About CATT > Director’s Message
Director’s Message
The 21st Century brings challenges and opportunities presented by a truly global marketplace, created by technological progress and the removal of trade barriers. Our education system must provide our student population with the tools, knowledge, skills and attitudes necessary to succeed in this new environment. With the support and guidance of education and industry partnership, the Canadian Academy of Travel & Tourism has been established to address these concerns in the travel and tourism industry.
The American Express Foundation launched the “Canadian Academy of Travel & Tourism” (CATT) in October 1995. In 2007 the Academy became a permanent program of the Canadian Tourism Human Resource Council, where CATT has been housed since 1995. CATT now receives federal government funding while continuing to be supported by the travel & tourism industry. The Canadian Academy of Travel & Tourism has a group of national partners that govern behind the scene: American Express Foundation, the Canadian Tourism Human Resource Council, Fairmont Hotels & Resorts, Tourism Industry Association of Canada, Royal Host, Metro Toronto Convention Centre and Delta Hotels & Resorts. As well, specialty partners like the Canadian Tourism Commission, Parks Canada, Air Canada, Cara Operations Limited, and SEVEC (Student exchanges) add enrichment to CATT student learning. At the national level this partnership model is industry sponsored and education driven.
Academy students demonstrate learning outcomes referenced to the National Occupational Standards for Transferable Skills established by the Canadian Tourism Human Resource Council, the Employability Skills 2000+ assembled by the Conference Board of Canada and HRSD’s Essential Skills.
Share the vision of enriching the human resource potential for the tourism industry by pooling our collective resources and fostering the best possible future for our Academy students!
Vince Accardi
Vice President: Products & Partnerships, CTHRC
