ABTA news
UPDATE
Continuing crackdown on sickness claims
Following an announcement on 9 July that the Government will be taking action to tackle false sickness claims, ABTA is urging the industry to maintain momentum on the #StopSicknessScams campaign, to ensure that change is made as quickly as possible to close the loophole in legislation that allows claims companies to unduly profit from sickness claims. ABTA is calling on the travel industry, and its partners, to respond to the
government’s Call for Evidence, which is expected to be published soon. Over the last year, ABTA and its Members have worked hard to present a
“Fake claims
are tarnishing British
body of evidence to the Ministry of Justice showing that whilst claims have increased by over 500%, there has been no corresponding rise in reported levels of sickness in resorts. The Call for Evidence will build on this work and seek to gather further data and views. ABTA will also continue to work with government to support long-term solutions to the problem, including further reforms to increase transparency in the relationship between claims firms and solicitors. As part of the campaign, during the summer ABTA will
holidaymakers’ reputation abroad and
could lead to higher prices or less choice”
continue to warn holidaymakers that making a false or exaggerated claim is fraud and that they could face up to three years in prison if found guilty. In mid-July Thomas Cook won a case against a family who were ruled to have made a false sickness claim, with the judge in that case finding that there had been fundamental dishonesty and ordering the claimants to pay a contribution to the tour operator’s costs. ABTA has released two new videos to highlight the risks
of making a fraudulent sickness claim, which it is sharing on social media and promoting using online advertising. Members and industry partners are encouraged to share the videos through their own social media channels. ABTA’s #StopSicknessScams campaign, which launched
in mid-June, called on the Government to close a loophole in legislation that was introduced to help stop the surge in fraudulent whiplash claims, but which excludes overseas claims. Mark Tanzer, ABTA’s chief executive, commented, “we strongly welcome the government’s commitment to address the loophole in the law and urge that this happens as quickly as possible. Fake claims are tarnishing British holidaymakers’ reputation abroad and could lead to higher prices or less choice for honest holidaymakers. We will continue to work with government to ensure that a long-term solution to this problem
New members
ABTA welcomed 11 new Members between April and June 2017: • THG • Alan Rogers Travel • Royal Travel • Travza • Glencor Golf Holidays • Moresand • World Travel Partners • PH Travel • Live Holidays • Golf Villa Holidays • Lifestyle Holidays
In addition, four new Partners joined the organisation: • CitySprint (UK) • Ince & Co • Anglia Ruskin University • DWF
EVENTS UPCOMING
21 SEPTEMBER Data Protection and Cyber
Security in Travel — Manchester This one-day seminar will deliver practical guidance to help
delegates prepare for the General
Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and improve cyber security
strategies. Sessions will focus on key issues and new obligations, with practical guidance on
documenting existing data flows, carrying out a gap analysis and getting GDPR-ready.
27 SEPTEMBER
Social Media in Travel Seminar — Manchester
This practical one-day event will deliver guidance on the opportunities and challenges of
social media for travel. The event will look at how social media is changing the industry and what the top trends and platforms are,
how to track metrics and examine content best practice, as well as addressing the art of selling on
social and building brand loyalty. 28 SEPTEMBER
Group Travel and Tours Conference — London
This event is for those who want
to attract the group travel market. It explores the issues that may be encountered when marketing,
selling and delivering holidays and tours to groups.
31 OCTOBER Crisis Management
Communications — London Designed to help delegates plan and update their crisis communications strategy,
sessions will cover how to manage the media in a crisis, how to build and maintain good relationships with the media, preparing spokespeople and message development, effective use of
social media and how preparing for a crisis works in practice.
countrybycountry.com | ABTA Magazine
11
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68 |
Page 69 |
Page 70 |
Page 71 |
Page 72 |
Page 73 |
Page 74 |
Page 75 |
Page 76