ELECTIONS 2006. Nominations are now invited for election to the Board of Directors and the Council of Regions to take effect from ABTA's AGM on 26 April 2006. Details of the available vacancies and how to obtain nomination forms can be found at abtamembers.org. The deadline for receipt of nomination forms by the Secretariat is 1700 hours on Wednesday 15 March 2006. A hard copy of the details may be obtained from Felicia Cliffe (fcliffe@abta.co.uk) on 020 7307 1991.

BOARD OF DIRECTORS. The following have been elected to the Board with immediate effect as a result of by-elections: Principal Band A - Jamie Gardiner (Acorn Venture Ltd); Retail Band A - Doreen McKenzie (Knock Travel). For a full list of current Board members, please visit abtamembers.org

QUALIFICATIONS FOR THE SALE OF TRAVEL INSURANCE. Members are reminded to ensure that their travel insurance qualification records are correct by going to abtamembers.org. Instructions for accessing this area, including a unique password, were sent to all Members last week by mail. If you have not received this letter, please contact Clare Thomas (cthomas@abta.co.uk) on 020 7307 1959. Please note that it is important that you update your record even if you have opted not to sell insurance. If you are waiting to hear the results of your travel insurance exam, please contact TTC Training (abtatitp@ttctraining.co.uk) on 01483 713 391.

LONDON HEATHROW AIRPORT. Members should note that recent enhancements to security procedures at London Heathrow Airport (LHR) are causing increased queue lengths, particularly at peak times, and passengers should therefore expect some delay. Business passengers in particular should be advised to get to the airport a little earlier than they are used to doing. For further information about these security procedures, which include removing belts and taking laptop computers out of luggage, please visit www.heathrowairport.com and follow the link at the bottom of that page. If you have any queries, please contact LHR on 0870 000 0123.

SIXTH INTERNATIONAL TRAVEL AND TOURISM CONFERENCE. Mark Tanzer, ABTA Chief Executive, will be the keynote speaker at the Sixth International Travel and Tourism: Policy, Law and Management Conference being held from 17-19 May 2006 in Newcastle upon Tyne. He will be speaking on the challenges facing the travel industry. Other speakers include CAA officials and travel industry lawyers assessing the practical impact of the recent ABTA v CAA case. The fee is �395 but ABTA Members receive a �120 discount per delegate. For further information including a brochure and booking form, please visit tlc2006.unn.ac.uk or contact Maureen Cooke (maureen.cooke@northumbria.ac.uk) on 0191 243 7597.

SHINE AWARDS SHORT LIST. Judges have chosen a short-list of 15 finalists for the SHINE Awards, which recognise outstanding work carried out by women in the travel, tourism and hospitality industries. The six categories being judged are Young Achiever of the Year, Business Owner of the Year, Business Woman of the Year, Business Expert of the Year, Public Sector Woman of the Year and SHINE Woman of the Year. The winners will be announced at an Awards ceremony on Tuesday 28 February. To find out more contact Andrea Knowles (aknowles@bgb.co.uk) at BGB Communications on 020 7233 2300.

NEW ABTA MEMBERS. We are pleased to welcome Belgrave Travel (K5198) in Romford, Sportability Ltd (W9010) in Dronfield, and Sunbound Travel Ltd (K5215) in Dumbarton as new ABTA Members. For a full list of companies that have recently joined the Association, go to www.abtamembers.org/abtel/new.htm

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