Founded by 22 leading travel companies, the organisation aims to encourage its members to grow their businesses successfully and sustainably, and to thereby help their customers feel secure in their travel experience. With a strong focus on expertise, reliability and fairness, ABTA provides holidaymakers with a confidence in both their member’s products and the ever-changing travel landscape.

ABTA does this through offering schemes of financial protection and a course of redress if something goes wrong; by raising standards in the industry and by giving guidance on issues from sustainability to health and safety; and by presenting a united voice to government to ensure the industry and the public get a fair deal.

The Association of Independent Tour Operators represents 150 specialist and independent tour operators. Members of AITO offer city breaks, luxury and no frills and sport holidays to 140 countries. The company was established in 1976 and covers a broad range of special interest holidays such as city breaks, cultural and arts holidays, beach getaways and safaris amongst others.

The Air Travel Organisers’ Licensing is a scheme that protects people who are going on package holidays, with flights from a member tour operator. Managed by the Civil Aviation Authority, ATOL prevents customers from becoming stranded abroad if the company collapses. The law applies if you book a holiday with one company that includes:
- Flights and accommodation, or
- Flights and car hire, or
- Flights, accommodation and car hire.

www.PurpleTravel.co.uk is an Agent for Atol Protected Operators. For more on ATOL protection visit our Booking Terms.

The British Air Transport Association or BATA, is an association for airlines registered in the UK. BATA members account for 73,000 staff, 770 planes and operate to practically all corners of the world. BATA is concerned about the healthy and safe development of UK aviation as well as the economical progression of the industry.

The Civil Aviation Authority or CAA exists to protect airline passengers and ensure they are aware of their rights. The CAA has a number of avenues it focuses on including aviation legislation, European and international issues and economic regulations as well as the safety and management of UK airspace. With two offices in London, one close to Gatwick Airport, the CAA regulates 50,000 professional and private pilots, 12,400 aircraft engineers and around 2,350 air traffic controllers as well as 19,000 aircraft registered in the UK.

Hays Travel is one of the most familiar brands for the best in holidays in the UK. As the largest independent travel agent, it provides second-to-none service, great value and quality holidays. Hays Travel employs over 800 people, has 43 branches throughout the UK, two call centres in the north east, and 300 homeworkers. All that from modest beginnings in a small retail shop in County Durham in 1980. The Hays Travel Independence Group was founded in 1995, to allow independent retailers to operate under the company’s licence and bonds.? PurpleTravel.co.uk is a trading diction of Hays Travel LTD and operates under ABTA numbers K5728 and L572X.

The International Air Transport Association (IATA) is a trade organisation that represents up to 84% of total airline traffic with over 240 airlines. The IATA looks to promote the safety, economic development and representation of the airline industry.

If you’re going on holidays anywhere in Europe, you can be pretty sure you’ll find some great information on VisitEurope.com. Whether you’re taking a small trip or you’re going to try going from edge to edge, there is lots of useful information, practical tips and destination guides to help you find your way.?

It’s a great place to find out about one of the 36 UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Germany, the beaches of Greece, or the culture of Hungary. You can choose to learn more about the history, people. Then, you can find out places to go by themes as diverse as horse riding to historical fortifications, nightlife to water sports.?

Find out more at VisitEurope.com or follow them on @visiteurope