SAVE MONEY ON TRAVEL CONVENTION FEES

Today is the last chance for delegates to register for this year’s Travel Convention in Malta at the standard registration fee.  Costs for all categories of delegate will increase by £60 from Tuesday 31 August.

Mark Tanzer ABTA Chief Executive said “Registrations for the Travel Convention in Malta are set to match those for the 2009 Convention in Barcelona with around 1000 delegates attending the event. Delegates need to book now to avoid the late registration fee increase, so if you haven’t yet registered, sign up online before the end of August”

Bookings can be made at www.thetravelconvention.com

MEMBERS GET BEHIND ABTA’S SCHOOLS ART CHALLENGE AS 120 SCHOOLS SIGN UP

Members are being encouraged to build relationships with their local primary schools as part of ABTA’s Schools Art Challenge. Over 120 primary schools nationwide have already signed up within the first week of the initiative but ABTA is encouraging Members to utilise the campaign to engage with their local communities.

ABTA chief executive Mark Tanzer explained: “It’s wonderful to see so many schools sign up within such a short space of time and we’re encouraging our Members to build on this by maximising relationships in the community, or indeed take the opportunity to build their profile by approaching local schools.”

ABTA Members have been supplied with a leaflet to promote the initiative which invites school children aged 7-11 years to imagine their perfect holiday from the past, present and future by designing postcards. The challenge – which underlines ABTA’s long-standing involvement as the guardian of travel – will illustrate the evolution of travel through the ages.

Mark continued, “We’ve designed the Challenge to be a fun activity for primary school children, but at the same time we want to make sure that our future generations of travellers understand how they can contribute to a positive impact on destinations and people, whilst also engaging with their local travel agencies.”

ABTA Members looking for further information and inspiration can visit a specially designed online gallery of archive materials including photos, brochures and adverts supplied by tour operators and travel agent Members of ABTA across the industry. The gallery can be viewed at http://www.abta.com/60yearsontopoftheworld

The gallery is designed to inspire the UK’s future generations of travellers and help them become more aware of issues such as sustainability and environmental impact, and how they may affect the British travel industry in the future. The Challenge fits with the National Curriculum with a specially created teachers’ pack covering art, history, English, maths, geography and personal and social development.

By taking part in the challenge, schools, including teachers are in with a chance of winning one of 22 regional prizes including mini-breaks and days out kindly donated by ABTA’s members. Additionally there’s a national prize of one fully-inclusive executive 49-seat coach trip for 3 days to London or Paris for the winning school, courtesy of Acorn Travel Group.

Teachers, parents and pupils can find out more and download their free entry packs and classroom resources by visitinghttp://www.abta.com/60yearsontopoftheworld

Entries must be received by 10th June 2010.

EVERY CHILD, EVERYWHERE A NEW CHILD PROTECTION TRAINING TOOL FOR THE TRAVEL INDUSTRY

The Training Course Every Child, Everywhere, developed by ABTA and ECPAT UK – a leading children’s rights organisation which campaigns to prevent commercial sexual exploitation of children, is now live on www.everychildeverywhere.com. 

ABTA and ECPAT were granted funding from Comic Relief to develop this important online training course to help everyone working in the travel industry to protect children. Every Child, Everywhere covers all child protection issues relevant to the travel industry both for children living in destinations and children on holiday.

Every Child, Everywhere aims to ensure that travel industry staff are well equipped to deal with any problems that might arise and to help companies develop policies and procedures which will best protect children in resort or when they are travelling. 
The full course consists of three modules: 
• Introduction and Module 1 ‘Following Child Protection Policies and Procedures’.  
• Module 2 focuses on implementation  
• Module 3 on development of Child Protection Policies.    
All staff should take module 1, while levels 2 and 3 may be more relevant to staff in supervisory and management roles. 

