AFTA "delighted" as first intermediaries become ATAS-accredited
The Australian Federation of Travel Agents has named the first travel intermediaries to become accredited under its new ATAS scheme with the application process now well underway.
The initial successful applicants are: About You Travel, Broadway Travel & Cruise Centre, Corporate Travel Management, Ellandale Travel, Epping Travel, H.I.S. Australia Pty Ltd, Landmark Travel, Main Beach Travel, Moss Vale Cruise and Travel, Northern Beaches Travel, Northline Travel , TTFN Travel, and Venture Holidays, Wentworth Travel Pty Ltd, and Young At Heart Travel.
Describing the announcement as a “major milestone”, AFTA chief executive Jayson Westbury was particularly pleased that the first to become accredited were from “such a diverse” cross-section of the industry.
“We are really delighted that agencies from a variety of the major groups, along with independent agents have jumped online and found the process easy to complete, which was always one of our major goals,” he said.
“ATAS is about elevating travel industry standards and I truly believe that the benchmark standards that ATAS sets will ensure the professionalism, integrity and credibility of Australian Travel Intermediaries and their attractiveness to the consumer now and into the future.”
Meanwhile, ATAS general manager Gary O’Riordan described it as an “exciting time” for the industry, noting that the successful applicants, in becoming accredited, had “publicly backed” the scheme.
“These agents have been evaluated by ATAS’s quality assessment criteria on key areas including business disciplines, solvency, training and compliance,” he said. “This means that consumers will have peace of mind knowing that they are dealing with agencies that are clearly stamped with a reassuring indicator of quality and reliability.”
Email the Travel Weekly team at traveldesk@travelweekly.com.au
accreditation afta agents atas gary oriordan jayson westburyLatest News
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