On June 3 ABTA, working with the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC), launched a new e-learning programme: Accessible Travel Made Easy.

The training will provide an overview of what is meant by inclusive or accessible travel. Through gaining this knowledge, industry staff can provide excellent service to the large number of customers with mobility issues; many of whom worry they may not receive the right assistance when they go on holiday.

Worth 7 ATP CPD points, you can sign up for the training at www.accessibletravelmadeeasy.com

We have an ATP Member of the Month winner! Congratulations go to Chloe Dayneswood from Virgin Holidays who had 318 CPD points validated. 

With each newsletter, we'd like the Member of the Month to share their experiences of the industry with us. Chloe was not available this month so instead we've turned the focus to our very own Vicki Wolf, Professional Development Manager at ABTA.

Vicki Wolf
1. How long have you worked in the Travel Industry?
I've been at ABTA for almost 10 years and have worked on ATP from the beginning! Prior to that I was loosely connected to the travel industry as I worked as a transport policy advisor for the South African National Department of Transport.

2. What is your current role?
Professional Development Manager

3. Do you have any formal qualifications? Do you find that they help with your work?
I have a BA Honours Degree specialising in Politics and International Relations from Rhodes University in South Africa (where I grew up) - what's travel if it isn't about international relations :-) My undergrad degree was in Journalism and Politics. I do think that it has helped me along quite a lot in my career as it's given me a good understanding of the "big" issues.

4. What sort of CPD points do you log with ATP?
I complete all of ABTA's online training but also attend quite a few industry seminars and events and one or two conferences every year.

5. What's the best training / professional development experience you've had so far?
A Management Development Training course at ABTA. I also did a really great Presentation Skills Training Course when I worked for the Department of Transport in South Africa that dealt with the psychology behind giving presentations. It was one of those "eureka" moments in life.

6. What has been your favourite holiday destination?
It's hard to choose one - I may be a little bit biased having grown up in South Africa - but I love Cape Town. To me it is the most beautiful, vibrant city I've ever been to. I was also blown away by the South Island of New Zealand - it's just awe-inspiring.

7. Where would you like to go next?
Peru has always been high up on my list - one of my setworks at school was Peter Shaffer's The Royal Hunt of the Sun and I've been fascinated with the history since then.

8. What do you think is the best thing about working in travel?
The people I work with at ABTA, and throughout the industry, are lovely.

9. What has been the highlight of your career so far?
Watching Nelson Mandela speak (and dance) at an event at the
Union Buildings in Pretoria. A true inspiration!

10. What's the funniest thing to happen to you whilst travelling?
Seeing Tim Minchin perform at the ITT Conference in Gran Canaria a few years back. He is the funniest comedian I have ever seen and I have since become an avid fan and been to a number of his London shows.

If you would like to be an ATP Member of the Month and have your efforts recognised, start logging your CPD points!

ABTA has a new webcast about ATP and the ABTA online training courses. In this short video you'll hear from a number of respected industry professionals and partners about the benefits of online training and the advantages of ATP. To view go to http://www.abta.com/resources/training.

Travel Uni, one of the largest providers of free online training have been busy this month.

They have a wide variety of competitions running, all of which are linked to training prgrammes accredited with ATP.  A Fam trip to Antigua, goodie bags from Great Lakes and saris from Kerala are just some of the prizes available.
 
Travel Uni will also be having some new online training available shortly. To keep up to date with their offers, visit www.traveluni.com.