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Mike Hatton + 61 2 9264 3299 www.wtaaa.org/news/ |
For Release Tuesday April 20, 2005 |
A new world alliance designed to bring together key travel agency organisations
has been announced today (20 April) in Geneva.
To be known as the World Travel Agents Associations Alliance (WTAAA) the organization
aims to facilitate exchanges of information and advice on matters of mutual interest
to its members around the globe.
Founding membership of the group consists of the American Society of Travel Agents
(ASTA), Association of British Travel Agents (ABTA), Association of Canadian Travel
Agents (ACTA), Australian Federation of Travel Agents (AFTA), Deutscher Reiseburo
und Reiseverenstalter Verband (DRV), European Travel Agents’ and Tour Operators’
Associations (ECTAA) and the Travel Agents’ Association of New Zealand (TAANZ).
Since the initial issuance of the new organisation’s memorandum of understanding,
the Association of Southern African Travel Agents (ASATA) has also joined the group
with other nations also signalling their desire to join.
In addition to air transport policy, the WTAAA is expected to have input into a
wide range of travel and tourism related issues including areas such as international
cruise line and hotel policy. It will also provide a forum for the consideration
of common strategic goals and the management of issues of critical interest to the
members of the group.
Australia will hold the initial Presidency of the Alliance, and Chief Executive
of the Australian Federation of Travel Agents Mike Hatton will be the WTAAA’s
inaugural President. The Association of Canadian Travel Agents will hold the initial
Vice Presidency, and ACTA President and Chief Executive Marc André Charlebois will
be the Alliance’s inaugural Vice President. The Presidency of the Alliance will
be rotated in member country English alphabetical order on an annual basis with
each member country serving a twelve month term The Secretariat will be hosted annually
by the incumbent President’s national association.
The International Air Transport Association has been informed of the formation of
the new alliance.