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CATO News
All the latest news, updates and activity from the Council of Australian Tour Operators (CATO) 

  • Fri, June 26, 2020 8:32 AM | Deleted user
    • Eleven nominees contested CATO’s six vacant Board positions.
    • Four new-comers were elected bringing energy, capability and experience from a diverse cross-section of CATO's membership to the Board.

    The Annual General Meeting of the Council of Australian Tour Operators was held earlier today—Thursday, 25 June 2020—with a record eleven nominations vying for six vacant Board positions.

    "Just a few years ago we struggled to fill board positions. So, to have a record breaking field of high quality candidates seeking to join the board now is absolutely fantastic. It speaks to how engaged the members are and how important CATO membership has become, especially during this covid crisis," said CATO's Managing Director, Brett Jardine.

    Jardine asserted that, as an organisation, CATO gives every member a voice and, vitally, every member has an equal opportunity be on the board and make a real difference to the land-supply sector and the travel industry more broadly.

    Four CATO Board Members are mid-way through their two-year term including current Chair, Dennis Bunnik, along with Brett Mitchell (Intrepid Group), Amanda McCann (Collette) and Julie King (Julie King & Associates).David Walker, Managing Director – Son’n’Ski Holidays, has been returned by CATO members to his third consecutive term on the CATO Board.

    Liz Anderson, Managing Director at Sundowners Overland was elected unopposed as CATO’s Vice-Chair for the next two years.

    Image: CATO's new Vice-Chair, Liz Anderson with the new-comers to the Board: Brad McDonnell, Lisa Pagotto, Aaron Zoanetti and Peter Douglas.

    “The four other successful nominees who will be joining the CATO Board for the next two years are all new-comers and include a strong line-up of youth, capability, and experience from a cross-section of our membership,” said CATO Managing Director, Brett Jardine.

    The four new CATO Board Member appointments are:

    Acknowledging the efforts of the council's departing board members, Jardine said, "The CATO board is a very active one, and I would like thank the outgoing board members deeply for their considerable contribution and input to CATO."

    Board members ending their term at this time are Halina Kubica – Greece & Mediterranean Travel; Matt Cameron Smith – AAT Kings; and Justine Waddington – Encounter Travel.

    ..

  • Fri, June 12, 2020 7:09 PM | Deleted user
    • The Council of Australian Tour Operators (CATO) has produced a set of COVID-Safe Travel Protocols based on guidelines published by the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC).
    • The protocols are intended to lead the Australian land supply sector through the travel and tourism industry's journey to recovery.

    As the industry moves from crisis management to recovery, the protocols developed and deployed by tour operators and the land supply sector will play a key role in ensuring the safety, health and security of travellers and the industry's workforce alike.

    "By their nature as travel experience creators, tour operators and wholesalers weave all of the industry's moving parts together in their bespoke consumer offerings—airlines, hotels, ground transport, attractions, guides, government regulations and more," says Brett Jardine, Managing Director of CATO.

    "And while all CATO Member businesses and their offerings are unique, we believe it's essential that a closely aligned, global approach to COVID-safety is the best way to navigate our way through the industry's recovery," adds Jardine.

    Accordingly, CATO has provided members with a set of COVID-safe travel protocols based on those developed by the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) in collaboration with leading tour operators around the world.

    "The protocols see the land-supply sector lead the definition of industry best practice as we move from crisis management to recovery and put the health and security of travellers and the industry's workforce at their core" says Jardine.

    Supported by medical evidence, the coherent protocols have been developed through a coordinated, collaborative, and transparent approach within the global travel and tourism sector, governments, and public health authorities.

    The detailed protocols released by CATO focus on three key areas:

    • Operational and Staff Preparedness
    • Delivering a Safe Experience
    • Rebuilding Trust & Confidence

    The protocols describe recommendations around signage, staff training and sanitation, health and hygiene, social distancing, contactless payment, contact tracing and communication.

