ITT set to teach agents a lesson

THE Institute of Travel and Tourism is in discussions with ABTA about launching an industry-recognised qualification for travel agents.

ITT chairman Steven Freudmann said ABTA’s education working party has agreed on the qualification in principle and is working on a framework to deliver it, but his preferred option would be for 75% to be achieved through examination and 25% through experience.

Freudmann said the aim is for the jointly-branded qualification to be recognised by the public as a mark of professionalism so qualified retailers are seen in the same way as accountants or chemists. He said the qualification could help persuade the public of the benefits of using a travel agent and reverse the trend towards do-it-yourself holidays.

“In these days of self-packaging, companies will benefit from having trained, qualified staff,” he said.

“If they haven’t, the public will want to know why.”

Lunn Poly has expressed interest in the scheme and Freudmann is meeting Thomas Cook UK chief executive Manny Fontenla-Novoa this week to discuss how to link the scheme into the company’s internal training programme.

“There are people at Thomas Cook with good internal qualifications that are not transferable,” said Freudmann. “A qualification that is recognised industry-wide would encourage staff to go down the training route and that benefits the company they work for as well.”

The long-term aim is for agents to achieve chartered

status and to link into ABTA’s gold training award so agencies with an agreed number of qualified employees would achieve gold status.

Freudmann said while the scheme could not be imposed on agencies, the use of a

logo recognised by the public would persuade retailers of its benefits.

If successful for agents, the qualification will be rolled out across the industry.