| Journal: TWUK | Section: |
| Title: | Issue Date: 03/07/00 |
| Author: | Page Number: 4 |
| Copyright: Other |
New structure comes full circle
ABTAhas almost come full circle with a similar structure this year to the one created 50 years ago.In 1950 there was no real distinction between travel agents and tour operators, with many of the early members organising tours as a sideline.
Members discussed issues such as cruise and airline commission, direct sell and how to establish stronger negotiation power with the principals – all of which are still hot topics today.
By 1967, divisions were starting to appear between tour operators and agents which threatened to split the association although it wasn’t until 1972 that two new bodies, the Travel Agents’ Council and Tour Operators’ Council were created, both reporting to the National Council.
In 1993, there were suggestions from members to split ABTA’s regulatory and trade association roles and, last year, ABTA put forward the blueprint for the future which proposed the first representative board of directors in the association’s history. An 18-strong board of directors, representing operators and agents, replaced the TAC and TOC.
The original players included ThomasCook, Frames Tours, Sir Henry Lunn Ltd, The Polytechnic Touring Association, Althams Travel Services, the Co-operative Travel Service, Pickfords and Dean and Dawson.
Today’s names include Thomas Cook, Thomson, Lunn Poly, P&O, Airtours, Sunquest and The Travel Club of Upminster.