Christine Beddoe, Director of ECPAT UK said: “ECPAT UK has a long history of working with the travel industry on child protection issues and we are happy to be working with ABTA to produce this essential training tool. Children everywhere need to be kept safe from harm and this tool will give travel professionals an understanding of child protection issues and of the importance of robust child protection policies and procedures.”

Vicki Wolf, ABTA’s Professional Development Manager said: “Every Child, Everywhere is free of charge and ABTA encourages all of its members and anyone involved in the travel industry to take the training so that staff are well informed and companies have policies and procedures in place to deal with this very sensitive issue.” 

The training course can now be accessed at: www.everychildeverywhere.com. For details of all other ABTA training available, go to http://www.abta.com/resources/training.

ABTA CHAIRMAN COLLECTS THREE AWARDS IN THREE WEEKS

ABTA Chairman John McEwan was deeply honoured to receive three major awards on behalf of ABTA and its Members from the Spanish Tourist industry over the last three weeks. The awards from the Hotel Associations of Menorca, Benidorm and Costa Blanca and the Government of the Balearic Islands, were in recognition of ABTA Members’ fundamental role in developing and supporting UK tourism to Spain, both in recent and past years, as the Association celebrates its 60th anniversary in 2010.

John McEwan ABTA Chairman said: “I was touched and honoured to accept these awards on behalf of ABTA and its Members from our Spanish tourism partners, a country which has been at the heart of our Members’ business throughout ABTA’s history. We look forward to another successful and fruitful 60 years of working together”.

The awards were: the Gold Medal from HOSBEC the hotel association of Benidorm and Costa Blanca; the Annual Award for Service of Distinction to Tourism from ASHOME the hotel association of Menorca; a Special Award from the Government of the Balearic Islands presented by Tourism minister Joana Barcelo to celebrate ABTA’s 60th anniversary.

ABTA CONFIRMS MALTA WILL HOST THE TRAVEL CONVENTION 2010

ABTA announced that Malta has been chosen as the venue for the 2010 Travel Convention, which will take place from Monday 18 – Wednesday 20 October 2010.

This is the first time ABTA’s annual Convention will take place in Malta. Mark Tanzer, ABTA’s Chief Executive said: “I am delighted that Malta will be hosting the 2010 Travel Convention. It is a vibrant and developing destination for UK travellers and The Travel Convention will give our Members a great opportunity to acquaint, or re-acquaint themselves with all that it has to offer. ABTA is extremely grateful to the Parliamentary Secretariat for Tourism, the Malta Tourism Authority and Air Malta for offering to support the Convention and we look forward to a very exciting and successful event.”

The Convention will take place at the Hilton Malta Conference Centre which is attached to the Hilton Malta Hotel at Portomaso St Julians.  Located on the fashionable Portomaso waterfront, the hotel is just 15 minutes’ drive from Valletta and just 30 minutes’ drive from the airport.

Alex Incorvaja, Malta Tourism Authority Director for UK & Ireland said: “We are absolutely delighted that ABTA has decided to come to Malta for its annual Convention in 2010. Malta relies heavily on the travel trade to represent its best interests and to promote the destination in-market, so it is fantastic news that we will be able to showcase our Islands to so many key industry figures and opinion leaders.

Our support, together with that of our national airline, Air Malta, gives us an excellent platform to raise awareness of Malta’s diverse offerings. The UK is Malta’s foremost market in so far as tourist arrivals are concerned and thus hosting The Travel Convention gives us the perfect opportunity to highlight the unique proposition the Maltese Islands have to offer. We look forward to welcoming delegates from all sectors of the travel industry in October.”

Special rates for delegates will be offered by the five star Hilton Malta, the Westin Dragonara Resort, the InterContinental Malta and the four star Vivaldi Hotel with bed & breakfast rates from €45 per person, per night in a twin occupancy room.

Air Malta will also offer delegates a fixed fare of £100 return plus taxes for bookings placed prior to 31 March and £125 return plus taxes for bookings made prior to 31 May.  Thereafter a 25% discount will be available on the published fares.

