About CATT > Frequently Asked Questions

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the CATT?

The Canadian Academy of Travel & Tourism (CATT) is a strategic alliance of hospitality, travel & tourism companies and Canadian high schools which have partnered over the last 14 years to offer training and educational programs to students across Canada. CATT’s programming within the Canadian Tourism

Human Resource Council (CTHRC) offers co-partnership opportunities to promote tourism awareness in innovative high schools and school boards, with provincial/territorial Departments of Education and with provincial tourism human resource organizations. 

What does the CATT do?

The Canadian Academy of Travel & Tourism is a national “school without walls” that functions within the existing Canadian secondary school system. Its mission is to introduce and promote careers in the tourism industry while students pursue their high school studies. Students enrolled in the program follow regular high school curriculum with a “specialization” in tourism. The Academy gives high school students the opportunity to build the foundation of a hospitality and tourism career while staying in school and acquiring the skills for post-secondary education, for life long learning and for work in the tourism industry. 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 Essential Skills. The CATT programs involve high school students in grades 10, 11 and 12. These students follow the regular curriculum with a “specialization” in tourism. Tourism 101, a national standardized curriculum, is available online in English and French through a learning management system at www.emerit.ca. Many academic and experiential projects associated with the regular curriculum are tourism related. Canadian high schools can be involved in the Academy program at three different pathway levels: Gold – CATT high school graduate, Level II and Level I.

Where does the CATT operate?

CATT operates across Canada and is a member of the Global Travel & Tourism Partnership.  To view a list of schools involved with CATT click here.

Why does the CATT do what it does?

CATT partners recognize that the tourism sector is a vital part of the economy and believe that by exposing students, their parents and their teachers to the industry, they encourage youth to look at the industry as a source of rewarding careers.

How does my school become a CATT School?

Registration is available online, click here.

What are some examples of student activities?

CATT programs emphasize experiential activities inside and outside the classroom, especially out-of-the classroom research and experiential activities involving teams of students. All CATT students must have an opportunity to gain work experience in the hospitality and tourism sector. Local members of the Hospitality, Travel &Tourism industry provide work-study opportunities and internships. CATT offers curriculum, as well as, “Passport to the World” – Global tourism curriculum which can be used by schools in all GTTP member countries.\

Who supports the CATT?

Some 300 Hospitality, Travel & Tourism companies and organizations support the CATT at the individual school level with work-study opportunities, in-kind funds and other assistance. The Canadian Academy of Travel & Tourism under the umbrella of CTHRC has an industry advisory group: the Canadian Tourism Human Resource Council, Fairmont Hotels & Resorts, Canadian Tourism Industry Association of Canada, Royal Host, Metro Toronto Convention Centre, and Delta Hotel & Resorts. As well, specialty partners like the Canadian Tourism Commission, Cara Operations Limited,

Parks Canada, Air Canada, and SEVEC – Youth Exchanges add enrichment to CATT student learning. At the national level this partnership model is industry partnered and education driven.

What is an Academy (definition)?

The Career Academy Support Network (CASN) at University of California at Berkeley defines a career academy as having these essential features:

• A small learning community within the larger high school
• A curriculum that combines a career focus with meeting school–to–work, college and university requirements
• Partnerships with supporting employers, community members, and institutions of higher education

Canadian Academy:

Canada has customized this definition and developed a business/ education model that is program focused along a career pathway of choice within a high school.  An academy functions within the high school and requires administrator, counselor and work placement educators support. The high school needs full participation from their associated school board and recognition from the provincial/territorial Ministry of Education.