Board-level responsibilities for each member segment. ATIA has successfully done this for our TMC members with the merger with ATMC and through the creation of the Independent Travel Agents Association (ITAA).
“The formal recognition of the existing 100+ tour operator and land supply ATIA members as the next step in delivering on this A30 commitment provided an opportunity to consult with CATO on whether it is now time to consider a joint future. The ATIA Board and the CATO Board are unanimous in the view that this is the right time and the right approach to combine the strengths of both organisations to deliver value for our members. This is why we are strongly recommending our members support it.”
The current CATO calendar of events will continue and the Touring Academy will be strengthened with additional resources to promote the importance of the land supply sector to the agency community.
The first full year of ATIA membership for CATO members (FY28) tiers 1-4 will be covered.
In addition to today’s webinar, in-person information sessions for CATO members will be held in Sydney (Tuesday 19 May), Brisbane (Thursday 21 May) and Melbourne (Friday 22 May).
“We look forward to briefing members on the recommendation and the benefits ahead of the CATO EGM to be held Tuesday 9th of June,” Bunnik said.
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