The Association of Touring and Adventure Suppliers (Atas) has announced Zina Bencheikh, Intrepid EMEA managing director, as its new chair.
She takes over from Brian Young, EMEA managing director at G Adventures, who moves to the deputy chair role to help support her.
Bencheikh has worked at Intrepid for more than a decade and is based at the adventure operator’s European headquarters in London.
Born in Morocco and educated in France, she joined Intrepid as finance manager in 2010, and has progressed through various financial and operational leadership roles while championing gender equality initiatives at the company.
Young was the third Atas chairman when he took over in May 2020 as pandemic woes deepened.
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In January 2022, Atas announced he would remain in the role for a further year to give him a chance to achieve the goals he had set out before the pandemic struck.
He pledged to support the sector’s recovery by lobbying on its behalf – and supporting agents with training, education and other opportunities as sales bounced back.
Claire Brighton, Atas account director, said: “I’m delighted to welcome Zina to become our chair – and thank Brian for his sterling work in the role, and continuing his support as her deputy.
“Zina has established herself as a role model and leader within the UK travel market, advocating for many causes that need support.
“She will be one of the speakers at the 2023 International Women in Travel Forum and has called for holidaymakers to keep visiting Turkey to help the country recover from February’s devastating earthquakes.
“Now she will bring her enthusiasm and energy to her new role with Atas, promoting the touring and adventure sector and encouraging more agents to sell holidays for our members – and highlighting issues such as the environment.”