Eight in Ten Consumers Recognise the ABTA Logo

Positive Associations with the Brand Continue to Improve

2012-09-20 — /travelprnews.com/ — ABTA continues to be by far the most recognised travel industry trade body among UK consumers with a 78% public recognition factor, according to new research conducted by Arkenford for ABTA*. After ABTA, ATOL is the most recognised travel trade industry brand (47%) followed by IATA (30%) and AITO (15%).

Public awareness of ABTA has held steady over the past 12 months, even though it has been a year of relatively few high profile travel crises and company failures.  This trend may have resulted in a decline in awareness levels of other logos strongly associated with financial protection, for example ATOL which has seen a 6% fall in public recognition year on year (from 53% to 47%).

The findings also show that the ABTA brand has continued to improve its strong positive associations among consumers in the last year, following improvements in 2011.

Table showing percentage of respondents who “strongly associate” ABTA with certain values

2012  2011 2010
Reassuring  58%  57%  49%
Safe  60%  59%  52%
Reliable  59%  58%  49%
Fair  55%  55%  47%
Practical  54%  51%  45%
Supportive  56%  53%  46%
Quality  57%  54%  47%
Confidence  58%  55%  48%
Authoritative  55%  53%  46%

Younger travellers in particular are more aware of and have more positive associations with ABTA from a year ago. Nearly one in four (38%) of those aged 15-24 are aware of ABTA, which represents a slight increase from 2011 when awareness was 36% and a 7% increase from 2010.  Awareness of ATOL among this age group stands at 30% (38% in 2011).

Consumers continue to have a clear understanding of ABTA’s role with 84% seeing the Association as representing its members, and a healthy 58% of people being aware of ABTA’s role in setting industry standards.  Six in ten (60%) see ABTA as representing consumer interests, an increase of 5% from 2011. Seven out of ten people regard ABTA Membership as essential or important when booking their travel arrangements.

Mark Tanzer, ABTA Chief Executive said: “The fact that eight out of ten consumers continue to recognise the ABTA logo and strongly associate it with being safe, reliable, confident and reassuring demonstrates just how valuable being part of the Association is to our Members. In a year when travel crises and financial protection issues have been less prominent in the news it is great to see that ABTA recognition remains steady, showing that consumers appreciate the broader role that ABTA plays. In the last 12 months we have launched a number of initiatives aimed at strengthening our profile among younger travellers in particular, and it is very encouraging to see these have had a positive impact.”

For further information

Sean Tipton, Media Relations Manager, tel: 020 3117 0513
Gillian Edwards, Senior Public Relations Manager, 020 3117 0514
Victoria Bacon Head of Communications, tel: 020 3117 0515
Out of Hours:  Contact the Duty Press Officer via pager: 07659 190 987
E-mail: press@abta.co.uk
Web: www.abta.com
Twitter: @ABTAtravel

Notes to editors

*Consumer research was conducted by Arkenford Ltd (www.arkenford.co.uk) who specialise in tourism and leisure market research. The ABTA Consumer Trends survey generated response from a nationally representative sample of 2008 consumers using an online research methodology and related to holiday booking habits in the 12 months to September 2012. Fieldwork was conducted in September 2012.

ABTA has been at the heart of travel for more than 60 years. Our purpose is to help our Members to grow their businesses successfully and sustainably, and to help their customers – the travelling public – have confidence in their travel experience.

The ABTA brand stands for expertise, reliability and fairness. These qualities are core to us. They ensure that holidaymakers remain confident in the holiday products that they buy from our Members.

We help our Members and their customers navigate through today’s changing travel landscape by providing schemes of financial protection and a course of redress if something goes wrong; by raising standards in the industry and by giving guidance on issues from sustainability to health and safety; and by presenting a united voice to government to ensure the industry and the public get a fair deal.

ABTA currently has over 1,300 Members and represents over 5,000 retail outlets and offices. For more details about what we do, what being an ABTA Member means and how we’re working at the heart of the industry to ensure that we continue to build confidence in travel visit www.abta.com.

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