    "CATO's COVID-Safe Travel Protocols document will be subject to change as borders begin to re-open and restrictions ease to ensure it remains relevant through every stage of recovery and beyond," says Jardine.

  • Wed, May 27, 2020 9:00 AM | Deleted user

    There's been a lot of debate and discussion recently about travel credits over refunds and, where refunds are being issued, why they're taking so long to be processed.

    In this video, CATO's Chair, Dennis Bunnik tackles those questions to provide some insight and answers around:

    • The size and complexities of the travel and tourism 'ecosystem'.
    • Why travel credits rather than refunds are so important.
    • Why credits and refunds are taking so long to be processed.

    In Australia, some 1-in-13 jobs is impacted directly or indirectly by travel and tourism. So, we all know somebody whose livelihood is dependent in some part on the travel and tourism industry.

    CATO members create, supply and deliver the travel experiences that Australians buy through travel agencies, and we're all devastated by the events of Covid-19, and by the fact that none of us can travel.

    "None of us like having our wings clipped. And we understand that travel is such an important part of Australian culture. It's who we are, it's what we do, it's as much a part of our culture as going down to Bunnings for a sausage sizzle," says Bunnik.

    But for that to continue once this is all over and the borders are open again, we're going to need a strong and vibrant Australian travel industry.

    Because without it, our wings are all clipped permanently.

    And none of us want that.


  • Thu, May 07, 2020 2:01 PM | Deleted user

    Amid the mounting confusion and concern around the rights of travellers seeking refunds from bookings cancelled due to the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, Australia’s peak body representing tour operators and travel wholesalers explains to consumers why travel ‘credits’, and not refunds, are the optimal resolution.

    CLICK HERE for a downloadable PDF version.

    The COVID-19 pandemic has obviously had a profound impact on travel with widespread and ongoing ramifications.

    One of the most contentious points being debated in mainstream media right now is consumer rights around refunds for bookings made where travel was not possible due to government restrictions imposed in the efforts to contain the spread of the virus.

    The Council of Australian Tour Operators (CATO), the representative body for tour operators and wholesalers that supply travel experiences to Australian consumers, would like to provide deeper context for consumers to better understand the complex issue.

    On face value, across-the-board refunds might seem to be a fair and reasonable outcome but CATO Managing Director, Brett Jardine, says it is not a straightforward proposition given the way the travel industry works from the inside.

    "Behind every tour or holiday is a complex network of operators that work in unison to deliver the safe, seamless experiences we all expect when we travel," he said.

    "Australian based tour operators and wholesalers develop international travel packages that are distributed through retail travel agencies and sold directly to consumers."

    "During the development phase, these organisations commit time, money and resources working with independent suppliers based in the destinations where the travel takes place and who will ultimately deliver specific components of each holiday. So, once a booking is made, and even before, contractual commitments to the various parties involved have already been made."

    A typical multi-day package may include many individual elements such as:

    • International and domestic flights
    • Airport transfers
    • Ground transportation throughout (coach, rail, public and private transportation)
    • Water transportation (ocean, river, barge cruises & ferry tickets)
    • Accommodation and hotel meals
    • Tour guides (including tour directors & local guides)
    • Restaurant meals
    • Entry fees to attractions
    • Other special-interest inclusions such as cooking classes or horseback riding
    • Government levies and local taxes

    "CATO members completely understand the frustration and anger some travellers have right now which is why we felt it was critical to get the facts behind the headlines out there," said Mr Jardine.

    "Once consumers are fully informed, they are in a much better position to understand why travel credits are the optimal outcome from this difficult and unprecedented situation."

    Mr Jardine said in the majority of cases, travel credits for paid services have been negotiated between suppliers and the tour operators. "This is because the payment for international travel services are arranged months (sometimes years) in advance with contracts between tour operators and their suppliers that are binding," he said.

    "Returning deposits, is not often an option. In normal times, our members would be hit with a cancellation penalty if they do not proceed with bookings. Hence, when an initial deposit for a holiday is paid, it is generally non-refundable as this is a commitment from the traveller seeking the services of the agent and tour operator to start preparing their future trip."

