Online representative body needed, ABTA toothless

Interesting chat with Keith Betton (ex ABTA PR supremo) for the first episode of the ITT special Purple Pods last night.

A man known for not mincing his words, Betton said he felt ABTA - the UK's representative and consumer protection body - was not appealing to the requirements of pureplay online travel companies.

He hinted that unless ABTA changed its strategy, it will only represent a decreasing number of members.

A further intriguing part of the conversation came when he suggested that a separate organisation could be created to stand for the interests of just online companies.

These are indeed spikey comments and will not go down well in Newman Street, where CEO Mark Tanzer has spent the past few years overhauling the organisation to do exactly what Betton suggests.

We'll be on the look out for ABTA council members today for a counter argument.

Kevin May, editor, Travolution