Aito Specialist Travel Agents chairman Barry Moxley has announced his retirement from the role after five years.
Speaking at the association’s overseas conference in Majorca, he said a new chairman would be elected from the AITO agents panel as soon as possible.
He said: “It is time to give someone else a go. We have a good team on the panel and there are a couple of them who could take over quite happily from me and bring some new ideas to fruition.”
Speaking of his tenure, Moxley said he had been proudest of introducing the Closer Ties agreement which has seen Aito operators and agents work more closely together.
He added: “When I was allocated the chair they knew what I stood for; we are running a business not a hobby and they voted me in on that basis.
“We’re not telling people how to run a business, we try to suggest ideas, produce examples of best practice and show agents what’s possible.”
Moxley said he would use his time to focus more on his Traveltime agency of which he is managing director.
He has just opened another branch of the chain in Henley-on-Thames this month, bringing the total number of shops to seven.
Moxley said: “I firmly believe there is a place for travel agents if you’re focused and differentiate.”