The Scottish Passenger Agents’ Association (SPAA) has appointed Scotland’s leading public affairs agency, Weber Shandwick, to raise its profile within the Scottish Parliament in particular.The campaign will see the SPAA speaking to MSPs, officials and others within the public policy arena to seek change, support and better recognition for members.

Weber Shandwick will work with the SPAA to develop a strategic communications programme targeting the Scottish and UK parliaments, the Scottish media and travel industry bodies. The firm will also help the SPAA raise awareness of the issues affecting the Scottish travel industry such as the reform of the Air Travel Fund, proposals for a levy on airplane emissions and relations with the International Air Transport Association.

The SPAA is the oldest travel trade association in the world, established 85 years ago. The association represents all the major travel agents within Scotland, ensuring the interests of the Scottish travel industry are represented nationally and internationally and working in partnership with other UK bodies on all issues relating to the broader UK tourism and travel markets. SPAA President, Sandy MacPherson commented,

‘For too long now the voice of the travel trade has not been clearly heard in the Scottish Parliament. We look forward to working with Weber Shandwick to raise the profile of the SPAA and to seek support and action from MSPs on issues such as the IATA penalty on Scottish travel agents and reform of the Air Travel Fund’.

Led by Associate Director Moray Macdonald, Weber Shandwick’s Edinburgh, Glasgow, Aberdeen, Inverness and London offices will work together on the communications and profile raising campaign.

Weber Shandwick Public Affairs provides clients with strategic advice on Scotland’s political and public policy environment. Services include the production of political monitoring reports, intelligence gathering and stakeholder audits, identifying the client’s key political audiences and policy areas. The unit has particular expertise in: rural policy, health, environment, transport and property. Clients include Aldi, Grosvenor, Land Securities, Royal Bank of Canada and Strathclyde Partnership for Transport.

Moray Macdonald welcomed the work with the SPAA,

‘Weber Shandwick is excited to be working with the SPAA. We look forward to building strong links between the association and Scottish policy makers to enable the SPAA to share their expertise on travel industry matters for the benefit of Scottish travel policy.’
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