ABTA reassures members over Big Four rumours
ABTA chief executive Ian Reynolds has reassured members that the Big Four tour operators are sticking with the Association, in spite of reports in this week’s trade press that at least one operator was about to quit. Reynolds admitted to TravelMole that the major operators were unhappy with several issues, including bonding and the security it provides to clients in the wake of MyTravel’s financial crisis, but he said this did not mean they were about to surrender their membership. It is believed that TUI has written to ABTA to express its concerns about the size of the MyTravel bond, but Reynolds said: “There are always issues that cause concern but I don’t believe there is any imminent prospect of the major players walking out.” ABTA insists that MyTravel is sufficiently bonded and that it is happy with the company’s financial situation. The big tour operators are also known to be furious at ABTA’s plans to double the fees of high turnover members to make up a £250,000 shortfall in its accounts and at the high cost of the Association’s compulsory insurance training programme, which have made them reconsider the value of their membership. Reynolds said ABTA was keen to avoid confrontation with the tour operators and it had come up with several alternatives to the increase in the cost of membership, including a tapered scheme of subscription charges, which will be discussed at its board meeting next month. ABTA is also looking at ways to reduce the £400,000 bill for insurance training for the Big Four operators, such as holding exams in their own offices to save the cost of hiring premises. “I don’t get the sense that any of these problems are going to prove insurmountable,” added Reynolds.
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