ABTA UPDATE
Members must cater for less mobile travellers
As the peak booking season gets into full swing, ABTA is urging Members to make full use of the Association’s comprehensive industry guidance on accessible travel, to help them provide optimum customer service for disabled and less mobile passengers. In January 2014, ABTA launched
updated guidance to further help Members ensure that customers with accessibility challenges get the most out of their travel and holiday arrangements. Te Association has since issued
regular reminders and advice to Members and the wider industry about the importance of gathering adequate information — as well as giving the most appropriate advice for customers’ individual needs. Te guidance, which is available in
the Member Zone of ABTA’s website —
abta.com/member-zone/travel-essentials — includes a booking checklist plus practical guides on each part of the passenger’s journey and companies’ legal obligations (particularly following changes to the requirements on maritime travel). Free online training is also available for Members. ABTA’s head of destinations and
sustainability Nikki White said: “Our guidance is the most comprehensive accessible travel resource available. It’s a one-stop shop for businesses looking for clarity on their obligations, for practical support in improving holidaymakers’
ABTA advises on accessible travel
experiences, and enabling travel with confidence for all customers.” In addition, throughout the early
booking peak period, ABTA will take to social media to remind holidaymakers with additional needs to consider what their needs might be, and to keep their travel provider informed. In doing this, ABTA will also promote its simple online checklist, which is available on
abta.com/accessible-travel. White added: “Meeting the needs
of customers with disabilities is vitally important, not only because of the legal requirements that exist for travel companies, but also because it’s critical for these businesses that they build loyal, repeat custom from holidaymakers, whatever their needs.”
ABTA’s animal guidelines shortlisted
ABTA has been recognised for its work on animal welfare, after being chosen as a finalist for the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC)’s prestigious Tourism for Tomorrow Awards. Te WTTC selected ABTA for its
animal welfare guidelines, with the Association fighting off stiff competition from more than 150 applicants to make the final shortlist of three. Te guidelines were drawn up by
ABTA’s Destination and Sustainability team in partnership with the Born Free Foundation. Since their launch in 2013, ABTA’s guidelines have provided
countrybycountry.com
invaluable support to tour operators offering holidays featuring animals, whether in captivity or in the wild. ABTA believes animal welfare is an
area of increasing importance to the travelling public and if companies don’t have the correct policies and procedures in place, they could be seen to be tacitly endorsing unethical practices. Mark Tanzer, ABTA’s chief executive,
said: “Te last couple of years has seen an unprecedented level of attention given to this issue and the ABTA guidance is helping Members achieve best practice.”
wttc.org
February 2015 ABTA Magazine 11 News in brief
ABTA LOGO ABTA’s new Travel With Confidence logo is available to Members as part of an online sales and marketing toolkit, accessible via the Member Zone of
abta.com. The toolkit also contains a number of social media videos, posters and leaflets companies can use to promote the fact they’re ABTA Members.
abta.com
NEW MEMBERS ABTA welcomed 13 new Members into
the Association between October and December 2014: Universal Travel House, JTB Europe, Water by Nature Rafting Journeys, The Global Work & Travel Co, Capristar, Uniworld River Cruises, European Travel Ventures, Morgan Travel (UK), Thai Healthy Me, Munro’s Travel, Naturetrek, Berkley Travel, and Egypt Tourism Bureau.
PET TRAVEL Members are reminded that the pet
travel rules applying to all dogs, cats and ferrets (including assistant and guide dogs) changed on 29 December 2014. For full details, visit
gov.uk.
HANDBOOK TIME Members should soon receive their
annual Members’ Handbook, featuring the Code of Conduct, a list of ABTA Members and details of ABTA’s Partners. It also has destination information on 180-plus countries, which will be found from mid-March within the destinations section of
countrybycountry.com.
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