ABTA's Autumn Member Meetings Put Travel Change Questions at the Centre of the Conversation

Autumn is one of the busiest seasons in ABTA's calendar, and 2024 was no exception. Writing to members, Chief Executive Mark Tanzer described the round of events as valuable opportunities to catch up in person, hear how members' businesses are performing and answer the questions on their minds – not least the looming changes to how Britons travel to Europe.

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Why these meetings matter now

In an ever-changing travel landscape, face-to-face contact gives ABTA a direct read on what its members need. With the EU's Entry/Exit System (EES) and European Travel Information and Authorisation System (ETIAS) on the horizon, these sessions are a chance to discuss the practical implications openly and to make sure travel businesses feel prepared to advise their own customers.

Where ABTA is meeting members

The autumn line-up was deliberately broad. A Networking Drinks event on 19 September brought members and ABTA Partners together as the association revealed its Travel Confidence Index results. Regional Get Togethers were scheduled in Manchester on 5 September and Birmingham on 1 October, with a Travel Gossip Roadshow stopping in Wolverhampton on 23 October.

Beyond the UK, ABTA welcomed members, Partners and the wider industry to its annual Travel Convention in Greece in early October, and looked ahead to a presence at World Travel Market in November. Together, the events offered members plenty of moments to raise concerns and compare notes.

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Preparing for EES and ETIAS

The recurring theme across the season was readiness. As the EES and ETIAS move closer, travel professionals want clear, reliable information they can pass on with confidence – and ABTA's events gave them a forum to ask exactly that. For customers who simply want to understand the basics of the new schemes, a short overview of the EU's incoming entry rules is a sensible starting point before they book their next trip.