Association of British Travel Agents
| Abbreviation | ABTA |
|---|---|
| Motto | The Travel Association |
| Formation | 1950 |
| Legal status | Non-profit company |
| Purpose | Travel agents and tour operators in the United Kingdom, UK-arranged foreign holidays, and consumer protection for package holidays |
| Location |
|
|
Region served
|
UK |
|
Membership
|
Around 1,200 companies with c. 5,000 travel agent branches and c. 900 tour operators |
|
Chief Executive
|
Mark Tanzer |
|
Main organ
|
ABTA Board of Directors (Chairman - Noel Josephides) and ABTA Council of Regions |
| Website | ABTA |
ABTA is a UK travel trade association for tour operators and travel agents.
Previously known as Association of British Travel Agents, its name was changed on 1 July 2007 to ABTA, The Travel Association to reflect its wider representation of the travel industry.
On 1 July 2008 it merged with the Federation of Tour Operators (FTO).
It was founded in 1950 by 22 leading travel companies.
ABTA has been around for over 65 years and is the UK’s largest travel association, representing travel agents and tour operators that sell around £32 billion of holidays and other travel arrangements each year.
The main functions of ABTA are:
ABTA maintains a Code of Conduct which governs the relationship between Members and their customers, between Members and ABTA, and between Members and other Members.
The Code is essentially a guide to good practice, although some of what it contains is also required under UK and European law. Those booking travel arrangements with an ABTA Member can expect to receive:
All ABTA Members have to abide by the Code and those that breach it can face sanctions at ABTA's Code of Conduct Committee.
ABTA
The ATOL scheme of financial protection (see below) covers flight-based holidays. If you buy a land- or sea-based holiday such as coach, rail or cruise holiday from an ABTA Member your monies will be protected by the ABTA scheme of financial protection. This means that if your travel company fails and your holiday can no longer go ahead you will be entitled to a refund if you are yet to travel and hotel costs and transport home if you are abroad.
In addition to financial protection, ABTA Members are also bound to comply with the ABTA Code of Conduct, which ensures high service standards and fair terms of trading. Booking with an ABTA Member also gives you recourse should you have a problem or complaint with your travel company.
ATOL
ATOL stands for Air Travel Organisers’ Licence. It is a government-run financial protection scheme operated by the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA). All monies you pay for package holidays involving flights and holidays including a flight plus accommodation and/or car hire, must be protected under an ATOL licence. You will receive an ATOL Certificate at the time you make your payment, and you will need to keep the certificate safe.
ATOL cover means that if your travel company fails and your holiday can no longer go ahead you will be entitled to a refund if you are yet to travel and hotel costs and flights home if you are abroad. Flights booked directly with an airline are not protected under the ATOL scheme.
...
Wikipedia