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| Martin Wellings |
Martin Wellings has pledged to continue putting
members’ money to work if he is re-elected as ABTA
president.
Speaking exclusively to Travel Weekly six months since he
stepped into the president’s role, Wellings said the
organisation had streamlined its services and set out core
objectives.
He said he is determined to continue the work he has begun
during a further 12-month term. “We are putting members’
money to work. We must continue to deliver benefits to the members
and we are doing that,” he said.
“ABTA is like a business – if you don’t satisfy your
customers, you start to lose them. We are not going to be modest
about our achievements. There are a hard core of cynics out there,
but we are trying to win them over.”
He admitted the organisation’s credibility had taken a
kicking last year with the Travelscene and Riccardo Nardi debacles,
but said it has now moved on. “They were both regrettable, but
that’s behind us and things are much more positive.”
ABTA’s objectives include ensuring financial protection
for consumers, reflected in a new insurance premium launching this
month, where agents must offer consumers a £1.50 insurance
premium on unprotected products. This has been included in the code
of conduct.