WHO ARE AITO AND WHAT DO THEY MEAN FOR ME?
GOBUS are proud to now be members of AITO – the Association of Independent Tour Operators. Formed in 1976, AITO is an alliance of around 150 specialist travel companies, each dedicated to the provision of quality products, high standards of personal service and customer satisfaction. In summary, the aims of AITO are:
- To ensure that consumers may book members’ holidays with every confidence
- To encourage higher standards and greater professionalism
- To encourage members, their clients and suppliers to address environmental issues
- and to promote the concept of responsible tourism
THE AITO QUALITY CHARTER
AITO is the Association for independent and specialist holiday companies. AITO member companies, usually owner-managed, strive to create overseas holidays with high levels of professionalism and a shared concern for quality and personal service. The Association encourages the highest standards in all aspects of tour operating.
EXCLUSIVE MEMBERSHIP
AITO sets criteria regarding ownership, finance and quality which must be satisfied before new companies are admitted to membership. All members are required to adhere to a Code of Business Practice which encourages high operational standards and conduct.
FINANCIAL SECURITY
AITO members are required to protect money paid by customers to the member for any holiday sold under the AITO logo and to comply with UK Government Regulations in this respect. Members submit details of their bonding and guarantee arrangements to the Association on a regular basis.
ACCURATE BROCHURES and WEB SITES
All members do their utmost to ensure that all their brochures and other publications, print or electronic, clearly and accurately describe the holidays and services offered.
PROFESSIONAL SERVICE AND CONTINUAL IMPROVEMENTS
All members are committed to high standards of service and believe in regular and thorough training of employees. Members continually seek to review and improve their holidays. They listen to their customers and always welcome suggestions for improving standards.
MONITORING STANDARDS
AITO endeavours to monitor quality standards regularly. All customers should receive a post-holiday questionnaire the results of which are scrutinised by the Association.
RESPONSIBLE TOURISM
All members acknowledge the importance of AITO's Responsible Tourism guidelines, which recognise the social, economic and environmental responsibilities of tour operating.
CUSTOMER RELATIONS
All members endeavour to deal swiftly and fairly with any issues their customers may raise. In the unlikely event that a dispute between an AITO member and a customer cannot be settled amicably, AITO's low-cost Independent Dispute Settlement Service may be called upon by either side to bring the matter to a speedy and acceptable conclusion.
For further information on AITO please click here to visit their website.
We are also members of ABTA (the Association of British Travel Agents) and hold a full ATOL (Air Travel Organisers License)
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