DISAPPOINTING delegate numbers for next week’s
ABTA Convention in Orlando have forced the association to reduce
the programme to cut costs, Travel Weekly can reveal.
ABTA expects up to 1,600 delegates at the event – 200
short of its target of 1,800. At last year’s convention in
Palma, 2,000 delegates attended.
An ABTA spokeswoman admitted it was hoping for more numbers.
“We had hoped for a few more delegates. TUI UK was going to
bring an aircraft full.”
The turnout has forced ABTA to ditch parts of the programme
including motivational speaker Lawrence Lewton and the exclusive
hour-long President’s Cocktail Party on the Friday night,
which has always been an invitation-only event.
“There are enough ABTA events with the Council of Regions,
Travel Industry Partners and the First Timers evenings,” the
spokeswoman said.
An ABTA insider revealed the convention would struggle to make a
profit despite cuts to the programme. It is believed ditching the
President’s Cocktail Party has saved ABTA £5,000.
“It’s an effort to make sure it does not lose money,
but the likelihood is it will,” the source said.
However, ABTA Convention organiser Keith Betton claimed the
Orlando convention would break even.
“I was looking to save money as I had to reduce the cost
of the event. People will not miss what has been dropped.
“It has been a tough year, so I didn’t think it was
appropriate to have a motivational speaker.”
Lewton has been replaced by PricewaterhouseCoopers partner
Malcolm Preston’s State of the Industry presentation. It will
include findings from an ABTA/PWC industry poll.
Lewton has been rebooked for the 2005 Convention in
Marrakesh.
Meanwhile, an ABTA board meeting this week discussed tightening
up the payout system when a member collapses.
The association is concerned about fraudulent member claims and
is “working on new ideas”.