The Association of Touring and Adventure Suppliers (Atas) has created a new agency advisory panel, with 13 retail agents offering feedback and input to help boost the sector.
Claire Brighton, Atas director, revealed the members are Steve Cox (Premier Travel), Victoria Hopper (Advantage Travel Partnership), Carol Hooley (Travel Counsellors), Georgina Why (Hays Travel), Fiona Pearcy (The Travel Network Group), Zoe Franklin (Travel Club Elite), Simon Oram (The Travel Shop), Darren Bien (Designer Travel), Darryl Gardner (Cartwright Travel), Paul Hardwick (Fred Olsen Travel), Daniel Bartholomew Oates (The Awesome Adventure Company), Mandy Shillito (Miles Morgan Travel) and Linda Armit (Barrhead Travel).
Brighton said the panel features agents who have been Atas ambassadors, such as Shillito, Hardwick, Franklin and Gardner, as well as others from a range of large and small retailers, along with representatives from homeworking agencies and consortia.
“We have chosen a great selection from across the agency community, representing as wide a range of agent views as possible – and bringing together retailers who have a passion for selling touring and adventure holidays,” she said.
The new agency advisory panel will meet four times a year to offer input, which will be in addition to the guidance and support from the Atas board and trade engagement group.
“We’re working on a new Atas website at the moment so the feedback from our agency group will be crucial to ensure that our offering is tailored to their needs,” said Brighton.
“The website will be a key tool for agents to find out about members, trends in the sector, sales tips and sustainability.”
Darren Bien, head of sales and commercial at Designer Travel, said: “As a business, we’ve worked closely with Atas and their members over the last three years, to help grow our own touring and adventure market.
“Being asked to join the advisory group was a real honour for me, giving me a chance to give back and support Atas with their own future direction.
“At Designer Travel, we really believe in the work that Atas does to support this growing segment of the market.”