Time really does fly when you’re having fun, and CATO (Council of Australian Tour Operators) wants the pics to prove it. To celebrate a quarter-century of unforgettable journeys, brochure-worthy landscapes, and experiences that have shaped the travel industry in Australia, the industry body exclusively representing Australian-based tour operators and travel wholesalers has gone full nostalgia mode.
The brief is simple: dig up your most treasured memorabilia from 25 years of land touring and submit it to CATO. Whether it’s a bold, vintage brochure, a photo from a standout tour, or a candid moment from a CATO event that had everyone laughing, your memories could win you some fantastic prizes.
The lucky winner will score:
- A complimentary ticket to the exclusive CATO Christmas Lunch on 5 December 2024 (valued at $180).
- A $250 MasterCard gift card. That’s $250 to spend on whatever you fancy!
And even if you lose, you win, as all industry member submissions will be featured in a special video montage at CATO’s annual Christmas Lunch where your slice of travel history will be celebrated with industry peers who’ve been on this wild ride alongside you.
“We’re excited to celebrate 25 years of supporting the land touring industry, and what better way to do it than to reflect on some of the moments that have defined our members’ journeys,” says Dennis Bunnik, CATO Chair.
Now that’s some anniversary spirit we can all get behind!
Time travel for travel
So, what do you need to do? Select your piece of memorabilia. Maybe it’s that old school brochure with the questionable font choices, or a photo from a tour so iconic that you still talk about it at dinner parties. Perhaps you’ve got a snapshot from one of those CATO events where the wine flowed as freely as the travel tales? Whatever it is, CATO wants to see it.
Here’s how to enter:
- Submit a picture or digital copy of your memorabilia via email to cato@cato.travel
- Be sure to use the subject line: “CATO 25th Anniversary Submission”.
- Get your entry in by Thursday, 31 October 2024.
And just like that, you’ll be in the running for a chance to be part of CATO’s storied history and win some seriously tempting prizes. At last, you can be rewarded for procrastinating and taking that trip down memory lane.
Reliving the past, together
The real beauty of this competition is how it brings the community together. In an industry as dynamic as ours, where we’re always chasing the next big trip or trend, it’s easy to forget the milestones we’ve already passed. CATO’s 25-year anniversary isn’t just about celebrating the organisation, it’s about celebrating all of us who’ve made land touring such a vital part of the Australian travel landscape.
As Bunnik so rightly put it, “Reflecting on some of the moments that have defined our members’ journeys” is the perfect way to honour those 25 years. So, whether you’ve been in the game since the beginning or you’re a more recent player, this is your chance to celebrate how far we’ve come as a community.
Key dates you won’t want to forget:
- Entry deadline: 31 October 2024
- CATO Christmas Lunch: 5 December 2024
You won’t want to be fashionably late on this one. Get your entries in before the deadline to be part of the CATO 25th Anniversary celebrations.
For all the nitty-gritty details, including terms and conditions, head over to CATO’s official competition page. And while you’re there, don’t forget to explore more about CATO’s incredible legacy and their ongoing efforts to drive professionalism, innovation, and integrity in the land touring sector.
This is your moment to flashback, rewind, and win. So, get nostalgic, dig through your archives, and submit your most cherished memorabilia for a chance to be part of CATO’s anniversary celebrations.
