ABTA Convention Heads to Croatia

Somewhat belatedly, I have noticed that ABTA's Convention is heading to Croatia. ABTA is Britain's leading travel trade body. And after the World Travel Market, held every year in London, the ABTA convention is the biggest annual gathering of the British travel industry. The convention takes place between 21st and 23rd October.

The convention takes the form of a formal conference with lots of official and unofficial hospitality running alongside. The serious relationship building, networking and deals often being done late into the small hours.

ABTA Convention - Hotel Dubrovnik Palace

This is a real coup for Croatia, and most importantly the convention resort of Dubrovnik. The convention head quarters will be the Hotel Dubrovnik Palace, a prestigious 308 room, 5 star hotel overlooking the Adriatic Sea on the Lapad peninsula.

I have attended several ABTA conventions, my first being Majorca in 1993 and my last, so far, being in Cairo in 2002. I have also attended ABTA conventions in Tenerife and Istanbul. Missing the conventions in Australia and South Africa due to family commitments. In many respects, attending the convention is a must if you are serious player in the holiday industry such as a tour operator or travel agent.

Although the letter ABTA stand for the Association of British Travel Agents, the dominant form of membership has always been the tour operators and travel principals.

Delegates at the convention are distinguished by their badge colours. Representatives of travel agents and tour operators are entitled to full membership and wear the most prestigious badges. Lower down the food chain come the press and at the bottom, the ancillary suppliers to the tourism industry such as advertising and PR agencies. If I am to attend the 2013 convention, I will be attending in a capacity that puts me in the latter class of delegates. No worries though. Croatia a fantastic holiday destination and well worth a visit. And it is a business trip after all.