The Council of Australian Tour Operators’ (CATO) Touring Academy being crowned Best Travel Industry Training Academy at the 2025 National Travel Industry Awards (NTIA) isn’t just a win; it is a watershed moment for our land-based sector. One built not on luck, but on grit, collaboration and a fierce determination to close the growing skills gap in modern travel.
The idea first sparked back in 2019 during a conversation between CATO Chair, Dennis Bunnik, and I. We both recognised a glaring gap: where was the training platform that truly reflected how touring had evolved? Then came COVID, and like so many good ideas, it had to wait its turn. Fast forward to 2023, the idea reignited, fuelled by lessons learned and a clear sense of purpose.
Inspired by CLIA’s success with the cruise sector, we found the right platform, welcomed Mira Yates to the team and rolled up our sleeves. The goal was simple: rebuild travel education from the ground up with training that actually keeps pace with today’s traveller and today’s advisor.
With incredible support from The Travel Corporation, G Adventures, Intrepid and Bunnik Tours, plus the creative contribution of industry leaders such as Crooked Compass founder Lisa Pagotto and former Academy Manager Alexandra Bennett, the Touring Academy was born and the foundation laid for the entire CATO membership to participate.
That NTIA trophy represents more than recognition. Every finalist in that category was a private initiative, which proves that our industry is stepping up where traditional education has fallen behind.
Today, over 2,500 advisors across Australia, New Zealand and South Africa are learning, growing and selling more confidently than ever, with launches in Canada and Asia on the horizon.
This is more than professional development. It is transformation. The touring sector is claiming its place at the top table, and if you are not learning with us yet, it is time to catch up.
