Nikki White, Abta head of destinations and sustainability
Welcome to 2013. The New Year is the traditional time for making resolutions and, more often than not, breaking them.
I find the only way to stick to resolutions is to choose something you really want to achieve and then it will be easier to focus. I’ve set myself three key resolutions at work.
Firstly, I want to help send more holidaymakers to better places. The more hotels that have Travelife awards, the more choice agents have in sending customers to places that are trying to look after their local community.
In 2013 let’s work at getting more suppliers acting and implementing positive measures. The more that start, the bigger the collective difference.
Secondly, I’m planning on making sure the new ‘Look for the Logo’ campaign from Abta is a chance to spread the word about what we’re up to in destinations and sustainability.
Just before Christmas one of our agent members visited the office. While it was great that she was impressed with our work, it was a reminder that being a well-kept secret is not particularly useful to our members.
Over the past year we have produced a wealth of new guidance, from crisis planning to health and safety good practice, and worked with destinations on issues such as food safety and sustainability. And we’ve been working with members and other partners to test the industry’s response to large-scale crises.
These are just some of the ways that we work to help keep customers safe and healthy, and to maintain the appeal of the destinations customers enjoy.
My third resolution is to learn something new.
I have two left feet so it won’t be ballroom dancing. However, the Foreign & Commonwealth Office is planning to help customers find out more about their destination before they travel.
So I’m making a resolution to learn something new about wherever I travel to for work this year. I was shocked to discover how little research the majority of tourists do.
Helping customers research before they go can make such a difference – from packing the right clothes for the time of year, to finding out about local customs.
This can really make a difference: the more customers who take part in local activities and find local restaurants, the more tourism can contribute to better places and great experiences.
May you have a happy and prosperous new year – and find resolutions you might just stick to.