THE Australian Federation of Travel Agents has cancelled the ATAS accreditation of nine members this week, with some simply failing to renew while others were terminated due to an inability to satisfy the scheme’s business governance criteria.
Several of those who did not renew their membership continue to claim they are “Proud to be ATAS travel accredited” on their websites, including school travel specialist Libertas Travel (ABN 301 540 914 33), Australian Tang Dynasty International (ABN 576 136 329 10) and Lisa Travel (ABN 941 301 793 69).
One of those which did not renew, Mahsuri Travel & Tours (ABN 690 628 257 27) is a blast from the past, with its website noting it is “fully licensed and a member of TCF Australia”.
Universal Holiday Travel (ABN 226 110 816 84), a Helloworld member from Ashfield NSW, and Qld-based Travel Addict (ABN 671 596 960 81) also failed to renew.
Voluntary withdrawals included corporate agency Executive Edge Travel & Events (ABN 310 079 642 03), and RACQ Operations (ABN 800 096 634 14) which no longer uses that ABN after being consolidated with RACT under its agreement with the Hunter Travel Group (TD 01 May).
Hornsby Travel & Cruise (ABN 111 093 445 87), which formerly traded as italktravel Hornsby, was cancelled after “failing to provide requested documentation”.
AFTA’s Head of Compliance, Naomi Menon, told TD it had been a busy time for the organisation, adding “we expect further actions over the next couple of weeks”.
MEANWHILE last month Perth-based mobile travel agency group Travel Execs (ABN 666 175 870 14) was also terminated from the scheme because of “failure to satisfy the business compliance and governance criteria of the ATAS Charter”.
Criminal listings for the Perth Magistrates Court indicate that Travel Execs founder and director, Tim McLean, is facing 10 police charges of “Stealing as a Director or Officer of Company,” with a current plea of not guilty.
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Source: traveldaily