The National Tour Association (NTA) extends the contract of Catherine Prather, CTP, approving a three-year term for her to continue serving as president of the association for packaged tour professionals.
The decision is made by the NTA Board of Directors during a meeting held on the eve of NTA’s Travel Exchange ’26 in Ottawa. The extension supports leadership continuity as the organization focuses on growth, member engagement, and global reach.
Prather, who became president in January 2020, has led the association through a period of significant disruption for the travel industry and into recovery. The board’s decision reflects confidence in her leadership and the performance of the organization under her tenure. NTA cites strong member satisfaction and operational stability as key outcomes of the current leadership structure.
Board cites leadership stability and member confidence
The contract extension is approved unanimously by the NTA Board, according to board chair Monique van Dijk-Seppola. “Catherine is a remarkable leader, and the NTA community has prospered from her strategic guidance and innovative spirit,” said Monique van Dijk-Seppola, Chair, NTA Board. She noted that Prather guided the association through the COVID pandemic, which she described as one of the most challenging periods in the travel industry’s history.
Van Dijk-Seppola said the association has emerged from that period as a more connected and productive professional community. “She navigated the association through the COVID pandemic, one of the most challenging and destabilizing periods in the travel industry’s history, and today, NTA stands out as a genuine community of productive professionals—united by a shared commitment to meaningful travel and a strong drive to expand the organization’s global reach,” she said.
The board also points to recent member feedback as evidence supporting the renewal. An association survey conducted earlier in the year shows high satisfaction levels among members, both with NTA as an organization and with its staff. “The numbers tell the story,” said Monique van Dijk-Seppola, Chair, NTA Board. “Ninety-six percent of the members said they are satisfied with their NTA membership, and 99 percent said they are satisfied with the professionalism, knowledge, and helpfulness of the NTA staff.”
The National Tour Association represents tour operators, destination marketing organizations, hotels, attractions, and other travel suppliers involved in packaged travel. Leadership continuity is seen by the board as a way to maintain momentum across advocacy, education, and networking initiatives that support members operating in an increasingly competitive and globalized travel marketplace.
Prather’s tenure and industry involvement
Prather began her career with NTA in 1994 and has held a range of roles within the organization before being appointed president. Since taking on the role in 2020, she has overseen operational restructuring, member engagement initiatives, and recovery efforts following the pandemic-related shutdowns that heavily impacted group travel and tours.
Beyond her work at NTA, Prather has served on multiple boards and advisory groups within the travel and tourism sector. These include the U.S. Travel and Tourism Advisory Board, the Tourism Cares Board of Directors, Travel Unity’s Association Working Group, the Beyond Borders Tourism Coalition, and the Kentucky Horse Park Commission. NTA positions this external involvement as beneficial to the association’s advocacy and industry partnerships.
Prather welcomed the board’s decision and emphasized collaboration with members and staff as priorities for the coming years. “I’m proud to work for the best people in the travel industry and honored by the board’s faith in our work,” said Catherine Prather, President, National Tour Association. “With the support of our members, the board, and our headquarters team, I’m eager to explore new paths to success for the NTA community.”
The three-year extension provides leadership stability as NTA continues to develop its events, educational programming, and international engagement. The association says it will continue to focus on supporting tour professionals as demand for group and packaged travel evolves across global markets.
