CATO reveals new venue and format for 2020 awards

CATO reveals new venue and format for 2020 awards

The Council of Australian Tour Operators (CATO) has revealed the venue for its 2020 awards, as well as releasing details of the event format.

This year’s CATO Awards will be held at Hyatt Regency Sydney on Friday 23 October and, in a fresh take on the event’s evening structure, the seated formalities will be completed in under 90 minutes.

CATO managing director Brett Jardine said this means there will be plenty of time left for pre-drinks, networking, grazing from live cooking stations, hitting the dance floor, and sampling delicious roaming canapés and desserts from around the world.

“The CATO Awards will not be just another awards night,” he said.

“We want everyone who attends the CATO Awards to spend more time interacting and celebrating than seated and watching an awards ceremony.”

The primary purpose of the CATO Awards is for the land-supply tourism sector to recognise the outstanding achievements of retail travel agents as well as trade and mainstream media.

But, as Jardine noted, there’s plenty in it for CATO members, too, despite not being up for awards themselves.

“The interactive nature of the awards night and the promotional lead-up to it offer brilliant opportunities for tour operators, wholesalers and suppliers to engage deeply with their retail partners and showcase their unique offerings,” he said.

The CATO Awards categories focus on areas of specialisation offered by members, and winners will be crowned in the following categories:

  • Agency of the Year – Europe
  • Agency of the Year – Americas
  • Agency of the Year – Asia
  • Agency of the Year – Africa/Middle East
  • Agency of the Year – Oceania
  • Consultant of the Year – Group Touring
  • Consultant of the Year – Adventure
  • Consultant of the Year – Youth Travel
  • Consultant of the Year – Ski
  • Consultant of the Year – FIT
  • Rookie of the Year
  • Trade Media Award
  • Consumer Media Award
  • CATO Hall of Fame Award

Full details of the CATO Awards nomination process will be announced in the coming months, and tickets to the event can be purchased here.

CATO Awards need-to-knows

Date: Friday 23 October 2020

Time: 6pm until late

Location: Hyatt Regency Sydney, 161 Sussex St, Sydney

Tickets: $150 per person

Dress code: cocktail

Latest News

  • Destinations
  • News

APT Launches 2025 Asia Adventures

APT has launched its Asia Adventures for 2025, including new luxury holidays in India, Sri Lanka and Japan. Five new tours lead guests to the highlights of India, including a seven-night cruise along the rarely travelled Lower Ganges aboard the Ganges Voyager. Further south, Sri Lanka’s greatest destinations are revealed on a new 15-day Land […]

  • Cruise
  • Luxury
  • News

Seabourn announces Western Kimberley Traditional Owners as Godparents of Seabourn Pursuit

Seabourn has named Western Kimberley Traditional Owners, the Wunambal Gaambera, as Godparents of the ultra-luxury purpose-built Seabourn Pursuit. It is the first cruise line to appoint Traditional Owners as godparents of a ship. Seabourn Pursuit embarks on its inaugural season in the Kimberley region this June. The naming ceremony will take place on Seabourn Pursuit’s […]

  • Luxury

Malolo Island Resort opens brand new Spa

Fiji’s Malolo Island has added another string to its bow – opening its $1.3 million day spa on Thursday, 18th April 2024. (Lead Image: matriarch Rosie Whitton with spa staff) Located at the edge of the resort’s luscious patch of tropical rainforest, the new “Leilani’s Spa” adds another level of elevated experiences to Malolo’s already […]