AITO Specialist Travel Agents’ domestic conference 2013

November 15, 2012

A comprehensive programme of activity is planned for AITO Agents’ annual gathering of independent agents and operators  

AITO Specialist Travel Agents is delighted to unveil the programme for its domestic conference 2013 – taking place at the prestigious Chesford Grange Hotel in Warwickshire on 12-13 January 2013.

AITO Specialist Travel Agents unveil Just a Drop fundraising campaign to improve lives of 6,000 Ugandan villagers

November 8, 2012

The UK’s leading independent travel agents announce partnership with the international water aid charity ‘Just a Drop’ at World Travel Market 2012

Independent agents’ association AITO Specialist Travel Agents is set to raise £20,000 over six months in aid of Just a Drop, which will enable three villages in Uganda to be provided with boreholes, supporting and improving the lives of over 6,000 people.

AITO and AITO Agents’ overseas conference 2012: the survey results

September 20, 2012

Annual conference in Madeira receives overwhelmingly positive feedback

Following the second annual joint overseas AITO and AITO Agents’ conference in Madeira, Portugal (14-17 June, 2012), a survey has revealed that over half of the delegates found that the destination exceeded their expectations.

Sponsored by the Madeira Promotion Bureau, the conference was held in Madeira’s Capital, Funchal, and saw an engaging mix of big-name speakers, group panel discussions and an array of networking opportunities.

AITO Know-It-All

August 29, 2012

New tours from AITO members

Cachet Travel will complete its Canary Island collection from November, with the addition of Fuerteventura and El Hierro.  This will make it one of the only UK tour operators offering tailor-made packages to all seven main islands in the Canaries, as well as the tiny isle of La Graciosa just off Lanzarote. www.cachet-travel.co.uk

Discover Ltd is hosting a 140km route or a 60km route charity cycle ride in Marrakech next April for Moroccan NGO, Education For All. Riders climb up through the High Atlas Mountains to the ski resort of Oukaïmeden (Ouka), which sits at 2,624m above sea level. www.discover.ltd.uk.

Explore has launched two new ‘Limited Collection’ tours that take in winter festivals. The new 14 day Sapporo Snow Festival tour in Japan also visits Kyoto, Yudanaka – home to the famous ‘snow monkeys’, and spends a night in a seventh century Zenko-ji temple complex. Meanwhile the 11 day Harbin Ice Festival and Chinese New Year also includes tickets to Hong Kong’s New Year Parade, where customers can watch from reserved seats. www.explore.co.uk. 

AITO Agents welcomes another new member

August 17, 2012

AITO Agents welcomes another new member AITO Specialist Travel Agents is continuing to grow from strength-to-strength, with the appointment of another new member – Ultimate Destinations. Based in Chorleywood in Hertfordshire, Ultimate Destinations was established 20 years ago by Alan Haynes who wanted to utilise his many travel experiences to create a travel agency with a difference. Each of its eight team members – a mix of shop and home workers – has 20 years’ experience, with the agency specialising in cruise and luxury holidays, as well as corporate travel. Alan Haynes of Ultimate Destinations says: “We decided to join AITO Agents because I feel that Ultimate Destinations has a very similar ethos to AITO. Most of the holidays that we sell are with AITO members so I thought the next logical step was to join AITO Agents. “The role of the retail travel agent has changed massively. To succeed we have to work more closely with our business partners and AITO membership will assist us greatly in this.” Oliver Broad, Chairman of AITO Agents, says: “I’m delighted to welcome Ultimate Destinations to the AITO Agents’ team – our fifth new member in three months! It’s great to see a steady flow of independent agents recognising the importance of being part of AITO.”