ABTA has awarded Waterfront Publishing the licence to publish ABTA Magazine, along with a portfolio of print and digital products. 

ABTA Magazine and its associated publications are a free service for ABTA Members, funded entirely by advertising revenue. The new magazine portfolio will provide Members, Partners and the wider travel industry with high quality, highly relevant publications featuring in-depth industry insights, news from ABTA and sector and destination features.

Launching in May, the new ABTA magazine will be a bi-monthly publication in a new size and format, distributed to around 20,000 ABTA Members and industry contacts.  As well as offering industry insights and sector and destination features, there will be new sections for readers’ letters plus competitions.  ABTA Magazine will also be available online, bolstered by breaking news, more reactive comment pieces and longer-form insights.

Along with the bi-monthly publication, Waterfront will produce a number of other products as part of the publishing package including an annual ABTA Handbook plus targeted special publications and supplements.

Waterfront were awarded the contract following a competitive tender process in which they demonstrated a clear understanding of the brief and ABTA’s desire to produce a high quality publication that is relevant and engaging for its Members and other industry colleagues.

The tender followed ABTA and APL Media Limited agreeing to mutually terminate their publishing relationship of over 20 years.  ABTA and APL send each other congratulations on the conclusion of a successful and long relationship and wish each other well for the future.

Waterfront Publishing is a London based independent magazine publisher and creative agency. It combines experience with publishing in the travel sector with an innovative approach to producing content. Currently it publishes two magazines in-house, Cruise Adviser, an award-winning cruise trade publication and Solus, the only publication dedicated to solo travel.

Victoria Bacon, Director of Brand and Communications, ABTA commented:

“We’re really excited about the opportunities this new partnership with Waterfront Publishing provides.  They’re experienced in the travel industry and they have a proven track record of delivering publications of outstanding quality with highly relevant and engaging content. We’ve had the perfect opportunity to evaluate ABTA Magazine’s current offering to its readers and think about how it can best meet Members’ needs now and in the future.  We look forward to working with Waterfront to ensure the next phase of the magazine’s success.”

Sam Ballard, Director, Waterfront Publishing added:

“No one does more for the travel industry than ABTA – and their role is only going to become more crucial as we move forward with key legislation and Brexit. Our job as publisher is to report the great work that they’re doing and take an authoritative look at the issues that matter to ensure ABTA Magazine becomes necessary reading for everyone working in the travel industry, from shop floor to boardroom. We’re excited to take the magazine to the next level.”