CATO appoints Paola Briata to its Board of Directors

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

Briata is a multilingual and accomplished travel industry executive with 30 years of international experience across the leisure, corporate, cruise, and educational travel sectors.

Originally from Europe and residing in Canada for the past two decades, Briata brings a uniquely global perspective shaped by her extensive career and multicultural background. She began her professional journey with an Italian tour operator specializing in FIT and leisure groups before expanding her expertise across MICE, corporate, and cruise travel operations.

In 2008, Paola transitioned into the educational travel sector by joining WorldStrides (formerly Explorica), where she currently serves as Vice President of Operations and a key member of the Senior Management Team.

Throughout her tenure, she has played a pivotal role in the company’s strategic growth and operational excellence, contributing significantly to the development of the global educational travel market.

Briata’s hands-on experience across diverse regions — including Europe, the Middle East, the Indian Ocean, Africa, Latin America, Asia and North America — equips her with deep industry insight and a broad network of long-standing international relationships.

Brett Walker, Chair of CATO, said: “We are thrilled to welcome Paola Briata to the CATO Board. 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 Walker: “Paola’s appointment comes at a pivotal time as CATO continues its work in promoting responsible travel practices, supporting consumer protection, and ensuring the long-term sustainability of the outbound travel sector”.

Commenting on her appointment, Briata said: “I’m truly honored 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.”