Association plots growth while hosting members on ‘famference’. Juliet Dennis reports from Tenerife
The Specialist Travel Association (Aito) revealed it is in talks with “several” prospective new members, including a homeworking firm, as it hosted its second overseas ‘famference’.
Speaking at the hybrid fam trip and networking event in Tenerife, Aito executive director Martyn Sumners said interest had risen in the past six months since the association outlined its target to expand as the representative body for small and medium-sized travel firms.
The group now has 80 agencies, 120 operators and 60 affiliate members. It is targeting 100 agencies, 150 operators and 80 affiliate members by 2026, aiming to increase total membership from 260 to 330.
More: Aito’s ‘Famference’ hosts agents and operators in Tenerife
“Since we announced our strategic plan at conference last year, there have been more agents and operators interested in joining Aito,” said Sumners. “Interest is coming from word of mouth – from existing members talking to others at events.”
Aito Agents chair Gemma Antrobus said a small homeworking agency was among those in talks about joining.
Last year, homeworking agency Designer Travel joined, while high street agencies The Travel Shop, Murray Travel and Spear Travels, which returned after a two-year gap, have also bolstered Aito’s ranks in the past 18 months.
Antrobus said Aito was keen to attract more homeworking groups, even if only a portion of the agents were likely to sell its operators, as well as traditional agents.
She said: “You may have 150 homeworkers, but only 20 will sell Aito product. There is potential to grow.”
Antrobus attributed the increased interest in part to agents wanting access to the specialist product offered by Aito operators, but stressed it was not a commercial association like agency consortia.
“We are seeing more agents want to join and a lot want access to the different companies in Aito,” she said. “Everyone knows the larger operators but some of ours are very niche.”
The Aito Agents panel has new members. Shubhra Halliday, of Anzcro, and Daniel Benians, of Distinctive World Travel, have joined as operator representatives, while Oasis Travel’s Brendan Mallon and Murray Travel’s Scott Murray have joined as agent representatives.
More: Aito’s ‘Famference’ hosts agents and operators in Tenerife