The School Travel Forum has changed its membership rules to recognise the financial protection scheme and services of Abtot – the Association of Bonded Travel Organisers Trust.
Until now, STF has relied solely on Abta for its financial protection, arbitration, and professional services.
Abtot said the move increases “flexibility” for STF members while retaining protection for schools.
It said that members of STF – the not-for-profit industry body for specialist school travel and tour operators – can now choose the most appropriate scheme for their operations.
Abtot said in a statement: “The new offering is a testament to School Travel Forum’s commitment to continuously enhance its services and adapt to the changing demands of the school travel industry.
“By allowing members the choice of their bonding provider, STF seeks to address the diverse needs of its members and provide a comprehensive range of options to further strengthen membership.”
Richard Watson, managing director of Abtot, said: “Abtot have been operating for 30 years as a government-approved body and we welcome this change from School Travel Forum for its members.
“We understand the travel industry and are proud to bring our expertise and all our services to School Travel Forum members.”
Gill Harvey, chief executive of the School Travel Forum, added: “By partnering with Abtot, School Travel Forum can provide its members with bonding arrangements that align with their business needs while maintaining the additional professional arbitration services and professional trading standards that we uphold.”
News of the decision comes days after Lastminute and its Swiss-registered holding company BravoNext left Abta and joined Abtot.
The departure of the ninth-largest Atol holder at the end of June means half the top-10 Atol holders and half the top-20 now operate outside Abta.
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