Aito

Video: travel leaders reveal reasons why 2026 will be better for the industry

Improvements in social sustainability, a stabilising international scene and a growing understanding of AI were just some of the topics touched on by Aito delegates.

Remember, DEI is lucrative and sustainability saves you money – plus six more Aito conference takeaways

The rise of AI, an increasingly discount-led market and the business benefits of DEI and sustainability were key talking points at this year's Aito conference in Asturias. Dea Jusufi reports

Don't lose hope amid bleak geopolitical outlook – but heed cybersecurity warnings, travel told

Ex-British commander Richard Kemp MBE ran Aito conference delegates through a sobering list of challenges, but stressed many were unlikely to materialise – and that the UK was 'in a much better position globally' than in the past

Discount-led market 'changing consumers' travel buying behaviours', firms warned

Rise of Black Friday and an ever-strengthening lates market could result in risker business practices, Aito delegates told

Aito resumes offering financial protection and begins welcoming first members

Association becomes third 'approved body' authorised by government to offer protection

Operator says each salesperson now generates £1.5m since selling through agents

A move to trade sales boosted Exsus Travel’s bottom line, an Aito meeting heard.

Sports tour operator, agent and Aito stalwart Edwin Doran passes away aged 79

Edwin Doran who founded his eponymous sports tour brand in London's Twickenham in the 1970s

Aito to widen membership to start-up SMEs with new associate scheme

Association has launched an associate membership scheme for start-up businesses that do not meet its two-year trading requirement

'Disappointing' package travel shake-up 'a missed opportunity for meaningful reform' – Aito

Aito has said the proposed changes to the Package Travel Regulations do not go far enough in alleviating the industry of some of its regulatory burdens, while Abta is more welcoming

Independent operators can be successful in Trump era, Aito insists

Aito chair Chris Rowles says he believes members who got through Covid will be able to overcome anything that Donald Trump throws at them in the coming four years

Aito to return to Spain for its 2025 overseas conference

The trade body has chosen a region of northern Spain for this year’s overseas conference, saying it will provide a very different experience from the 2024 event

Spend with Aito members still rising with long lead-in times, survey reveals

A survey of 14,000 Aito members found average spend is still increasing, with long lead-in times for bookings

Audley Travel, Stuba, Aito: this week's travel trade people moves

Recent moves include a promotion at a tailor-made specialist, a B2B bed bank bolstering its sales team and a well-known trade body recruiting a new marketing and events executive

Travel urged to seek new allies in Westminster and not 'give up' on government

The former chair of parliament’s transport committee told Aito conference delegates to engage with the ’raft of new MPs’ in Westminster to seek new allies for the industry

Aito gains approval to resume offering members financial protection

Aito will launch the Aito Financial Protection Services scheme after gaining government approval, but there are still a few ’technical issues’ for the association to address

AmaWaterways and Inspire Travel among 10 new Aito members

Association ’well on its way’ to achieving its target of growing to 150 members by 2030

The pursuit of value, and five other things agents should watch out for in 2025

Consumers pursuit of value, their confidence to book with agents and the spending power of the so-called ‘silver traveller’ market emerged as key talking points at TTG’s Agenda 2024 Autumn Breakfast this week

Aito spells out concerns over new EU border rules and backs calls for discretion

Aito members have voiced their concerns to the FCDO about the upcoming European Entry-Exit System introduction, saying discretion must be used at peak times to avoid long delays

Aito members ready to stare down biggest challenges with renewed confidence

Just over half (54%) of Aito members cited supply and demand as their biggest challenge, while 48% said it was competition, but a massive 96% said they expected turnover to increase or stay the same over the next 12 months

What does travel want – and need – from the next government?

As the country heads to the polls, TTG examines what the major parties have planned for the industry – and what the trade wants from the next government

UK Outbound to meet following general election to plan lobbying strategy

UK Outbound has called a meeting in mid-September to discuss how to make an impact on the new government, saying Westminster’s understanding is poor

'When chaos reigns, why is it always tour operators left picking up the pieces?'

Summer has only just begun, but already, consumers have experienced severe travel disruption – and tour operators are bearing the brunt of the knock-on effects, writes Aito executive director Martyn Sumners for TTG

Captivating Cuba ceases trading as Atol holder after more than 25 years

CAA confirms failure of Stevenage-based Cuba specialist

Travel Department to up agent focus following first year of trade sales

The Irish tour operator is now ’strategically’ working on building more agency partnerships