| Journal: TWUK | Section: |
| Title: | Issue Date: 03/07/00 |
| Author: | Page Number: 4 |
| Copyright: Other |
What is the future for ABTA?
ABTA celebrates its 50th anniversary this month. Diane Smith charts the association’s progress and looks towards the future. Additional reporting by Paul Norris and Helen Conway
TECHNOLOGY and service fees are the issues of the future for ABTA, according to chief executive Ian Reynolds.He said the association is looking for ways to improve communication with its members through technological advancements, as well as looking into digital TV and wireless application protocol phones, and sees helping agents with the transition from commissions to service fees will be part of the future.
“We are seeking to create a single ABTAsite. Our plan is to combine a consumer site and a members site where members can pick up business and post their offers and consumers can request brochures from members.
“We see our role as a professional advisor, educating and training on service fees. We’ve got to help members go through that,” he said.
ABTAalso sees its role changing in line with consolidation and pan-European tie-ups, being involved on a wider front with ECTAA – the European travel trade association.
“We’ve taken a pro-active stance and have been able to secure some valuable wins.”
Sections of the travel industry are still at loggerheads as to what constitutes a package – and ABTAis calling for clarification.
It is believed many travel agents have taken out their own Air Travel Organiser’s Licence unnecessarily.
ABTAis due to carry out another survey on consumer awareness of the association this year and Reynolds expects the results to be ready in time for the Kos convention.
Reynolds: wants to create a single site
President’s quotes
“My main recollection when I was elected was the low morale within the society. The reputation of ABTAwas at the lowest level. The financial side had been affected by compensation payouts which have not been as bad since and probably never will be now. We recruited current chief executive Ian Reynolds. I held 21 face-to-face lunches with key people in the industry and within 12 months, there was a lot more co-operation.”
Colin Trigger,
president of ABTA
from 1994-97
President’s quotes
President’s quotes
“We plumbed the depths financially in the early ’90s and as we move into the new century we have never been in a stronger position in terms of regard from the public, the Government and our members. Member numbers are increasing and we have just undergone the largest constitutional reorganisation in ABTA’s history with 96% support. The bad memories are when the operators wanted to split from the agents and the agents wanted to split from the operators. Our strength is sticking together and I am pleased that was avoided.”
Steven Freudmann,
president of ABTA
from 1997-2000