ABTA ISSUES GUIDANCE ON BOOKING WITH BED BANKS
Date published: 25 June 2009ABTA has drafted advice for its Members clarifying contractual and financial protection issues when they are booking through accommodation only suppliers, also known as “bed banks”. With increasing numbers of ABTA Members using bed banks rather than selling traditional packages, it is essential that they are aware of who their clients are in contract with and whether the bed bank offers financial protection against its failure.
Bed banks generally provide their services in three ways, acting as principal, agent or supplier. All three have separate and important implications for travel companies. The company the client is in contract with will be responsible to deal with any complaints or potential compensation claims.
Mark Tanzer ABTA Chief Executive said “Bed banks have opened up new sales opportunities for ABTA Members and have been one of the great success stories of recent years. However it is essential that ABTA Members are fully aware of the legal and financial implications when they are using bed banks so that they can they can properly inform their customers and avoid potential unpleasant surprises both for customers and the Members themselves”
The guidance is available to ABTA Members as part of the Business Support Manual which is available on the Members section of www.abta.com
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.