    Travel plans might only involve a small number of components (ie: air and hotel) but a typical two-week tour can involve dozens of individual elements and this is where the complex nature of the international travel ecosystem can become challenging to follow.

    "Whilst plans for one future trip may appear simple, virtually every itinerary is slightly different," added Mr Jardine. "Multiply that by the 6.5 million leisure trips taken by Australians in 2019, and a huge amount of time and energy is expended by professionals in every layer of the travel ecosystem or supply chain to be able to deliver the final travel product."

    Most participants in the global travel ecosystem are supportive of travellers postponing their trips as opposed to cancelling and seeking a full refund.

    There may be circumstances where a refund is a more appropriate course of action and in some instances, operators do offer refunds as part of their booking conditions. However, consumers do need to be aware that if a refund is offered by an operator due to force majeure, each contributor to the travel package (such as those elements listed above) may have the right to deduct any unrecoverable costs.

    Examples of unrecoverable costs include:

    • Money committed to under contracts that exist between Australian-based operators and the in-destination supplier
    • Overheads from time spent developing and selling travel product
    • Cost of marketing and brochure production
    • Cost of client travel documentation produced
    • Foreign exchange costs and bank fees

    This amount may vary subject to what has been involved in the development of an itinerary.

    CATO believes a better outcome is therefore delivered by a future travel credit because it will generally be provided at up to 100% of the value of the travel originally booked.

    "By helping travellers understand this deeply connected supply chain that has delivered outstanding, high-quality and secure travel experiences for decades we hope to see all concerned accepting a future travel credit as the best outcome," said Mr Jardine. "The alternative and potential rush for full refunds could send many parts of this network to the wall and result in further consumer disappointment."

  • Wed, May 06, 2020 10:52 AM | Deleted user

    On 05 May 2020, CATO Managing Director, Brett Jardine, discussed credits, refunds and the travel & tourism ecosystem on air with ABC Radio Sydney's Cassie McCullagh.

    The nearly hour-long Focus segment explored the 'vexed world of travel refunds and credits', and included contributions from consumers with impacted travel bookings; travel lawyer, Anthony Cordato; and Andrew Paull from law firm Slater + Gordon.

    CLICK HERE for the full Focus radio segment.

    CLICK HERE for Jardine's seven-minute interview with Cassie McCullagh.

  • Tue, April 07, 2020 2:44 PM | Deleted user

    Last Friday 03 March, the NSW Government confirmed thousands of small businesses across the state struggling to cope with the COVID-19 shutdown may receive grants of up to $10,000 under a new assistance scheme.

    This is in addition to other Federal Government stimulus measures and will likely only apply to CATO Members in our Tier 1 & 2 categories.

    Whilst this is limited to business operating in New South Wales, we are researching if similar initiatives are being rolled out in other States and Territories.

    To be eligible, NSW businesses will need to:

    • Have between 1-19 employees and a turnover of more than $75,000.
    • A payroll below the NSW Government 2019-20 payroll tax threshold of $900,000.
    • Have an Australian Business Number (ABN) as at 1 March 2020, be based in NSW and employ staff as at 1 March 2020.
    • Be highly impacted by the Public Health (COVID-19 Restrictions on Gathering and Movement) Order 2020 issued on 30 March 2020.
    • Use the funding for unavoidable business costs such as utilities, overheads, legal costs and financial advice.
    • Provide appropriate documentation upon application.

    Applications for the small business grant of up to $10,000 will be available through Service NSW within a fortnight and remain open until 1 June 2020.

    CLICK HERE to read the full NSW Government announcement.

    CATO will keep a look out for further updates and advise as they become available.

    For formal financial advice about how these announcements might affect your business, please refer directly to your own accountant.


