Following a competitive pitch, Rooster has been appointed as ABTOT’s first PR and social media agency since the association was launched in 1993.

ABTOT – the Association of Bonded Travel Organisers Trust – provides a straightforward and economical way for travel organisers to comply with their obligations under the package travel regulations which were introduced in 1992.

Rooster’s appointment comes at a pivotal time for ABTOT with major changes to the PTRs set to be introduced in early 2018.

The agency will be responsible for crafting and implementing an ongoing media strategy, managing ABTOT’s day-to-day press office and setting up and running the association’s social media channels.

Paul Fakley, development director of ABTOT commented: “After 24 years of organic growth, we want to build on the success to date and start to raise awareness of the growing portfolio of financial protection benefits and other services that we offer both professional and occasional travel organisers.

“In this ever evolving market, we’re looking forward to working with the Rooster team to raise ABTOT’s profile and become the voice of financial protection for specialist travel organisers.”

As an approved department for business, energy and industrial strategy body, ABTOT is authorised to administer bonds on behalf of travel organisers in order to provide financial protection for customer prepayments.

ABTOT offers financial protection for both professional and occasional travel organisers that offer non-licensable packages, meaning any non-flight inclusive packages.

ABTOT members go through a selection process so that only reputable, skilled and leading travel organisers in their field are accepted to membership, meaning that consumers can have complete peace of mind safe in the knowledge that their trip is booked through a reputable and financially sound ABTOT member.

James Brooke, managing director at Rooster, said: “After more than two decades of growth and development, ABTOT has become an essential figure in the UK travel industry, providing bonding, advice and other financial services to specialist travel organisers.

“We’re excited to help ABTOT generate the share of voice it richly deserves while helping to communicate the association’s expertise ahead of key changes in package travel regulations.”