The Travel Industry | The Holidaymakers Guide | Planning Your Trip | HolidayTravelWatch
It is essential that when you are making your travel arrangements that you book with an agent, operator or arranger who carries membership of one of the following organisations. By placing your booking with such a member, you may be ‘buying’ extra consumer protection through their bonding arrangements (if they exist), should an element of your travel fail. You may be able to benefit from the additional facilities of a complaints process should that agent, operator or arranger fail to deliver timely responses to your complaint. In certain circumstances you can invoke an arbitration process to settle your dispute. Below are brief summaries for each of the organisations along with an appropriate link for further information.
Notwithstanding this information, always carry comprehensive travel insurance and always seek independent legal advice where you encounter difficulties.
Note: The organisations are trade bodies and as such simply represent tour operators or travel agents on wider issues, or require their members compliance with laws, rules or codes of conduct specific to their industry.
THE ASSOCIATION OF BRITISH TRAVEL AGENTS
The Association of British Travel Agents is the UK’s Primary Trade Association for Tour Operators and Travel Agents. ABTA’s membership currently includes some 1000 tour operator and 5300 travel agency offices. ABTA expects each of its members to comply with its code of conduct and can assist holidaymakers to commence the arbitration process in certain cases. ABTA requires its members to be bonded for the protection of holidaymakers in the event that the tour operator goes out of business. An Arbitration process is provided in the event of disputes arising between the Consumer and the Tour Operator/Travel Agent (we always advise that you seek advices before embarking on such a process and be aware of any limitations provided by any arbitration process).
THE FEDERATION OF TOUR OPERATORS
The Federation of Tour Operators were formed to represent the interests of tour operators and have created a model for its members defining health & safety standards in hotel accommodation abroad. In 2008 the Federation merged with ABTA. They do not provide direct Consumer Complaint Assistance.
ASSOCIATION OF INDEPENDENT TOUR OPERATORS
AITO represents over 140 tour operators. They are independent operators who all have to abide by the quality charter of the organisation. AITO states that companies are financially assessed and have to provide 100% financial protection to the consumer in the event that the holiday fails.
EUROPEAN TOUR OPERATORS ASSOCIATION
ETOA provides representation to over 400 members who provide inbound tourism products. The trade organisation provides representation in the European arena.
EUROPEAN TRAVEL AGENTS’ & TOUR OPERATORS ASSOCIATION
ECTAA represents travel agents and tour operators from 25 countries and lobbies on behalf of their members within the EU.
THE ASSOCIATION OF BONDED TRAVEL ORGANISERS TRUST
This is a DBERR approved Organisation that is authorised to hold bonds on behalf of travel organisers and provides protection for Consumers prepayments. It also has an Arbitration process (we always advise that you seek advices before embarking on such a process and be aware of any limitations provided by any arbitration process).
HTW has noted that amongst the submissions to the Committee on Toxicity (COT) it has been suggested that the symptoms highlighted by crew and passengers were akin to the condition of hyperventilation.
HTW has for many years received reports from concerned holiday makers or independent travellers as to the safety of their aircraft, ship or boat, train or road transport.
