ABTA president candidates ‘neck and neck’

THE ABTA board is to vote again over a new president after Majestic Travel owner Steven Freudmann and Personal Service Travel director Martin Wellings tied neck and neck in the first round of voting.

Candidates Voyager Travel owner Sandy MacPherson and Major Travel general manager of trade affairs John Dellaway have both lost out in the ballot to appoint an interim replacement following the resignation of John Harding after the collapse of Travelscene. The deadline for votes was on Monday.

A second ballot is being mailed out to board members today with the deadline for votes returned by 2pm on September 20. An announcement is expected to be made that day or early Tuesday.

Freudmann has controversially pledged to scrap the association’s regional structure and shake-up its framework.

Wellings has called for a mandatory document to be given to holidaymakers at the time of booking which outlines bonding cover.