More than 200 travel agents and tour operators joined AITO Specialist Travel Agents for its annual domestic conference in Warwickshire this weekend (12-13 January).
With more agents in attendance than tour operators, the two-day conference at the Chesford Grange Hotel included workshops, a marketplace and talks from the CAA and on sustainability.
In addition, AITO Agents announced its overseas conference will be held in Dubai this June and that it will continue to hold regional training workshops this year. AITO now includes 112 travel agency branches with 16 new additions in 2012.
The weekend’s domestic conference also included a gala dinner, where the winners of the AITO All Star Awards were announced, listed below.
Here are some of the top stories from the conference.
It was revealed ABTA is looking into if voucher incentives breaches the Bribery Act as they were criticised in a panel discussion. More here.
CAA announced the ATOL advertising campaign is to receive further funding. More here.
Plus on the cruise front, AITO Agents’ Oliver Broad urged agents to think about which lines they work with. More here.
Agents were also encouraged to promote sustainability better and go past messages about saving the planet by leading sustainability marketing lecturer Xavier Font. More here.
See below for images from the conference
AITO All Star Agents winners
Best regional newcomer south – Ambassador Travel, Lee on Solent
Best regional newcomer north England and Northern Ireland – Feherty Travel
Best newcomer central England and east – Hyde Barker Travel
Best overall newcomer agent – Feherty Travel
Most improved agent – Carrick Travel, Pershore
Shining Star Award – Stephanie Jepson, Courtney World Travel
Agent of the year south – Beaver Travel
Agent of the year north England and Northern Ireland – Deva Travel
Agent of the year central England and east – RB Collection – Robert Broad Travel
National All Star of the Year – Beaver Travel
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