share
2017 is ANTOR’s 65th year, making it the oldest travel trade association in the UK. Over the past 65 years the organisation has evolved from a voluntary group to a not-for-profit organisation with a full-time secretariat to provide their members with networking events, online and social media profile and a strong industry voice.
Over the past six years ANTOR’s signature events have grown from 1 to 4: ANTOR Meets MICE in May, ANTOR Meets the TRAVEL TRADE in June, the ANTOR CONFERENCE in July and ANTOR Meets the MEDIA in September and each provides a knowledge and contact exchange with their members. There are smaller events throughout the year including the Annual Review, BGTW Debate and new Friday lunchtime talk-ins.
ANTOR is a member of lobbying groups on behalf of its members e.g. “A Fair Taxing on Flying” campaign, the Tourism Alliance and Evcom and regularly meet with the WTM team, AITO and ABTA to discuss trends and issues.
There are many associations to choose from in the travel and tourism industry, there really is something for everyone, but ANTOR is unique, as you can only be a member if you are a tourist board representative and there is no cost to the media or trade to attend events. For the majority of Overseas Tourist Office Representatives based in the UK, ANTOR gives them the official recognition and fraternity they need.
Vicente Salas Hesselbach, Regional Director for North Europe for the Mexico Tourism Board explained “ANTOR has been a great ally for The Mexico Tourism Board, the networking opportunities, events like ‘ANTOR Meets the Trade’ as well as its monthly meetings have been of great value for the strategy and productivity of the office. The active participation of its members and the leadership of the Board allow the organisation to face the challenges and opportunities, as a strong and officially recognised entity, when legislation and policy issues may affect the way British citizens travel abroad. Moreover, ANTOR is a great vehicle to encourage and facilitate the communication with different organisations in order to build stronger, productive and long lasting business relationships. ‘ANTOR Meets MICE’ is an essential opportunity for the Mexico Tourism Board to grow the network and identify leads to bring business to Mexico. With the combination of our country’s vast MICE infrastructure, along with the MTB and ANTOR’s resources, we are able to create an amazing synergy that is both attractive and diverse for such a specialised niche.”
Nadine Rankin, UK Representative for Trinidad and Tobago when asked what her rationale was for being an active member of both ANTOR and the CTO commented, “We gain clear and distinct advantages from each. CTO offers member nations tailored advocacy and marketing opportunities, the UK chapter offers a highly targeted and proactive agent training programme with a rewards and incentive programme attached, and offers really effective communications tools to continually reach, educate and motivate the agents.” She continued “membership of ANTOR brings a much broader range of audiences and networking opportunities, and enables us to share and learn with so many other tourist boards who face the same issues and challenges that we do. ‘ANTOR Meets the Trade’ offers a wealth of new contacts from diverse parts of the tour operating sector. ANTOR’s success in lobbying WTM for major changes has been a real coup for the association and its members, whilst the regular interactions with the FCO, brokered by ANTOR, are a huge asset. Without the collective interest and influence of so many global tourist destinations, we would not have access to such things”.
While the associations diversify and evolve, one thing is very clear, a common cause to reach out and develop the industry’s product knowledge, skills base, best practise and professionalism.
The enormous choice of an ever growing number of events available across the country to the industry as a whole and more importantly to travel agents and tour operator sales teams can only be a benefit to the industry as well as to personal career development. The choice may be overwhelming at times for agents and sales staff but the knowledge gained, contacts made and added bonus of hospitality is worth the effort.
ANTOR is trying to track down its past Chairmen/Chairwomen to put together a definitive list – they anticpate that there was at least 20 and have tracked down the names back to 1987 so far and would love to hear from past chairmen/women via secretariat@antor.com