Details of how to register for The Travel Convention and book accommodation and flights will be released by The Travel Convention office over the coming weeks.

TRAVEL AGENTS HAVE A BRIGHT FUTURE

A panel of industry experts concluded that there is considerable scope in the marketplace for innovative and savvy travel agents.

AIR PASSENGER DUTY – A TAX RISE TOO FAR

From Sunday 1 November 2009 Air Passenger Duty rises so that a family of four flying to the USA will pay £180 in tax and £240 from November 2010 when the aviation poll tax is set to rise again. The UK Government is one of only two governments to tax air passengers in this way and these rises will hit families particularly hard as they struggle with the impact of the recession.

Other destinations popular with families will be even harder hit with Caribbean destinations seeing the same family of four having their bill increase to £200 from this Sunday and £300 a year later. The Caribbean is disproportionately affected with tax rates higher than flights to the USA, highlighting the illogicality of the tax which is meant to be based on the distance travelled.

For those paying out for a little extra leg room in premium economy these tax increases will be double, taking this service, introduced to allow a bit more comfort at an affordable price, out of the range of many travellers. Airlines may consider removing the service altogether if the Government insists on taxing it as highly as business and first class tickets.

Inbound tourism will also be damaged as foreign visitors are put off from travelling to the UK. Regional airports will suffer as airlines consider the profitability of maintaining routes with an increased tax burden at a time of declining passenger numbers.

These steep APD rises will have a disproportionate effect on some of the poorest countries in the world whose economies are heavily reliant on tourism as long haul travel bears the most savage increases.

Mark Tanzer ABTA Chief Executive said “These APD rises will put pressure on jobs and damage local economies reliant on tourist expenditure both here and abroad when we are already suffering from the impact of the recession. They will place an even greater financial burden on families and others on tight budgets as they book their holidays or visits to friends and family. They will undo a lot of the good work being done by the industry to keep prices at an affordable level.”

TOURISM 2023 – TOWARDS A SUSTAINABLE TRAVEL AND TOURISM INDUSTRY

ABTA Convention, Barcelona. Towards a Sustainable Travel and Tourism Industry Leading players in UK tourism pledged today to create a strong and profitable industry for the future, which benefits tourist destinations and protects the environment. Founding partners ABTA, British Airways, Carnival UK, The Co-operative Travel, The Travel Foundation, Thomas Cook and TUI Travel, announced their commitment at the launch of Tourism 2023 at The Travel Convention in Barcelona.

Together the partners carry approximately 45 million passengers every year. Tourism 2023, coordinated by sustainable development charity Forum for the Future and supported by Defra, is a collaborative project to help the UK outbound travel and tourism industry to anticipate and plan for its future. It sets out a clear vision of a profitable and successful future supported by an effective industry strategy. The founding partners together with Advantage Travel Centres and Sunvil Holidays, have signed up to the vision committing themselves to creating a sustainable industry by 2023 which benefits people and the environment.

Mark Tanzer, ABTA Chief Executive said: “It is vital that the travel and tourism industry meets the challenges that an international industry faces if we want to have a successful and profitable future. By working together we can come up with practical and innovative solutions to these challenges, which make sound commercial sense. Tourism 2023 sets out the destination, and the direction we must follow to get there.”

The Tourism 2023 Vision is based on six principles: protecting the environment; developing employees; providing customers with mainstream sustainable products; ensuring that destinations benefit from tourism; innovating to create sustainable transport and resorts; and developing a business which is environmentally, socially and financially sustainable. The vision and strategy have been developed in response to four detailed scenarios which explore critical uncertainties facing the UK outbound industry such as the impact of growing domestic demand, climate change, resource scarcity, legislation, and increasing travel from emerging economies. Vivid details bring the world of each scenario to life and are designed to provoke debate.

-Will mass tourism see overcrowded destinations herding visitors from attraction to attraction on timed tickets?

