EUROPE – In an open letter to the press, Chairman of industry trade association the Hotel Booking Agents Association, Chris Parnham (pictured) has asked the media to refer in future to the organisation as simply the HBAA.
Parnham issued new brand guidelines and said the association had strengthened significantly in recent years. “With membership currently standing at an all time high, we would like to mark this landmark by redefining our brand identity,” he said.
“The brand is strong enough that we no longer feel it is necessary for the association to be known as ‘Hotel Booking Agents Association’ and wish to be referenced as the ‘HBAA’ in all types of communication,” said Parnham.
The HBAA’s two-tier membership, giving agency members more rights of engagement with their venue counterparts, has been removed. Venue members may now chair committees and even be elected to the association’s Executive Committee.
In February the corporate governance towards the membership of venues, hotels, apartments and stadia, was changed to enable all to become registered members of the company.
“We strive for equality across our membership so this is something we feel particularly strongly about,” added Parnham.
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