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A WEEK AT ABTA
Keith Richards, Head of Business Development & Consumer Affairs, attended the first meeting of the Confederation of British Industry’s working group on consumer education as they shared experience and views on the best ways to inform customers of their rights and obligations. At the end of the week Susan Lamb, our Operational Support Manager, will be at the Metropolitan Police’s Casualty Bureau in Hendon to discuss how we can co-operate when dealing with crises affecting UK nationals. With natural disasters, terrorist attacks, and accidents being unfortunate and unavoidable facts of life, it's essential that we remain well placed to minimise the negative impact on ABTA Members and customers when they do occur. Mark Tanzer, Chief Executive
RESPONSIBLE TOURISM AWARDS
Nominations are now open for the Virgin Holidays Responsible Tourism Awards. ABTA is taking part in the judging panel for the Awards, the largest of their kind in the world. They recognise individuals, companies, and organisations in the travel industry that are making a significant commitment to the culture and economies of local communities, and are providing a positive contribution to biodiversity conservation. For full details and to nominate, go to www.responsibletourismawards.com.
JEREMY VINE TO HOST TRAVEL CONVENTION
Jeremy Vine’s unique mix of entertaining banter, sharp wit and incisive interviewing technique have lined him up for a second year of moderating The Travel Convention, which takes place from 6-8 October in Gran Canaria. As Panorama frontman and presenter of his own BBC Radio Two magazine show, Jeremy is perfectly placed to know the issues that face travel consumers and industry insiders alike. ABTA Chief Executive Mark Tanzer, said: We're privileged that Jeremy will guide us through the business sessions again. He did a fantastic job last time. He’s a real pro, keeps everyone on their toes, and ensures that there’s never a dull moment. For further details about The Travel Convention, go to www.thetravelconvention.com.
ABTA WELCOMES COMPETITION REPORT
ABTA welcomes the Competition Commission’s interim report, published today, which sees potential for competition at all BAA-owned airports in the UK. The report indicates that common ownership of BAA’s seven airports in the UK may not be serving well the interests of either airlines or passengers. To see our press release, go to www.abta.com/resources/news.
SURCHARGES
If unexpected currency variations or fuel prices increase your tour operating costs, you can find out whether these costs can be passed on to your customers by consulting our Business Support Manual. This includes the wording tour operators need for booking conditions and the forms to notify us of a surcharge. The law says that no surcharge can be applied to a customer inside 30 days of departure, so please try to complete the forms and contact us six weeks prior to departure so that we can verify your calculations. To view the Business Support Manual, make sure you're logged into the Members area of www.abta.com, click on Guidance & Advice, and choose Business Support. If you have any queries, please contact the Members' Information line membersinfo@abta.co.uk on 0845 177 ABTA (2282).
LIST OF AIRLINES BANNED WITHIN THE EU
The European Commission has updated its black list of airlines banned within the EU. This can be found at http://ec.europa.eu/transport/air-ban/list_en.htm. If you have any queries about this, please contact the Members’ Information line membersinfo@abta.co.uk on 0845 177 ABTA (2282).
PUTTING CUSTOMERS AND STAFF FIRST
As part of our series of Crisis Management events, we’ve developed a workshop with The Centre for Crisis Psychology (CCP) which will take place on Wednesday 4 June. This event is limited to just 16 delegates and there are only two places remaining, but if there's enough interest we're able to run the same event again on Thursday 5 June. The day is designed to inform and prepare staff who'll offer practical support and information to customers, their relatives or friends, and colleagues immediately after a critical incident, such as sudden death, a coach crash, or a robbery in your agency. For further details and to book your place, go to www.abta.com/events/view/32 or contact the Events department events@abta.co.uk on 020 7307 1952 or 1956.
TRAVEL TECHNOLOGY INITIATIVE (TTI) SPRING CONFERENCE
The TTI spring conference - CRM in a Disloyal World - is taking place in London on Tuesday 29 April at the Institution of Engineering and Technology. For full details about the event, and to register online, go to www.tti.org/conference. ABTA Members can attend at a reduced rate of £125 plus VAT - a saving of £170.
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