  • Thu, April 02, 2020 9:39 AM | Deleted user

    By Aaron Zoanetti, Pointon Partners

    • The following article was due to appear in Issue 5 of CATO's Ground Control Magazine which we anticipate will now be delayed until June.
    • The article provides general guidance only and should not be considered legal advice, as an operator’s legal position will depend on its particular circumstances.

    LIMITING EXPOSURE TO WORLD EVENTS THROUGH EFFECTIVE LEGAL DOCUMENTATION


    No industry is more directly and broadly exposed to world events such as Coronavirus than the travel industry. Many businesses will experience challenging times in the coming months as forward bookings cancel and new bookings come to a halt.

    There is not much within the control of tour operators to generate new bookings in this environment. But where customers are cancelling or where the tour operator has taken forward risk on inventory, what can be done at a practical level to mitigate exposure?

    Cancellations – do I need to refund my customers?

    Turning firstly to cancellations, customers may have rights at law (or potentially under booking conditions) to cancel their booking due to Coronavirus being considered an event of force majeure.

    An event of ‘force majeure’ is an unexpected and extraordinary circumstance outside of the control of the parties which prevents the fulfilment of a contract. Usually the parties will be excused from performing their obligations in these circumstances.

    Where a customer has the right to cancel or where the operator cancels because of an event of force majeure, a crucial question is whether the operator needs to refund the customer, even if the operator has already paid its suppliers.

    This type of fact scenario was considered in the 2015 case of Ferme v Kimberley Discovery Cruises. In this case a cruise operator cancelled a cruise just prior to sailing because of cyclonic weather conditions and sought to rely on a provision in its booking conditions which stated that no refunds would be made if the cruise was cancelled due to ‘unexpected events’.

    The court found the 100% cancellation fee provision to be an ‘unfair contract term’ and therefore void because it went further than necessary to protect the legitimate interests of the cruise operator. Because of this, customers were entitled to a full refund, even though the cruise operator had incurred costs that were not recoverable.

    The court offered some guidance on a type of condition that would be less likely to be considered ‘unfair’ and would therefore be enforceable: In effect, a condition which limits cancellation fees to amounts which have not been expended or legally committed to be spent would likely be enforceable in a situation where travel is cancelled due to ‘unexpected events’.

    Do my suppliers need to refund me?

    Whether or not an operator’s suppliers need to refund payments made for future services depends on the agreement between the operator and the supplier.

    A supplier agreement should contain a force majeure provision which gives a right to cancellation and refund where services are cancelled due to unexpected and extraordinary events. A useful tip is to ensure that the definition of ‘force majeure’ encompasses a ‘do not travel’ or ‘reconsider your need to travel’ advice issued by DFAT.

    Key Takeaways

    Properly drafted cancellation/refund terms should mitigate exposure to refund customers for existing bookings where funds have already been paid to suppliers (although profit and potentially administration costs may not be recoverable).

    Properly drafted force majeure provisions in a supplier agreement should mitigate the risk associated with forward risk on inventory that is no longer required due to ‘unexpected and extraordinary events’.

    CATO Members seeking further advice, please contact us for a direct introduction to Aaron Zoanetti.


  • Thu, April 02, 2020 9:28 AM | Deleted user

    The summary below has been provided by CATO's external accountant who is available to members if further assistance is required.

    • The information was correct at 01 April 2020.

    UPDATE: The Federal Government has announced a $130 billion wage subsidy to support businesses to stay in business and keep Australians in work through the Corona Virus pandemic.

    The JobKeeper Payment will support employers to maintain their connection to their employees. These connections will enable business to reactivate their operations quickly – without having to rehire staff – when the crisis is over.

    Under this JobKeeper payment:

    • The Government will provide $1,500 (before tax) per fortnight per employee for up to 6 months provided that the turnover of the business has decreased by at least 30% and turnover is less than $1 billion (or a 50% decrease if turnover is $1 billion or more).
    • Employers must elect to participate in the scheme by making an application to the ATO.
    • The subsidy will start on 30 March 2020, with the first payments to be received by employers in the first week of May 2020.
    • The scheme will be available to full-time, part-time workers, sole traders, and casuals who have been with their employer for more than 12 months, provided that the employees were on the books on 1 March 2020.
    • Employees who may have been stood down or even retrenched after 1 March 2020 may still be eligible.
    • Employers must report the number of eligible employees employed by the business on a monthly basis. For most businesses, the ATO will use Single Touch Payroll data to pre-populate employee details.

