The programme, which was announced during the Aito Agents Domestic Conference in Leicestershire, will reward travel consultants for their engagement within the association.
Areas which will be scored include the displaying of the Aito logo on agency’s websites, using it in their press and marketing activity, attending events and building new partnerships with Aito tour operators.
Presenting the “Aito Accreditation” scheme to delegates, chairman Gemma Antrobus said it would enable the association to take a “360 degree view” of agent’s commitment towards being part of Aito.
Antrobus explained how the aim of the system is to recognise agencies which miss out on awards in the current Aito All Stars Awards, which are based on sales volumes, while also encouraging more agents to take on greater responsibilities in the association and work more closely with supplier members.
“I am aware there are some very small agents who may sell 80% or 90% of their business through Aito operators but would never be in the top ten for sales of All Stars because of perhaps where they are based or the type of travel they specialise in, so this year we are going to reward agents based on a different set of criteria,” Antrobus said.
“Being a great Aito agent isn’t about selling the most holidays possible so rather than look at their sales performance we will take a 360 degree view of their commitment to Aito as a whole.
"We want to help members be in the best possible shape by being engaged with all the association has to offer and the specialist knowledge and expertise that Aito tour operators can provide."
The scheme is set to score agents across the calendar year and will recognise their efforts during the association’s Aito All Stars ceremony in January next year.
The new programme will run alongside the Aito All Stars scheme and could potentially use a “Gold, Silver and Bronze” grading system which multiple agents could achieve, Antrobus explained.
She said the criteria for collecting points will be distributed to agent members over the coming weeks.
“When agents do engage they see how beneficial it is and it’s a fact that Aito operators pay more commission than most other operators so factually working with Aito will earn agents more money,” Antrobus added.
The new scheme was unveiled as Aito Specialist Travel Agents reported record sales of its members through operators in the All Stars scheme last year.
Sales of £58.7 million were recorded through the 42 Aito All Stars operators in 2016 - up 4.8% on 2015.
