Atas boosts training and content for agents on website

The Association of Touring and Adventure Suppliers (Atas) has added more “real” content to its website, with plans to boost its training courses and search function.

 

The upgrades follow the soft launch of the website in June and were outlined by Atas director Claire Brighton during the Atas conference in Wales (September 16-17).

 

“We have made the website a lot more user-friendly, we’ve made it showcase things that are important for you, our agents,” she said.

 

In consultation with its agent advisory board, Atas has added “real” content, so agents can promote touring and adventure holidays as if they had been on the trips personally.

 

The first tranche of content will be from the AE Expeditions cruise that Brighton took in the Arctic this summer.

 

“I have populated the page to include a selection of photos that I took, plus commentary for each, along with a full blog so you can pull together your own social posts, email and website updates,” she said.

 

The section will also include content from the Intrepid Travel family holiday that was showcased during the conference and exclusive Atas fam trips – and members will also be asked to provide content from other fam trips.

 

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“You can all make your posts different…so you can keep it personal for your customers,” she said.

 

“We really hope this gives you the real content that you wanted.”

 

Also new is a conference hub to help attendees after the event to consolidate their knowledge and share with colleagues.

 

It will provide slides from the presentations, offers, photo gallery and details of competitions announced at the conference.

 

The new training academy in partnership with sister brand OTT will also be expanded.

 

It already includes 14 tour operator modules plus four new ‘how to sell’ modules aimed at those starting out in the sector.

 

Other titles aimed at those new to touring and adventure will soon be added, covering myth-busting, gastronomy, solo travel, youth travel and expedition cruising to polar and warm-water regions.

 

Agents completing modules will earn prizes and a league table will be produced each month, with prizes on offer.

 

Furthermore a new training academy award will be added to the awards category for next year’s Atas Recognition Awards – and all categories will include an element of training.

 

Other additions include information about what’s new at the top of the site, plus an events area, both for Atas and tour operator events.

 

There will be more detailed descriptions about each member plus and a new function is coming soon that allows agents to filter members by destination and key words.

 

Another new feature going live shortly will be a trends area, featuring research from Atas and other partners.

 

The sustainability hub has been redesigned and features key information about tour operator members, eco-credentials from destinations and tips from key partners.

 

Events coming up in the coming months include Touring & Adventure Week (from October 6), ‘Atas presents’ in Newcastle (October 15), Expedition Week (from November 3), Pathway to Peaks (November 17-December 31) and Luxury Adventure Showcase (December 8).

 

Exclusive fams announced at the conference included a Contiki trip for apprentices and new-to-travel agents, and a Not In The Guidebooks trip to Sri Lanka.