School Travel Forum makes ABTA membership compulsory
ABTA membership is now compulsory for members of the School Travel Forum.
The trade body has made the decision to help support and protect school travel arrangements.
Chief executive Gill Harvey said: "This is a very positive and important step for the School Travel Forum. ABTA is a trusted travel brand known for its expertise and guidance, and will provide STF Members with a wealth of advice and support in addition to what we already provide.
"We also recognise the role ABTA has in providing practical help and expertise on travel regulations – such as the upcoming Package Travel Regulations and GDPR – to inform and keep members up to date on what’s required of them in the coming months."
Companies that join STF have to undergo a process of assessment under the organisation’s Safety SMS and accreditation under the Council for Learning outside the Class Room. This process will now also include becoming an ABTA member.
STF Members will have access to ABTA’s guidance on a range of issues, from animal welfare to health and safety, Package Travel Regulations and GDPR.
Many STF members are already in ABTA but those that are not will be subject to ABTA’s application and approval process.
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.
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