TORONTO — The Canadian Association of Tour Operators (CATO) has appointed Paola Briata, Vice-President of Contracting and Operations Product Delivery at WorldStrides, to its Board of Directors, effective immediately.

Briata is a multilingual travel industry executive with three decades of international experience spanning leisure, corporate, cruise and educational travel. Originally from Europe and based in Canada for the past 20 years, she offers a global perspective shaped by a career across multiple sectors and cultures.

She began her career with an Italian tour operator focusing on FIT and leisure groups, later expanding into MICE, corporate and cruise travel operations. In 2008, she entered the educational travel sector with WorldStrides, formerly known as Explorica. In her current role as Vice-President of Operations, she is part of the company’s senior management team, contributing to its strategic growth and operational performance while supporting the development of the global educational travel market.

Her experience covers regions including Europe, the Middle East, the Indian Ocean, Africa, Latin America, Asia and North America, providing her with a deep understanding of industry dynamics and a network of long-standing international relationships.

“We are thrilled to welcome Paola Briata to the CATO Board,” said Brett Walker, Chair of CATO. “Her extensive global experience and unwavering commitment to the travel industry will undoubtedly be a tremendous asset to our Association and its role within the travel sector.”

Said Briata on her new role: “I’m truly honoured and proud to put my experience in service of CATO. It’s a privilege to support its mission and be part of a community that shares a deep commitment to shaping the future of travel.”

Her appointment comes as CATO continues its work in promoting responsible travel practices, supporting consumer protection and ensuring the sustainability of the outbound travel sector.