18 June 2009

Job losses at ABTA

ABTA has announced plans for some job losses but is also creating new roles to replace Andy Cooper.

Further details of the planned job losses are not available at this stage, as employees are consulted.

A spokeswoman said: "The restructure has been borne from a review started when ABTA merged with the FTO, and the move to Park Street was the first phase of that restructure.

"We know that next year will be tough for our members, so the restructure is a way to integrate all our activities and to streamline the organisation so that it can be as effective and as efficient as possible.

"A consultation process is now underway, and there will be a number of new vacancies, but we cannot disclose the number of these until the process has finished, which will be in about a monthÃ¢â¬â¢s time."

She said the last time ABTA made any redundancies was in 1991.

Cooper, who was director general for the Federation of Tour Operators and ABTA head of development, is leaving next month to join Thomas Cook as government and external affairs director.

As a result, ABTA is creating two new roles in the senior management team.

The first will be a head of public affairs, to coordinate and drive ABTAÃ¢â¬â¢s lobbying role on behalf of its members.

The association will also will also be recruiting a head of destination strategy and services, leading on health and safety, responsible tourism and crisis management.

In addition, Susan Lamb, currently operations manager, has been promoted to the management team as head of ABTA operations to drive performance and efficiency improvements across all of ABTAÃ¢â¬â¢s operations.

Chief executive Mark Tanzer said: Ã¢â¬ÅâœThe proposed changes are part of the continuing evolution of ABTA into an integrated and focused association that can demonstrate outstanding effectiveness and efficiency to our members.Ã¢â¬~

By Bev Fearis