ABTA – The Travel Association and RHA Coaches have launched a new partnership which aims to enhance the benefits received by coach travel companies within each organisation’s membership, and amplify the voice of the coach travel sector.

As part of the partnership, ABTA and RHA Coaches will increase their collaboration across a range of areas, including public affairs – looking at coach policy issues, such as school travel post-Brexit, and the implementation of the new EU Entry/Exit System. This will include new ways of engaging mutual members in discussion around specific issues facing the sector.

ABTA has many members who provide a broad range of coach holidays and services, from school travel to ski trips, touring and day trips, and is looking forward to collaborating with RHA Coaches, and their members to deepen those relationships. 

RHA Coaches was launched in March 2021 and is an arm of the Road Haulage Association (RHA), providing services for coach companies.

RHA members who join ABTA will benefit from the strength of the ABTA brand, and the wide range of services on offer, such as legal advice and financial protection solutions, which would help them meet any obligations under the Package Travel Regulations, whilst also benefiting from sector-specific insights through our mutual collaboration.

Rachel Jordan, Director of Membership and Financial Protection, from ABTA – The Travel Association said:

“We’re really delighted to be working more closely with RHA Coaches for the benefit of ABTA’s coach members and the wider coach sector. Coach travel is a sector within its own right, and we know that our members have been facing some unique challenges, particularly around travel between the UK and EU.

“Not only does this new partnership formalise an existing working relationship between ABTA and RHA Coaches, it also opens doors for greater collaboration, which will enhance our offer to new and existing coach members.” 

Richard Smith, RHA Managing Director said:

“We’re delighted to announce our new partnership with ABTA which will deliver a formidable offering to support coach operators.

“We’re taking a great opportunity to align our established brands to collaborate on key industry priorities and build on the strength and depth of the services we provide our members.”

Jason Edwards, Managing Director, Jason Edwards Travel Ltd and member of ABTA and RHA Coaches said:

“With many coach companies operating their own holiday programme in the UK and Europe, the trusted knowledge and guidance from RHA Coaches is already well used. To sit alongside ABTA’s long-standing brand, support, industry knowledge and the first-class ABTA team,  I have no doubt will help guide and shape the industry for years to come.

“I have recently become ABTA bonded for my own Jason Edwards Travel business, and it certainly gives our customers further peace of mind being associated with the iconic ABTA brand.  Also, a joint voice on UK and European legislation can only be a benefit to operators and its customers. This new partnership clearly is a win, win for UK businesses.” 

Notes to editors
ABTA is a trade association for UK travel agents, tour operators and the wider travel industry. We’re the largest travel trade body, with over 4,600 travel brands in membership who have a combined pre-pandemic annual UK turnover of £40 billion. We work closely with our members to help raise and maintain standards and build a more sustainable travel industry, and provide travellers with advice, guidance and support.

Our members sign up to a code of conduct and commit to agreed service standards and fair trading. When you need clear travel information, and accurate and impartial advice relating to your trip, we’re here for you. When you book with an ABTA member, reliable advice comes as standard. This means that booking with our members brings peace of mind.

All this together means we help you travel with confidence. www.abta.com