The travel industry has outlined a new set of standards to promote professionalism and best practice and encourage staff retention.

People 1st, the sector skills council for the hospitality, leisure, travel and tourism sector, has issued the National Occupational Standards for the industry. They focus primarily on sales and customer service, good organisation and business planning and are aimed at leisure and business travel and tour operators.

The standards will underpin the sector’s vocational qualifications. A new initiative set to launch in January 2006 is ABTA’s Accredited Travel Professional scheme. This aims to encourage professionalism in the sector and address the industry’s 30% staff turnover rate.

People 1st chief executive Brian Wisdom said: “These standards represent an opportunity for travel and tourism employers to raise levels of professionalism. That will mean we can hang on to our best people, deliver a better service to customers and increase profitability.”