A webinar to give advice to agents affected by proposals to abolish the Small Business Atol is to be run by Travel Counsellors.
The interactive webinar on July 24 at 7pm will give viewers the key facts on what the changes suggested by the Civil Aviation Authority could mean to them and their business. Viewers will hear from industry experts and agents who have previously run their own small agencies.
Viewers will also be encouraged to send in any questions and concerns for the panel to answer live on air.
The show follows a notable increase in interest from agency owners in recent months, as the costs of running a high street agency continue to rise, with Travel Counsellors reporting a further influx following the news of the consultation last week.
Founder and chairman David Speakman said: “These proposals will have a huge effect on small businesses which are now facing an average £1,150 extra per year to the costs of Atol compliance, and the last thing we want is people leaving an industry they love because they feel they have nowhere else to turn.
“We want to give them the facts and the options available to them.
“Obviously one of these would be to run their business as part of Travel Counsellors, as we enable previous agency owners to continue to run their own business under our Atol, with the back-up and support of our proven business model.
“But the webinar will also be impartial as we want to give those watching all the facts on the options available to them.”
Travel Counsellors was the first organisation in the UK to be recognised by the CAA as an Atol-accredited body, with its agents operating under the company’s Atol alongside offering a full financial protection promise through its own trust.
The webinar will include a discussion on financial protection and also the costs for small business owners.
Travel Counsellor Chris Papachristou joined the company last year after running his own high street agency for 42 years.
He said: “Running my own travel agency became increasingly difficult and costly; trying to keep on top of constantly changing regulations, not forgetting all the IT and back office issues.
“I think the proposed scrapping of the SBA will hurt some agents very badly. As business becomes ever tougher to make a profit, this is just another nail in the coffin for small travel agencies.
“So I encourage those affected, and anyone who may be interested in finding out more, to tune in to the show. I was able to continue running my own business and working in an industry I am passionate about, and others can do the same.”
To register for the webinar, call 0800 987 0267 or e-mail bethefuture@travelcounsellors.com.