    Businesses without employees, for instance sole traders, can also register for the JobKeeper Payment and will need to provide a monthly update to the ATO to declare their continued eligibility for the payments.

    CLICK HERE to download the Federal Government issued JobKeeper fact sheet.


  • Fri, March 27, 2020 11:32 AM | Deleted user
    • The 2020 CATO Awards have been postponed due to the ongoing Covid-19 crisis.
    • The CATO Awards were set to take place in Sydney on 23rd October.

    The Council of Australian Tour Operators (CATO) has announced the postponement of the 2020 CATO Awards due to ongoing uncertainty around the Covid-19 crisis.

    “We are acutely aware of the challenges facing the entire industry right now, so we have made the appropriate decision to postpone our October event," said CATO Managing Director, Brett Jardine.

    Image: CATO Managing Director, Brett Jardine.

    "After the success of the 2019 CATO stream within the National Travel Industry Awards, the 2020 CATO Awards was to be our first stand-alone awards event. We are immensely grateful for all the sponsorship support and commitments we had received, particularly from the event's Platinum sponsor, Globus family of brands," added Jardine.

    Image: Brett Jardine with the Globus family of brands team.

    The CATO Awards are an opportunity for the land-supply sector—tour operators, wholesalers and the like—to recognise the outstanding achievements of retail travel agents and media.

    "Travel agents and CATO members do an amazing job, never more so than recently, as they worked to bring tens of thousands of Australians home safely. We look forward to celebrating with them at the rescheduled CATO Awards at a later date," said Jardine.

    For additional information and inquiries, please contact:

    Brett Jardine
    Managing Director, Council of Australian Tour Operators (CATO)
    E: bjardine@cato.travel

    -ends-


  • Mon, March 23, 2020 5:16 PM | Deleted user
    • Working together to bring Australians home 
    • Supporting travellers and staff 
    • Planning for the recovery

    The Council of Australian Tour Operators (CATO) has held crisis planning talks with its members to support their short and long term needs.

    "Our sector will be the key to recovery," said CATO MD, Brett Jardine.


    "We need to take a unified approach and work together to ensure the survival of our industry so we are ready to help travellers with their plans when the timing is right," Jardine added.

    A three-point action plan resulted from the meeting:

    1. Members agreed that the first and most immediate priority was to share information and develop collaborative solutions to assist with the immediate repatriation to Australia of their clients currently travelling overseas regardless of which company they had booked with.

      "Travellers book with Australian tour operators so they have the peace of mind advantage of end to end support with their holiday plans. More than ever, we are mindful of delivering on that promise to our clients," said Jardine.

    2. Members heard from an expert advisory team including insurance and legal specialists who were brought in to provide recommendations on how to best support travellers and ensure they could enjoy their holidays at a future time. CATO reinforced the position outlined earlier this week that the provision of credits to travellers is preferred where possible. It was agreed that this approach would deliver the best outcomes for travellers, and may also help to protect the financial health of tour operators and wholesalers which in turn will assist their staff, their travel agent partners and also suppliers such as airlines and hotels.

    3. CATO will continue to work with other industry associations and government organisations to ensure the best possible outcomes for the sector.

    Jardine closed the meeting by reiterating the vital importance of the travel industry to the Australian economy.

    "We are at a critical juncture. Working together with our members and other like-minded organisations, we need to enact smart decision-making to ensure that the travel industry survives this immediate crisis.

    "We also need to start planning for the rebound which will undoubtedly happen to make sure we are ready to help our clients reboot their holiday plans and reignite the outbound travel sector," he concluded.

    - Ends -


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