CHRISTMAS AND NEW YEAR ABTA OPENING HOURS. ABTA's offices will be open on Wednesday 28, Thursday 29, and Friday 30 December, and from Tuesday 3 January 2006. If you need to contact us urgently, out of office hours, please call our main switchboard on 020 7307 2444 and follow the recorded advice. In the event of a major incident affecting travel, please check our website www.abta.com.

CHRISTMAS GETAWAY. ABTA estimates that a record 2.3 million people will be leaving the country over the Christmas and new year period for winter sun or guaranteed snow. For details, please see www.abtamembers.org/press.

MAGENTA DEVINE HEADS UP OFT/ABTA CAMPAIGN. Launching on 12 January 2006, broadcaster Magenta Devine will head up an Office of Fair Trading (OFT) campaign highlighting the benefits of booking with an ABTA Member. This follows OFT accreditation of ABTA's Code of Conduct. PR and radio adverts, which will be aired on a number of commercial radio stations, will tell customers that they can expect a gold standard service from ABTA Members. To apply to use the OFT logo, Members should sign page 12 of the licence agreement and return the full document to the ABTA Legal Department. The licence agreement and approved code logo design guidelines can be downloaded from www.abtamembers.org/legal/oft.pdf. If you have any queries about this, please contact the Members' Information line (membersinfo@abta.co.uk) on 0845 177 ABTA (2282).

SINGLE PAYMENT SCHEME (SPS). Tour operator Members participating in SPS are reminded not to send files tomorrow, Friday 23 December. Please see www.abtamembers.org/memberservices/spsprocessing.htm for details of Christmas and new year processing dates. If you have any queries, please contact Cynthia Coward (cynthia.coward@ntltravel.com) or Lynda Webb (lynda.webb@ntltravel.com) at the ntl:business helpdesk on 01527 494 023.

PASSING ON ATOL DOCUMENTATION. Members are reminded of the importance of passing on ATOL receipts and invoices issued by ATOL holders. It has become apparent following the CAA's rejection of a number of claims over the summer that agents have not been passing on correct ATOL documentation to clients. If a client fails to receive an ATOL receipt or confirmation invoice from their agent identifying the tour operator with whom they are in contract, prior to an ATOL holder's failure, the client will have their claim rejected. The CAA is unable to authorise payment from an ATOL holder's bond where there is no evidence of contractual documentation and this means the agent will be responsible for reimbursing the client. The Legal Department has previously issued guidance for Members which is available at www.abtamembers.org/legal/agentdocguide.pdf. If you have any queries about this, please contact the Legal Department (legal@abta.co.uk) on 020 7307 1961.

CHECKLIST FOR DISABLED AND LESS MOBILE PASSENGERS. Further to the Code of Conduct guidance given in last week's ABTA Today, Members are reminded that a checklist for disabled and less mobile passengers is available at www.abta.com/documents/disabilities_checklist.pdf. This will assist you in making sure the correct information is passed on to the principal. If you have any queries about this, please contact the Members' Information line (membersinfo@abta.co.uk) on 0845 177 ABTA (2282).

E111 FORMS. Members are reminded that E111 forms will be invalid with effect from 1 January 2006. This form has been replaced by the new European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) which was launched in September 2005. For further information, please visit http://new-ehic.org.uk/site/index.htm. Members with any queries can contact the EHIC Team (ehicteam@new-ehic.org.uk) on 020 7866 7791.

FLYBE. ABTA Travel Industry Partner Flybe has introduced a new baggage policy that applies to all new bookings made from 12.00 hours on 16 December 2005 for travel from and including 1 February 2006. To receive a supply of customer leaflets explaining the new policy, please email Flybe (trade.marketing@flybe.com) with your full agency name and address. Full information concerning the new policy is available at www.abtamembers.org/aviation/flybe.pdf. If you have any further queries, please contact Flybe on 01392 268 533.

NEW ABTA MEMBERS. We are pleased to welcome Gazelle Travel Newcastle Ltd (K480X) in Newcastle Upon Tyne, Travel Industry Services Ltd (K4852/W886X) in Twickenham and Travelworld (K4814) in Exmouth as new ABTA Members. For a full list of companies that have recently joined the Association, go to www.abtamembers.org/abtel/new.htm

NEXT ABTA TODAY. The next scheduled issue of ABTA Today will be published on 5 January 2006. Until then, we wish you a very merry Christmas and a happy new year!

For a list of forthcoming ABTA events, including regional meetings and seminars, go to www.abtamembers.org/diary.htm For a list of ABTA publications, consumer leaflets, and ABTA-branded items, go to www.abta.com/publications

(c) ABTA 2005. All rights reserved

If you cannot access the internet but would like further information about any of the topics covered in this issue of ABTA Today, please contact the Members' Information line on 0845 177 ABTA (2282) or 020 7307 1994.

You can change your email details at any time by going to www.abta.net/app/member.htm and following the prompts. Alternatively, contact Daryl Nurthen (dnurthen@abta.co.uk) on 020 7307 1996.