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The Council of Australian Tour Operators (CATO) introduced its CATO Accreditation scheme on April 1, 2023, to offer additional peace of mind to travel agents and consumers. To coincide with the launch, the organization has also unveiled new CATO and CATO Accredited logos that aim to represent the strength of the CATO brand and membership.

The CATO Accreditation scheme is specifically designed for the Australian land supply sector, which includes wholesalers and tour operators only. The program has been developed in collaboration with the CATO Member Code of Conduct after two years of consultation with members, focus groups, strategy days, and board meetings.

The scheme has been launched with the goal of providing an additional layer of protection for Australian travel agents and consumers while booking international leisure travel. When booking through a CATO Accredited Member, there are protections available under Australian consumer law that do not exist when booking directly with foreign-based DMCs and suppliers. The CATO Accredited Members are primarily responsible for the delivery of products, so in the unlikely event that something goes wrong, Australian consumers can hold an Australian business responsible under Australian law.

According to Aaron Zoanetti, a travel law specialist, Partner at Melbourne-based Pointon Partners, and CATO Board Member, consumers would need to take action against the foreign supplier in the supplier’s jurisdiction if they booked directly with a foreign supplier or DMC. In this case, they could look to hold the retail agent responsible, particularly if they have unknowingly sold the product as a principal and not as an agent for the foreign DMC.

The new logos launched by CATO represent the strength of the organization’s brand and membership while allowing CATO tour operators and wholesalers to communicate clearly that they are CATO Accredited. CATO Managing Director Brett Jardine expressed his excitement over the accreditation scheme’s launch and revealed that the membership renewal rates are significantly up compared to the previous year. The new CATO Accredited logos will enable members to proudly display their accreditation when dealing with the trade and consumers.

In conclusion, the introduction of the CATO Accreditation scheme and new logos is an important step towards ensuring the safety and security of travel bookings. Consumers can now rest easy, knowing that they have an added layer of protection when booking through a CATO Accredited Member. Travel agents and wholesalers, on the other hand, can take pride in displaying their accreditation and assuring their customers of their commitment to providing high-quality travel services.