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More than 300 guests attended the inaugural Association of Touring and Adventure Suppliers Conference in Birmingham on Wednesday.
The event was held at the city’s International Convention Centre, and included business sessions, an experiential supplier showcase and a gala dinner including the first Atas Awards.
Giles Hawke, Atas chairman and chief executive of Cosmos, told delegates: “This is a historic moment and it is our moment. This is the start of something big.”
Atas was formed in April and now has 27 supplier members and nine associate members. The conference was supported by headline partners Brand USA, Global and Tigerbay.
This is the start of something big! Says #Atas_travel chairman Giles Hawke pic.twitter.com/oww64ewOtl
— ATAS (@ATAS_travel) October 18, 2017
Lucy Huxley, editor-in-chief of Travel Weekly Group, moderated the conference and hosted the gala dinner.
She said: “To host more than 300 guests at a spectacular first Atas Conference just six months after the formation of the association is a spectacular endorsement of the potential for the sector.
“Our supplier and associate members have demonstrated their absolute commitment to the trade, and the reaction and enthusiasm of the more than 200 agents here today shows how eager they are to engage with a growing part of our industry.”
The inaugural Atas Awards were voted for by the 27 supplier members of the association, and recognised the agencies in seven regions of the UK which had done the most in the past 12 months to support the touring and adventure sector.
The winners were:
Best Agent in Northern Ireland
Oasis Travel
Best Agent in Scotland
Barrhead Travel
Best Agent in North West England & North Wales
Aspen Travel
Best Agent in Yorkshire, North Midlands & North East England
Spear Travels
Best Agent in Central England
Midcounties Co-operative Travel
Best Agent in South West England & South Wales
Miles Morgan Travel (highly commended, Newell’s Travel)
Best Agent in London & South East England
Baldwins Travel