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Latest News Stories

The FTO is regularly asked to provide press statements in regard to headlines affecting our industry, members and their customers

Our Latest News Stories page is updated as soon as we have information to update our Members with. For historical news items go to our News Archive page.

06th Aug 2009
Sunvil Holidays has joined leading Green Initiative
Leading independent specialist tour operator Sunvil Holidays, is the latest travel company to sign up to the Travelife Sustainability System, a sustainable tourism tool which is supported by a growing number of European trade associations, including the Federation of Tour Operators.

By actively implementing Travelife, Sunvil demonstrates its strong commitment to protecting the environment and welfare of the countries its customers visit. Travelife is a simple, easy to use system that enables businesses to actively promote sustainable working practices in their own work and also that of their suppliers.

Chris Thompson Head of Responsible Tourism for ABTA and the FTO said “We are delighted that Sunvil holidays has joined the Travelife family. Sunvil is a leading independent tour operator with an excellent track record in safeguarding the environment and we are confident that others will follow their lead. “

Noel Josephides Managing Director of Sunvil commented “ Travelife is an excellent fit for Sunvil and the accommodation suppliers we work with. As a smaller independent operator I would strongly recommend that other similar sized travel companies and their suppliers sign up to Travelife. It is immensely beneficial to all and an ideal way to demonstrate your commitment to sustainability.”

Sunvil joins a growing list of Travelife users, including TUI, Thomas Cook, Virgin Holidays, Cosmos and the Co-Operative Travel in the UK and the municipality of Calvia in Mallorca which contains the world’s largest concentration of hotel beds at 60,000. The system is available to users throughout the world and TUI Netherlands, Thomas Cook Belgium and ABTA equivalents in Belgium, Holland and Germany are Travelife users.

Travelife is a wholly owned subsidiary of ABTA. 

6 August 2009
For further information contact:
Sean Tipton, Communications Officer, tel: 020 3117 0513,
Frances Tuke, Public Relations Manager, tel: 020 3117 0514, Mobile 07850 712 325,
Casia Zajac, Head of Communications, tel: 020 3117 0515, Mobile: 07545 927 411
Out of Hours:  Contact the Duty Press Officer via pager: 07659 190 987
E-mail: press@abta.co.uk
Web: www.abta.com
 

Notes to Editors
ABTA – The Travel Association was founded in 1950 and currently has over 1,300 members with over 5,500 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.  In the UK, these include, government ministers, constituency MPs, Select Committee members, senior civil servants and members of the political opposition parties in both Westminster and the devolved administrations in Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland. 

In Europe, ABTA is forming close ties with members of the European Parliament, the European Commission and staff within the Director Generals’ Secretariats. ABTA works in partnership with ECTAA (the European grouping of travel agents and tour operators’ associations) to lobby on interests relevant to its Members.

Press enquiries should be addressed to:
ABTA Press Office: 020-3117-0500
Out of Hours:  Contact the Duty Press Officer via pager: 07659 190987
E-mail: press@abta.co.uk

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