Advantage Travel Centres and ARTAC Worldchoice are vying to win a place on the new ABTA board by putting forward candidates to stand in the national elections.
The move follows an overwhelming 96% approval of the association’s blueprint.
Di Baker, from Aldershot-based Wellington Travel, has been asked by Advantage to stand for one of the three places available. ARTAC has yet to announce its candidate, but chairman Colin Heal is understood not to have put himself forward. Baker, who is on the Advantage board, said: “I want members to vote for me not just because I am an Advantage member but because they believe I can do the job.” She added it was important for Advantage to have a voice on the board and to represent grassroot agents.
The elections will take place next April with the board convening for the first time in May.
Five of the nine travel agent places will come from the regions. Two will be elected from the Council of Regions – which will comprise the 11 regional council chairmen – and three from the national election. The last four places will come from companies with a turnover of £10m – £250m. Of the nine tour operator members, four will come from the major companies.
ABTA chief executive Ian Reynolds said:”We hope the new structure will prompt more senior people to become involved. Discussions will now take place on how to streamline certain committees and functions,” he said.