09 Feb
2017

Decision-makers look for ABTA membership when selecting a travel management company

New research¹, released ahead of the Business Travel Show, has found that over four in five (82%) managers with decision-making responsibility, say that membership of ABTA is important or very important when they select a travel management company (TMC). This is even higher than the 73% of the public who regard ABTA membership as essential or important when booking a holiday².

According to the research, managers with decision-making responsibility at companies with 250-500 employees especially value ABTA membership, with over nine in ten (92%) decision-makers in companies of this size stating that membership was very important or important when selecting a TMC.

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.

ABTA is one of the UK’s most recognised travel brands and has been voted a Business Superbrand (www.superbrands.uk.com) for the last ten years. 38 of the top 50 largest TMCs are ABTA Members and a further one in ten ABTA Members count business travel as their principal business.

Victoria Bacon, ABTA Director of Brand and Business Development said:  “Travel management companies are an incredibly important part of our membership and I am delighted to see that managers with decision-making responsibility hold ABTA membership in high regard. When selecting a travel management company, the ABTA badge gives managers assurance that they are booking with a reliable and robust company. The majority of the public regard ABTA membership as essential or important when booking travel arrangements. The fact that an even higher percentage of corporate managers see it as important when selecting a travel management company, is a clear indication of the value that ABTA membership brings to a TMC.”

ABTA staff will be at the Business Travel Show on stand No. B1060 to meet current ABTA Members and discuss the benefits of ABTA membership with TMCs and corporate travel managers and buyers.
 

Notes to Editors

¹ Research was conducted by Censuswide between the dates of 06.01.17 and 10.01.17, with a sample of 500 managers at companies where people travel for business. All UK research conducted by Censuswide adheres to MRS Codes of Conduct. Within these parameters, there are guidelines that ensure all research is carried out in a professional and ethical manner. As members of ESOMAR and AIMRI Censuswide abide by the ICC/ESOMAR International Code on Market and Social Research. Censuswide is registered with the Information Commissioner’s Office and is fully compliant in accordance with the Data Protection Act. The company is also certified under Quality Assurance Scheme IS0 9001.

² Consumer research was conducted by Arkenford Ltd (www.arkenford.co.uk) who specialise in leisure and tourism market research. The ABTA Consumer Trends survey generated responses from a nationally representative sample of 1962 consumers using an online research methodology and related to holiday booking habits in the 12 months to August 2016. Fieldwork was conducted in August 2016.