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Luke Pollard will take up the role of Head of Public Affairs, strengthening ABTA’s increasingly important lobbying activity. Currently an Account Director with leading Public Affairs company Edelman, Luke worked on the Thomas Cook account and has gained invaluable experience leading campaigns in Westminster and Brussels.

Nikki White will be joining ABTA as Head of Destination Strategy and Services. Nikki has gained an impressive grasp of travel and tourism strategy over her years as Head of Strategy and Development at travel and leisure Marketing experts Fox Kalomaski. Here she worked with a number of destinations as well as specialist agents, tour operators and airlines devising a range of strategic policies. Nikki’s expertise in sustainable tourism has recently been enhanced by her completion of Forum for the Future’s Masters degree in Sustainable Development.

Mr Pollard commented on his appointment: “Through the work I’ve done for Thomas Cook and the FTO in the past I know what an exciting sector travel is to work in and just how pressing many of its public affairs challenges are. ABTA’s investment in public affairs makes this role an exciting opportunity to really showcase the best of the sector’s thinking and ensure that travel receives the recognition it deserves by Westminster and Brussels.”

Ms White said: “I'm delighted to join such a strong team at ABTA and one that is committed to building expertise in crucial areas such as sustainability. These are challenging times and I am keen to ensure that we provide leadership and insight on these key issues for our Members”.

Mark Tanzer ABTA Chief Executive said: “We are delighted to welcome two such exceptional individuals to the ABTA team. With the benefit of their expertise and leadership ABTA’s operational and lobbying abilities will go from strength to strength”
 
For further information contact:
Sean Tipton, Communications Officer, tel: 020 3117 0513, Frances Tuke, Public Relations Manager, tel: 020 3117 0514, Mobile 07850 712325, Casia Zajac, Head of Communications, tel: 020 3117 0515, Mobile: 0754 592 7411
Out of Hours:  Contact the Duty Press Officer via pager: 07659 190987
E-mail: press@abta.co.uk
Web: www.abta.com
 
Notes to Editors: 
ABTA – The Travel Association was founded in 1950 and currently has 1,415 members with 5,900 outlets. Members include travel agents, tour operators and support services right across the spectrum from small family-owned businesses to the largest tour operators. 
ABTA is the largest travel association in the UK and its members provide 90% of the foreign package holidays in the UK as well as selling millions of independent travel arrangements. 
In 2008 ABTA merged with the Federation of Tour Operators [FTO], thereby cementing its role as the leading travel association and increasing benefits for both ABTA and FTO members. Both the ABTA brand which is highly recognised by consumers and the FTO brand which is well known in destinations will be retained.
As part of its comprehensive package of services to members, ABTA, as a non-party political organisation, also provides an effective voice to represent the interests of its Members to government and key opinion formers at the highest levels.