-Will technological breakthroughs see virtual travel replace disappointing real life experiences?

-Will there be new types of fuel, or aircraft design, or even a return of the airship?

The founding partners commissioned the scenarios to help the industry imagine and plan for its future. More than 100 people with expertise in different facets of the industry – including business leaders, academics, legislators, campaigners and commentators – have helped develop the scenarios, vision and strategy. The partners hope that the project will also catalyse action within the wider UK outbound industry to tackle the challenges it faces. They are inviting other organisations to sign up to the vision and take part in the work which will help shape the future of tourism.

Mike Greenacre, Managing Director, The Co-operative Travel, said: ‘We are delighted to be part of Tourism 2023, developing with other leading businesses a sustainable vision and strategy for the future. Tourism 2023 shows that the Industry can work together to meet some of the toughest challenges that the sector has to face over the next 15 years.’

Dermot Blastland, Managing Director, TUI Travel UK & Ireland, said: “We are thrilled to be joining other leading operators in signing up to the Tourism 2023 Vision. We hope that through combining our efforts we can take our collective sustainability commitment to the next level, setting industry-wide goals on issues that cannot be tackled by individual tour operators alone.”

Dan Norris, Minister for Rural Affairs and the Environment said: ‘It’s great to see these organisations coming together to declare their commitment to Tourism 2023 and working to reduce their environmental impact and I hope others will join them. I look forward to seeing their vision turn into real actions and create a low-carbon industry.’

Stephanie Draper, Director, Forum for the Future, said: “The founders recognise that the best way to create a commercially sustainable future is to take their social and environmental responsibilities to the heart of their businesses. Their commitment to the Tourism 2023 Vision shows the way to the rest of the industry in the UK and worldwide.”

Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd joins ABTA

ABTA is delighted to welcome leading cruise company Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd into ABTA membership from 1 October 2009. Over the past 12 months ABTA has accepted 62 new companies into membership and 98% of existing members renewed their subscriptions earlier this year.

Robin Shaw, vice president and managing director, Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd, UK and Ireland said: “Our decision to join ABTA comes at an exciting time for the organisation and the industry as a whole. Over recent months there is a real feeling that businesses involved in travel and tourism should speak through one body – and ABTA is taking on the challenge to be the main lobbying body.

We look forward to having our say and being able to make a positive contribution on behalf of the cruise sector.” Mark Tanzer ABTA Chief Executive said “Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd are a great addition to the ABTA family and we look forward to helping develop the close ties they have with the rest of our membership. The high standards and range of services provided by Royal Caribbean are recognised throughout the industry and ABTA membership can only enhance them”.

ABTA SAYS BOOK NOW FOR THE BEST DEALS TO THE WORLD CUP

ABTA is encouraging England footie fans to book now to get the best deals to watch England lift the World Cup in South Africa next summer. As demand for flights and accommodation is going to be massive, prices will increase as we approach kick-off for the biggest sporting event of 2010.  ABTA is also advising fans to book their accommodation in advance as hotel rooms will be at a premium and those that fly out without a confirmed reservation may well be disappointed.

FIFA is warning fans to avoid travel companies that are offering tickets and tour packages who are not FIFA appointed. Two that are FIFA appointed, ABTA Members Thomson and Thomas Cook have travel packages with match tickets available from under £2,500.

Fans that cannot get tickets can still travel out to South Africa to enjoy the World Cup experience in one of the world’s most beautiful countries. South Africa is extremely good value for money and one of the few destinations where sterling has remained strong. ABTA is also advising fans to keep a close eye on foreign office travel advice and to seek medical advice to ensure that they are fully inoculated against all relevant infectious diseases.

Mark Tanzer ABTA Chief Executive said “This World Cup in South Africa will allow England fans the opportunity to visit one the world’s most beautiful and welcoming countries. Booking with an ABTA member will be the best way to get best deals and avoid any potential disappointment.”