Abta’s bid to expand membership into foreign markets has been thwarted after a resolution proposing the change failed to get enough votes from members.
The association had sought to remove the territorial restriction on membership but narrowly failed to achieve the 75% approval rating required.
Abta was hoping to grow its business and offer services to companies who do not actively carry on business within the UK.
At the association’s General Meeting today (Wednesday) 112 members voted for the change while 41 voted against.
The association said it would “continue to keep the situation under review”.
A resolution to allow the board to elect their own chairman as opposed to being elected by members was voted through.
Abta raised the proposed change in October and says it will help “maintain the effective and efficient operation of the board”.
126 members voted for the change and 26 against.
The new arrangement reduces the elected members on the 14-strong board from five to four.
Two other resolutions – one which allows the board to authorise any actual or potential conflicts of interest and another updating various provisions in the Articles of Association were passed.