ABTA STATEMENT
Date published: 17 June 2009Mark Tanzer, Chief Executive of ABTA, today announced to staff proposed structural changes in the organisation. These changes are part of the continuing integration of ABTA and FTO, following last year’s amalgamation, and part of a wider efficiency drive which includes the recent relocation to smaller premises.
As a result of the imminent departure of Andy Cooper, Director General of FTO and ABTA Head of Development, it is proposed to create two new roles in the Senior Management team. To coordinate and drive ABTA’s important lobbying role on behalf of its Members, a Head of Public Affairs will be recruited. ABTA 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 is promoted to the management team as Head of ABTA Operations, in which role she will drive performance and efficiency improvements across all of ABTA’s operations.
It was also announced that several job losses are proposed. Further details are not available at this stage, as employees are consulted.
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.”
For further information
Sean Tipton, Communications Officer, tel: 020 3117 0513,Frances Tuke, Public Relations Manager, tel: 020 3117 0514, Mobile 07850 712 325,
Casia Zajac, Head of Communications, tel: 020 3117 0515, Mobile: 07545 927 411
Out of Hours: Contact the Duty Press Officer via pager: 07659 190 987
E-mail: press@abta.co.uk
Web: www.abta.com
Notes to editors
ABTA – The Travel Association was founded in 1950 and currently has 1,415 members with 5,900 outlets. Members include travel agents, tour operators and support services right across the spectrum from small family-owned businesses to the largest tour operators.
ABTA is the largest travel association in the UK and its members provide 90% of the foreign package holidays in the UK as well as selling millions of independent travel arrangements.
As part of its comprehensive package of services to members, ABTA, as a non-party political organisation, also provides an effective voice to represent the interests of its Members to government and key opinion formers at the highest levels. In the UK, these include, government ministers, constituency MPs, Select Committee members, senior civil servants and members of the political opposition parties in both Westminster and the devolved administrations in Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.
In Europe, ABTA is forming close ties with members of the European Parliament, the European Commission and staff within the Director Generals’ Secretariats. ABTA works in partnership with ECTAA (the European grouping of travel agents and tour operators’ associations) to lobby on interests relevant to its Members.
