Abta News
ABTA Magazine re-launches
ABTA today announces that ABTA Magazine, produced by Absolute Publishing Ltd, is to re-launch in a new format as a quarterly print magazine. The re-launch is part of the Magazine’s new multi-platform strategy, which will also see the launch of a monthly online newsletter and a destination-focused website, Countrybycountry.com. ABTA Members will also continue to receive the ABTA Handbook, the annual printed destinations guide.
ABTA relaunches its Business-to-Business scheme
ABTA announces the relaunch and rebrand of its business-to-business Partner scheme. The rebranded scheme, which replaces the Travel Industry Partner scheme that ran successfully for over 15 years, now offers two tiers of partnership - ABTA Partner and ABTA Partner+. The changes follow growing demand from existing partners for additional marketing opportunities to communicate their broad range of services to ABTA Members.
ABTA chairman McEwan retires
ABTA chairman, John McEwan, today retires from the post, having completed a four year term in office. ABTA chief executive Mark Tanzer, said: “John McEwan has been an excellent chairman of ABTA, guiding the Board through a thicket of complex issues.”
ABTA responds to Government consultation on night flights
ABTA has responded to the Government’s consultation on night flying restrictions at Heathrow, Gatwick and Stansted emphasising that any system must strike a balance between the economic benefits of meeting demand and the impact of night flights on local communities and the environment.
ABTA announces changes following Annual General Meeting
The Travel Association announces that all resolutions were passed at ABTA’s Annual General Meeting held today at 30 Park Street. Chantrey Vellacott were reappointed as ABTA’s auditors and a range of resolutions were passed aimed at simplifying ABTA’s Membership processes; increasing the flexibility of membership of Regional Committees; reducing the allowance paid to the ABTA Chairman; and putting in place processes for the removal of the Chairman by a vote of the Board.
More speakers announced for ABTA’s Travel Matters conference
ABTA is pleased to announce that Ben Reid OBE, Chief Executive of The Midcounties Co-operative, will join the speaker line-up at this year’s Travel Matters conference on 26 June 2013. Ben will speak alongside the Rt. Hon. Patrick McLoughlin MP, Secretary of State for Transport and Craig Kreeger, Virgin Atlantic’s new Chief Executive Officer, as well as many others.
ABTA get safe online and look before you book
The Travel Association is today launching a new campaign with the support of Get Safe Online, Action Fraud and the City of London Police’s National Fraud Intelligence Bureau (NFIB) to warn the general public about the dangers posed by holiday booking fraud. As part of the campaign research undertaken by the NFIB for the first time measures the scale of the crime and exposes common tactics used by fraudsters.
ABTA partners with Get Safe Online and Action Fraud
The Travel Association is partnering with Get Safe Online, Action Fraud and the City of London Police’s National Fraud Intelligence Bureau (NFIB) on a new consumer campaign to raise awareness of the dangers posed by holiday booking fraud and provide advice on how to avoid becoming a victim. The campaign will encourage consumers to take important steps to avoid being defrauded including looking for ABTA Membership when they book, researching the travel companies they book with and using secure payment methods online.
ABTA calls for increased airport capacity and improved accessibility
ABTA has submitted its response to the Airports Commission on criteria to be used to identify the most effective and practical options for future airport capacity. The Airports Commission is seeking views¹ on how the aviation connectivity of the UK may best contribute to the economy as a whole. ABTA believes that the UK urgently needs additional airport capacity in the congested South-East of England and also that the mix of aviation models, including business and leisure, must be properly recognised as they are interdependent, often sharing the same aircraft.
Secretary of State for Transport to speak at ABTA’s Travel Matters 2013
ABTA today announced that the Secretary of State for Transport, the Rt. Hon. Patrick McLoughlin MP, will deliver the keynote address at Travel Matters on 26 June 2013. Now in its fourth year, this invitation-only conference will offer delegates a unique opportunity to hear from, and engage with an outstanding line-up of speakers from Government and the industry.
ABTA drums up support for UK tourism in parliament
Research revealed by ABTA today shows that over three quarters of MPs believe the government should do more to develop domestic, inbound and outbound tourism in order to create new jobs. Seven in ten MPs also agree that the government should give equal importance to all tourism sectors: domestic, inbound and outbound, a rise of two per cent from a poll of MPs a year earlier.
ABTA to encourage consumers to “Look for the Logo”
With the peak booking season approaching ABTA is launching a new marketing campaign with the aim of educating consumers about the benefits of booking with an ABTA Member and reminding them to look for the logo when they book.