Nikki White, Director of Destinations & Sustainability and Angela Hills, Senior Destinations Manager – Health, Safety, Crisis & Operations at ABTA have been awarded Commendations by the Metropolitan Police in recognition of the work ABTA and its Members have done in relation to International Counter Terrorism. This includes working with the Home Office, FCO and NaCTSO on the production of three travel related short films on suspicious behaviour, suspicious items and  the steps to take in the event of a security related incidents  and the development of an international training programme for the travel industry and their associated suppliers. Assistant Commissioner Neil Basu, National Lead for Counter Terrorism Policing in the UK presented the certificates at a commendation ceremony held at New Scotland Yard on Friday 10 August.

We would like to take this opportunity to thank our Members for the work done to date to train staff, their suppliers and inform customers about the steps they should take in the event of a security incident. 

ABTA has free online training for Members’ staff on how to talk to customers about the availability of Foreign & Commonwealth Office (FCO) travel advice. We would encourage all of our Members’ staff to do this very practical training which takes about 20 minutes to complete. Members can access the training either through ABTA’s new education and careers hub or directly at www.abtaknowledgezone.co.uk/login/. If any Members are interested in the international training aimed at overseas staff contact destinations@abta.co.uk for information.