Advantage and Aito create lobbying partnership

The Advantage Travel Partnership and Aito, The Specialist Travel Association, have formed a lobbying partnership to raise the profile of the independent and specialist UK outbound travel industry.

The joint turnover of the new partnership is more than £5.7 billion, as it brings together the consortium’s 700 independent agents, and more than 270 travel brands from the association’s independent and specialist operators.

Julia Lo Bue-Said, Advantage chief executive, has been campaigning for industry-wide lobbying efforts, and has argued for months for a new grouping to represent the outbound sector in addition to the Future Travel Coalition, of which Advantage is a member.

She said: “I am delighted to be joining forces with Aito and its SMEs, to take forward our vision and to support our combined memberships as the industry continues to face serious challenges.

“I believe improving government’s understanding of the outbound travel sector and raising the industry’s profile is crucial in ensuring that policymakers have the key facts in order to make informed decisions.”

A recent Advantage members’ survey found 90% of respondents felt under-represented in terms of government lobbying.

Chris Rowles, Aito chairman, added: “We share not only similar values, but we suffer from similar problems – sheer lack of clout with government being one of them.

“During the pandemic, Aito worked very hard to get its key messages into the many relevant government departments – unfortunately, with limited effect.

“We believe that joining forces with Advantage will help both organisations to deliver relevant facts to government that relate to the important SME sector – the lifeblood of the travel industry – and to ensure that we are recognised by the various government departments that control our future.”

Lo-Bue Said said she was hopeful that other industry players would join the partnership over the coming months.

The partnership has appointed FTI Consulting to support its work with immediate effect.

More: Advantage chief urges trade to maintain pressure on government