A strong fundraising effort set the tone at this year’s CATO Christmas Lunch, with the industry rallying behind the Prostate Cancer Foundation of Australia.
Guests dug deep through donations and Christmas bauble purchases, helping raise almost AU$40,000 for the cause. It gave the sold-out event a powerful purpose beyond touring and travel.
The fourth edition of the Council of Australian Tour Operators’ annual lunch brought together tour operators, wholesalers, partners, travel advisors and supporters for a full afternoon in Sydney. The gathering once again proved why it remains one of the most anticipated fixtures on the trade calendar.
Australian actor Gyton Grantley, sponsored by G Adventures, delivered the day’s headline moment with a warm and funny storytelling session that offered a look behind the curtain of his screen career.
Guests also enjoyed Latin dancers sponsored by LATAM Airlines, before kicking on at post-event drinks supported by Gow-Gates Insurance Brokers.
The afternoon opened with a Sri Lankan-themed welcome backed by Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau. CATO also hosted Her Excellency Ms Yasoja Gunasekera, High Commissioner-designate of Sri Lanka to Australia, who spent time connecting with members across the sector.
The event relied on a wide group of sponsors, including major co-sponsors Abercrombie & Kent, Bunnik Tours, Collette, G Adventures, Inside Travel Group, Intrepid, Keith Prowse Travel, Sun Island Tours and Travel Puglia/Tours of Tuscany.
Additional support came from Xe, TravelPay, Collette, Tours of Tuscany, Travel Puglia and Reforest.
Prizes were donated by Philippines Airlines, Philippines Tourism and the Sheraton Grand.
With another sold-out year in the books, CATO has already opened ticket sales for its next major gathering: the International Women’s Day Luncheon in Brisbane on 10 March 2026.
KARRYON UNPACKS: Events like this remind us that the touring community shows up for each other well beyond business. The fundraising effort stood out not just for the amount but for the atmosphere in the room – people happy to give, chat and reconnect. For agents, it’s also a snapshot of how active and collaborative the touring sector remains, especially with so many brands backing the event.
