Connected Travel has joined the Australian Travel Agent Cooperative (ATAC) in a strategic move to strengthen its training-led model and align with a truly independent, member-first network.
Director and CEO Marissa Papas said the decision supports the next phase of growth for the business, particularly as demand for its training programs continues to increase.
“With the way our training is being recognised, we’re seeing strong demand for our intakes,” she said.
“This is where aligning with ATAC makes a real difference. The reinvestment of overrides allows us to invest back into trainers and the right support behind the scenes.”
“We made a conscious decision to limit ourselves to two intakes this year so we didn’t outgrow our foundations. But looking ahead to 2027, we’ll be in a very different position.”
“The reality is, it’s very easy to call yourself a travel advisor right now. We focus on making sure people understand how the industry actually works from the start, the systems, the suppliers, and the responsibility that comes with it.”
That includes introducing industry standards early, the ATIA Code of Conduct, the role of CATO, and now embedding CATO Touring Training as a compulsory unit into the Connect Program so advisors understand the broader ecosystem they’re stepping into.
Connected Travel operates a national advisor network alongside its training academy, working across the industry to develop capable, business-minded professionals.
“What stood out for us is that ATAC is genuinely independent and built for its members,” Papas said.
Marissa said the decision was also a strategic one from a business perspective.
“To build this backend override structure entirely on our own would take years. With ATAC, the structure is already there, and it allows us to move much faster,” she said.
“It makes sense to outsource parts of the backend to people you trust, and I wouldn’t trust anyone more than Michelle and Georgina. That gives us the space to focus on what we do best, which is training and developing our advisors.”
As part of its membership, Connected Travel was invited to participate in ATAC’s recent three-year strategic planning session, reflecting the equal voice given to all members within the cooperative.
“To be part of those conversations and actually be heard is something you don’t normally see in a consortium,” Papas said.
“Here, you’re an equal shareholder. There’s no one with more clout than the next person, and I love that.”
“With ATAC behind us, we now have the ability to scale what we’ve built at the front end, without compromising on how it’s delivered.”
