Pictured left to right: Dawson & Sanderson travel consultants Laila Hendry, Ian Mcewan, Steven Allan, Ivan Carter with Chi Onwurah, MP for Newcastle upon Tyne Central, and the agency’s regional manager Donna Jobling
Agents have hailed the benefits of the first face-to-face meetings with local MPs following joint lobbying by The Advantage Travel Partnership and Aito.
Thirty-five MPs have registered an interest in meeting members of Advantage or Aito, The Specialist Travel Association.
More than 330 invitations were issued in the joint MP Engagement Programme as part of the UK Outbound Travel Think Tank initiative, which estimates the sector drives pre-holiday consumer spend worth £51 billion annually.
More: MPs agree to visit travel agencies in joint Advantage-Aito lobbying effort
Althams Travel and Dawson & Sanderson were among the first to receive MPs’ visits while more are being confirmed for the coming weeks.
Althams Travel business travel manager Paul Foster told Andrew Stephenson, MP for Pendle, who visited its Clitheroe branch, about agents’ benefits for the local economy.
“I explained what customers buy locally in the run-up to their holiday, from transport to the airport to sunscreen, and how the pandemic has brought people back to high street agencies because they want reassurance,” said Foster.
He added: “The more agents that speak to their local MPs, the more word gets back to the powers that be.”
Dawson & Sanderson hosted Dame Rosie Winterton, MP for Doncaster Central, in its Doncaster branch and Chi Onwurah, MP for Newcastle upon Tyne Central, in its Newcastle store.
Regional manager Donna Jobling called the meeting “really beneficial”, adding: “Having that relationship moving forward ensures we will have a voice and will be heard.”
Winterton said: “Travel agencies play a big part in getting people into the city centre and the knock-on effect that has on other shops.”
Idle Travel director Tony Mann, who is part of the Advantage Policy Advisory Group, said meeting MPs would also help agents solve other problems, adding: “It means you have someone to contact.”
Aito director Noel Josephides said the joint effort was already “delivering well”, adding: “The time has come for MPs to rate the travel industry as hugely important in terms of economic delivery to the country.”
Advantage chief executive Julia Lo Bue-Said reported “a notable increase” in engagement with government and other policymakers since launching the programme.
She said the think tank was in talks with “a number of travel brands and associations” keen to join the group.
More: MPs agree to visit travel agencies in joint Advantage-Aito lobbying effort