ABTA president stands down
ABTA president Martin Wellings is standing down after 18 months in the role.
Wellings, managing director of Personal Service Travel based in Hailsham, Surrey, said he wanted to devote more time and energy to his own business.
“I run the company with my brother and he will shortly be doing less,” he said. “I can’t afford to take my eye off the ball with my own business, so I didn’t want to commit to another year at ABTA and be cutting corners.”
Mark Tanzer, ABTA chief executive, said: “Martin deserves all our thanks for the calm and good natured way in which he has led the organisation, and I shall personally miss the support he has given me.”
Nominations for the next presidency must be with the association by May 3.
An ABTA spokesman said any member can apply, but must be seconded. The board of directors will make the final decision by May 10.
Meanwhile, Kinver Travel joint managing director Sue Foxall has joined the ABTA board after being voted chairman of the new Council of Regions. Sandy Murray, owner of Sandy Travel in West Yorkshire, has been appointed vice chairman.
Bev
Editor in chief Bev Fearis has been a travel journalist for 25 years. She started her career at Travel Weekly, where she became deputy news editor, before joining Business Traveller as deputy editor and launching the magazine’s website. She has also written travel features, news and expert comment for the Guardian, Observer, Times, Telegraph, Boundless and other consumer titles and was named one of the top 50 UK travel journalists by the Press Gazette.
Vegas’s Billion-Dollar Secrets – What They Don’t Want Tourists to Know
Visit Florida’s New CEO Bryan Griffin Shares His Vision for State Tourism with Graham
Chicago’s Tourism Renaissance: Graham Interviews Kristin Reynolds of Choose Chicago
Graham Talks with Cassandra McCauley of MMGY NextFactor About the Latest Industry Research
Destination International’s Andreas Weissenborn: Research, Advocacy, and Destination Impact
Graham and Don Welsh Discuss the Success of Destinations International’s Annual Conference
Graham and CEO Andre Kiwitz on Ventura Travel’s UK Move and Recruitment for the Role
Brett Laiken and Graham Discuss Florida’s Tourism Momentum and Global Appeal
Graham and Elliot Ferguson on Positioning DC as a Cultural and Inclusive Global Destination
Graham Talks to Fraser Last About His England-to-Ireland Trek for Mental Health Awareness
Kathy Nelson Tells Graham About the Honour of Hosting the World Cup and Kansas City’s Future
Graham McKenzie on Sir Richie Richardson’s Dual Passion for Golf and His Homeland, Antigua
ADS PRO 
CCS Insight: eSIMs ready to take the travel world by storm
Germany new European Entry/Exit System limited to a single airport on October 12, 2025
Airlines suspend Madagascar services following unrest and army revolt
Qatar Airways offers flexible payment options for European travellers
Air Mauritius reduces frequencies to Europe and Asia for the holiday season