• application process
• membership criteria
• understanding the free asset ratio
• conditions of membership
• bonding and contribution scheme
• monitoring and declarations
• quarterly declaration guidance
• fees
• FAQs

membership criteria

General

Applicants for membership are required to satisfy a number of criteria about their status and the nature of their activities before membership may be granted.

• Applicants should be professional or occasional travel organisers who sell packages directly to their customers. ABTOT does not offer protection to retail turnover.
• The organisation must be based in the UK and Directors/Shareholders/Owners should be UK resident.
• The organisation must hold valid public and products liability insurance with a minimum cover of £2m.
• The travel organiser must act as 'principal and not as an agent' (i.e. organise and sell their own packages and not anothers).

Financial

ABTOT require members to act in a financially prudent manner. On joining, ABTOT would expect a member to reverse losses incurred, normally within 2 years. Travel organisers must meet their debts as they fall due. In viewing an applicant's financial strength, consideration will be taken of:

• the type of assets contained in the balance sheet. ABTOT would normally expect to see a net asset ratio of 5% particularly in larger organisations; however travel organisers will not be excluded from membership if they do not meet this preferred ratio but will be encouraged to achieve this result with retained profits.
• ABTOT has a minimum £10,000 Paid up Share Capital requirement and each application will be subject to an individual financial assessment.
• ABTOT usually requires a minimum Free Asset Ratio of 5%.