ABTA members are to become Government endorsed under an Office of Fair Trading accreditation scheme.
ABTA has overhauled its processes to become the first membership body to achieve the OFT’s stage two accreditation badge. This means it becomes a Government-backed association in a nationwide marketing campaign.
The association has been working for the last year to achieve the standard, which involves actively monitoring members to ensure they adhere to its code of practice.
Head of legal services Simon Bunce said he expected ABTA to be granted the status within two months. He said: “It has really turned the way we operate on its head.
“Previously, we would leave members alone unless there was a customer complaint. Now we have to proactively monitor them.”
Monitoring involves contacting all members once a year and keeping a database of information on web and brochure practices and customer service issues.
Bunce said the OFT is “very happy with the pot of money” it has been given to marketorganisations reaching the standard.
He also said the marketing – taking place during the final quarter of the year – is perfect for the industry as it will put ABTA in consumers’ minds before the New Year booking period.