A simple opening remark at one of the travel industry’s biggest annual events set the tone for things to come.
“Welcome to the CATO Christmas Lunch for 2022.”
These few words were all it took to draw applause and cheers from the hundreds of travel trade luminaries who had gathered for the return of the Council of Australian Tour Operators (CATO) Travel Industry Christmas Lunch, which was held at the Ivy Ballroom in Sydney.
While the CATO Christmas Lunch had its share of decorated trees and baubles, a roaming Santa and of course Christmas roast, the event clearly represented much more than a Christmas party. It was a celebration of the comeback; a celebration of reconnection; a celebration of travel, and of course, its people.
And this CATO Christmas Lunch was truly one for ALL the people, with the event being open to the entire travel industry for the first time.
Instead of “tour operators talking to tour operators talking to tour operators”, as CATO managing director Brett Jardine put it, wholesalers mingled with travel advisors, airlines were able to chat with national tourism offices, while cruise companies and rail operators flitted about in the festive spirit.
CATO chair Dennis Bunnik said, “Travel is back, customers are back, bookings are back, first-class is back, educationals are back … conferences are back, and CATO events are back”, adding that he had never seen a CATO event like the 2022 edition.
With collaboration one of the buzzwords at the party – as it has been during most of the pandemic – Bunnik referred to the CATO Christmas Lunch as not just a CATO Club event, but another step in unifying the trade.
Together in Travel
One of the leaders in bringing people and groups together has been Karryon founder and publisher Matt Leedham, who created the ‘Together in Travel’ mantra.
Jardine said Leedham had created “positivity” in an industry at its lowest point, and “people wanted to be part of that”.
In an onstage interview with the CATO boss, Leedham said the Together in Travel tagline had been inspired by the incredibly tough times the industry was going through during the pandemic and was now a part of Karryon’s “mission”.
He added that reaction to the initiative had been amazing and quick.
But for now, the travel industry needed to celebrate – and receive gifts (this was a Christmas event after all).
Among the many prizes on offer at the CATO Christmas lunch was a major giveaway that included two return tickets to Qatar, a five-night accomodation package, and airport transfers, presented by Platinum Sponsor Qatar Tourism.
Other door prizes included two return economy class tickets to Vietnam and several Mastercard Gift Cards, courtesy of Cash Passport.
Following a tasty two-course lunch and lots of bubbly, guests of the event moved upstairs to the Ivy Pool Bar for the official After Party.
The CATO Travel Industry Christmas Lunch may have been a huge one, but you get the sense that the event was just a marker of things to come for the travel industry. And an even bigger party next year.
Check out more imagery from the events.
Visit cato.travel for more information on CATO. And read how CATO urged the Government to consider an open skies agreement for Australia to help boost international travel.
