The Council of Australian Tour Operators (CATO) has revealed that it will launch its first formal accreditation program.
Fit-for-purpose for the Australian land supply sector (wholesalers and tour operators only), the accreditation program is the product of almost “two years of consultation with members, focus groups, strategy days and board meetings”, CATO managing director Brett Jardine tells Karryon.
“Our primary goal is to support our members and ensure that they’re delivering the highest standard of product and/or service,” Jardine says.
With a launch date of 1 April 2023, accreditation is also included in CATO’s current membership fees.
What’s required?
To qualify for CATO Accreditation, a business must be a bona-fide tour operator or travel wholesaler and hold an Australian ABN or be represented by an entity with one.
It must also abide by the CATO Constitution, “which is basically the rules around how the organisation operates”, and adhere to the CATO Member Code of Conduct.
Jardine says the Code of Conduct provides guidance for members to demonstrate their professional standing within the travel ecosystem around high standards of product and/or service delivery through sustainable best practices.
To obtain (and retain) membership, businesses must hold certain levels of insurance, including public liability insurance with a minimum cover of AU$20 million, where relevant tour operators liability insurance and professional indemnity insurance, and compulsory workers compensation insurance.
Accredited members will also need to adhere to the CATO Member Advertising Code of Conduct and CATO Member Code of Ethics.
What’s not required?
Jardine says that organisations would not be required to submit any financials. However, members must at all times comply with obligations around financial reporting relative to the jurisdiction in which the member is domiciled. He adds that CATO would not have oversight or control over any of the commercial decisions made by businesses.
“We’re not pretending this is some sort of consumer protection. Our accreditation is aimed at CATO supporting our members to ensure best practice in the way they operate,” Jardine states.
The CATO boss also confirmed annual membership fee invoices were sent out today (2 March), 30 days in advance of membership renewals, and if qualifications are met, organisations will become accredited from 1 April 2023.
“So what we’re doing is, saying that the annual renewal of CATO membership is an acknowledgment that a participant or member is aligned with and understands and complies with all aspects of the CATO Member Code of Conduct,” he says.
Jardine is also quick to respond to comparisons between CATO Accreditation and similar schemes within the travel industry.
“At the end of the day, the structure of a tour operator or wholesaler is vastly different to that of a retailer.”
In February, CATO and the New Zealand Outbound Travel Suppliers Association (NZOTSA) finalised a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to increase regional reach across the Tasman.
