Aito Specialist Travel Agents has introduced an accreditation scheme to find the ‘ultimate Aito agent’
The new scheme, announced at the Aito Agents Domestic Conference, will reward agents points for their engagement with the association, from using the Aito logo on their website, in press and marketing activity to attending events and forging new partnerships with Aito tour operators.
The aim is to recognise agencies which miss out on awards in the current Aito All Stars Awards, which are based on sales volumes, as well as encourage more agents to get involved in the association and work closely with its supplier members.
It comes as Aito Specialist Travel Agents reports record sales of its members through operators in the All Stars scheme. Sales of £58.7 million were recorded through the 42 Aito All Stars operators in 2016, up 4.8% on 2015.
The Aito Accreditation scheme will score agents during the calendar year and recognise them in a year’s time at the annual Aito All Stars award ceremony, which is set to include a category for the ‘ultimate Aito Agent’. The accreditation will run alongside the Aito All Stars scheme.
Gemma Antrobus of Aito Agents said: “I am aware there are some very small agents who may sell 80% of their business through Aito operators but would never be in the top ten for sales of All Stars operators, so this year we are going to reward agents based on a different set of criteria.
“Rather than look at their sales performance we will take a 360 degree view of their commitment to Aito as a whole. We want to help members be in the best possible shape by being engaged with all the association has to offer.”
The criteria for gaining points will be distributed to agent members over the coming weeks and will include developing partnerships with Aito operators that members have never worked with in the past.