The founder of Attraction Tickets is urging Abta members to contact him if they are interested in lending their name to any potential legal action over membership fees.
Oliver Brendon, chief executive, revealed on Tuesday (November 22) that Attraction Tickets had resigned from the trade association and joined the Association of Bonded Travel Organisers Trust (Abtot).
He blamed “Abta’s behaviour over membership fees during Covid, its seeming refusal to cut inflated costs, its grossly unfair bonding scheme and its ineffectual lobbying”.
In particular, he highlighted how renewal fees for Abta’s annual membership in 2021 were based on 2019 turnover rather than 2020.
More: Comment: Why Attraction Tickets resigned from Abta
Brendon said he has “taken steps to seek legal advice” about the fees but has not yet mounted any legal challenge.
Since his comments were featured by Travel Weekly, he has been contacted by several members and he is urging others to get in touch.
“I would be happy to hear from members who would lend their support to the concept of a legal challenge against the Abta 2021 membership fee policies,” he said.
“We are not seeking financial support but rather that members would add their name/company name to the potential of action against Abta.
“We have sought advice, but I do not have any view at this stage whether it will go any further.”
In a statement shared yesterday, an Abta spokesperson said: “It is always regrettable when a member chooses to resign their membership of Abta and we will always keep the door open to companies which leave the association.
“Companies who resign from membership no longer benefit from the many services our members tell Abta they value, as well as the widespread recognition and respect that the travelling public has for the Abta logo, with our research showing 73% of people are more likely to book with an Abta member than a non-member.”
Members are welcome to email Brendon on oliver@attractiontickets.com