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 month’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 ABTA’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 ABTA’s operations.
Chief executive Mark Tanzer said: “The 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.â€
By Bev Fearis
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 
Qatar Airways offers flexible payment options for European travellers
Phocuswright reveals the world's largest travel markets in volume in 2025
Cyclone in Sri Lanka had limited effect on tourism in contrary to media reports
Skyscanner reveals major travel trends 2026 at ITB Asia
Higher departure tax and visa cost, e-arrival card: Japan unleashes the fiscal weapon against tourists