New research¹, released ahead of the Business Travel Show (26-27 February), finds over four in five (83%) managers say that membership of ABTA is very important or important when they select a travel management company (TMC) for their business travel needs. 

According to the research, managers at companies with an annual turnover of £50-99.99 million especially value ABTA membership, with over nine in ten (92%) stating that membership was very important or important when selecting a TMC. Managers at even larger companies also particularly value ABTA membership with 86% of managers at a turnover of £100-499 and over £500 million saying it is very important or important to them. 

Using a TMC that is a Member of ABTA is also particularly important for senior decision makers such as directors (92%) as well as business owners (83%).

Booking business travel through an ABTA Member allows corporate managers to book with confidence, knowing that their travel provider has passed ABTA’s financial fitness tests, including minimum capital requirements, balance sheet net asset strength and the provision of financial security and that it follows ABTA’s Code of Conduct. 

ABTA offers expert advice and guidance to the travelling public and further supports the travel industry by promoting high service standards, encouraging responsible tourism at home and abroad and works closely with its Members on health and safety issues. 

ABTA Members have access to its operational crisis support and operational bulletins which provide out of hours crisis support and keeps them informed of the latest worldwide incidents that may impact their businesses.

ABTA Members also benefit from a wide range of support services including free legal advice and detailed guidance notes and advice and support to help plan for regulatory changes including the effects of Brexit.

Victoria Bacon, Director of Brand and Business Development at ABTA – The Travel Association said:  

“This latest research shows that the vast majority of managers regard ABTA membership as important or very important when choosing a TMC. ABTA membership is particularly valued by larger companies and senior decision makers such as business owners and directors.

“As well as the strong association with ABTA’s brand, TMCs and their clients benefit from a wide range of ABTA services and expertise, all available at no extra cost.” 

ABTA is the UK’s most trusted travel scheme. 38 of the 50 largest TMCs are ABTA Members. ABTA Members which count business travel as their principal business have a combined annual turnover of over £15 billion.  

ABTA staff will be at the Business Travel Show on stand B2304 to meet current and prospective ABTA Members as well as corporate travel managers to discuss the benefits of ABTA membership.  
 
ABTA is hosting a seminar on Business Travel Risk Management on 22/4/20 in central London offering insights into the emerging threats in business travel and how organisations can mitigate these risks 

For more information email events@abta.co.uk or visit www.abta.com/events

Notes to editors
¹The research was conducted by Censuswide, with 501 Managers at companies where people travel for business, with a minimum of 250 business decision makers in UK. The research fieldwork was conducted between 09.01.2020 - 13.01.2020. Censuswide abide by and employ members of the Market Research Society which is based on the ESOMAR principles.  

For further information, contact:
Sean Tipton Media Relations Manager 020 3117 0513 or press@abta.co.uk
Out of Hours: contact the duty press officer 020 3693 0183
Web: www.abta.com
Twitter: @ABTAtravel
#ABTAat70

Notes to editors
ABTA has been a trusted travel brand for 70 years. Our purpose is to help our Members to grow their businesses successfully and sustainably, and to help their customers travel with confidence. 

The ABTA brand stands for support, protection and expertise. This means consumers have confidence in ABTA and a strong trust in ABTA Members. These qualities are core to us as they ensure that holidaymakers remain confident in the holiday products that they buy from our Members. 

We help our Members and their customers navigate through today's changing travel landscape by raising standards in the industry; offering schemes of financial protection; providing an independent complaints resolution service should something go wrong; giving guidance on issues from sustainability to health and safety and by presenting a united voice to government to ensure the industry and the public get a fair deal.

ABTA has more than 4,300 travel brands in Membership, providing a wide range of leisure and business travel services, with a combined annual UK turnover of £39 billion. For more details about what we do, what being an ABTA Member means and how we help the British public travel with confidence visit www.abta.com.