Aito executive director Martyn Sumners discusses lobbying partnership with Advantage
It’s safe to say that working in the travel industry is never dull! We move from one challenge to the next and, although I can’t say that we embrace it, we plough on and do our best to remain undefeated.
If anything, the pandemic has taught us how to be resilient; I never fail to be amazed at how all the members of the Aito family have come out the other side, weary but battle-hardened, ready in case something else is thrown at them.
It is still tough, although feedback from tour operators and travel agents alike is that they are very busy. The pent-up demand is very much front-of-house and, despite the cost-of-living crisis, members are reporting that Aito travellers appear to be less-affected; they are now booking their much-postponed trips.
Many are planning to stay longer, which is encouraging from an environmental perspective, as their carbon footprint will be reduced by taking fewer, but longer, trips. Travellers are beginning to understand the importance of this and, as signatories of the Glasgow Declaration, Aito continues to work with its members to help them to improve their sustainability credentials.
Recruitment is still a big challenge for all businesses. What was once seen as an exciting industry to work in has lost some of its gloss, and thus some of its people. Some of those who left during the pandemic have missed travel and have come back to the industry. There are still, however, some gaping holes, and we need to work harder at promoting the industry as a good career – one that is still an exciting environment in which to work. This is an initiative on which Travel Weekly has been keen to support the industry.
Recruitment challenge
Diversity, equity and inclusion are also at the centre of the recruitment challenge, and we need to encourage people, young and old alike, from across the spectrum, to recognise that there are many good roles for them in the travel industry. Many businesses have streamlined, and now realise that they need to employ experts; they are going for quality over quantity. It comes at a price, but – if you become more efficient as a result – the pay-off is often much better.
Now that we have a new government in place and new ministers heading up the departments responsible for travel and tourism, it is important that we engage with them early, to re-emphasise the importance of the industry, the benefits that it delivers to the economy and, particularly, the key role that SMEs play. SMEs are, after all, the lifeblood of the industry.
Lobbying government
To this end, Aito has joined forces with Advantage on a project aimed at lobbying government, primarily on behalf of SMEs, but also to continue to raise the profile of the travel industry as a whole, and to ensure that we are duly recognised for the economic benefits we deliver to UK PLC. We would very much welcome more travel associations to join the two organisations.
We are now into conference season – firstly Abta in Marrakech and, a month later, Aito in Braga, northern Portugal.
We are looking forward to meeting up and reflecting on where we are now, what lessons we’ve learnt, and how we will move forward together.
Our members love to share their views, are more than ready to debate and won’t be holding back! To that end, we are lining up a great list of high-profile speakers and guests from across the travel industry – and Westminster – to enlighten us on their points of view. As well as the serious industry sessions, there will doubtless also be plenty of fun.
It will continue to be tough for a while. I am, however, confident that the travel industry will remain strong, both fighting and handling successfully any and all challenges that are thrown at it. We have done so in the past, and we will continue to do so going forward.
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