NTA Board extends Prather’s contract

December 16, 2025

The National Tour Association Board of Directors has extended the contract of Catherine Prather, CTP, to continue serving as president for the leading association of packaged tour professionals. During a meeting on the eve of NTA’s Travel Exchange ’26 in Ottawa, the board approved a three-year extension for Prather.

It was an easy decision, according to Monique van Dijk-Seppola, who chairs the NTA Board.

“Catherine is a remarkable leader, and the NTA community has prospered from her strategic guidance and innovative spirit,” van Dijk-Seppola said. “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.”

Prather, who began her career with NTA in 1994, became president of the association in January 2020. A recognized face of leadership in the industry, she has served on numerous boards and groups, including 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.

“I’m proud to work for the best people in the travel industry and honored by the board’s faith in our work,” Prather said. “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 success of Prather and the team she leads can be demonstrated by the high levels of member satisfaction—both with the NTA staff and the association overall—recorded in a survey earlier this year.

“The numbers tell the story,” said van Dijk-Seppola. “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. I couldn’t agree more.”

For more information about NTA and its members, events, and benefits, visit NTAonline.com.