Trade associations and professional bodies for hospitality and tourism businesses
There is a wealth of high-quality advice, guidance and resources available to businesses to support you in responding to the challenges of coronavirus, but it can be difficult to know where to look.
Two types of organisations who are supporting businesses and individuals at this time are trade associations and professional bodies.
These organisations provide advice, support, training and guidance for businesses and individuals from the same sectors and professions, and will also represent your voice in influencing government, policy and regulation.
Getting to know more about trade associations and professional bodies
A trade association is a membership-based organisation that represents the interests of its members and acts on their behalf.
Members will be businesses from the same sector or industry which will pay a subscription fee to be part of the trade association.
Its primary activities will be to represent the voice of its members in lobbying government and other authorities to influence policy and regulation, and by promoting the image of the industry in press and media.
A trade association will also support the growth of its members, provide regular opportunities for them to meet and build relationships and often lead in setting, developing and maintaining standards for the industry.
A professional body is a membership-based organisation that supports its members in developing professional knowledge, skills and education and acts on their behalf.
Members will be individuals from the same profession who will pay a subscription fee to be affiliated with the body.
Its primary activities will be to provide resources and learning opportunities to support the career progression of its members, including professional certification and accreditation to show a member is qualified in a subject area.
A professional body will also represent the collective voice of a profession in lobbying government and other authorities to influence policy and regulation, and by promoting the image of the profession in press and media.
Trade associations and professional membership bodies are generally not-for-profit organisations funded by membership fees and by providing other services such as conferences, exhibitions, networking events and educational materials.
- Regular news updates, insights and reports for your sector
- Your voice represented to government and other authorities
- Influence policy and regulation
- Industry specific support and advice for running your business
- Build relationships with a like-minded community of peers
- Meet potential partners and suppliers
- Access to training courses and educational materials
- Certification and accreditation for you and/or your business
- Recognised as a professional in your field
- Provides reassurance and credibility to customers
Click on your business type below to see what trade associations and professional bodies are available to you
Bed & Breakfast Association
Membership type: Business
The Bed & Breakfast Association is a trade association for B&Bs, Guest Houses and small independent hotels.
www.bandbassociation.org
British Holiday & Home Parks Association
Membership type: Business
The British Holiday & Home Parks Association is a trade association representing owners and managers of park establishments providing holiday caravans, chalets, park homes, tenting, touring and glamping pitches and all forms of self-catering accommodation in the park setting.
www.bhhpa.org.uk
Hospitality Professionals Association
Membership type: Individual
HOSPA is a trade association for finance, revenue management, IT, marketing and asset management professionals working in hospitality focused on developing careers, networks and keeping up to date with industry trends and developments.
www.hospa.org
Institute of Hospitality
Membership type: Individual
The Institute of Hospitality is a professional body for managers and aspiring managers working and studying in the hospitality, leisure and tourism industry.
www.instituteofhospitality.org
Institute of Travel and Tourism
Membership type: Individual
The Institute of Travel & Tourism is a professional membership body for individuals employed in the travel and tourism industry focused on developing and maintaining high professional standards for the travel industry.
www.itt.co.uk
PASC
Membership type: Business
The Professional Association of Self Caterers is a trade association representing the professional self-catering sector with a primary focusing on lobbying activities on behalf of its members.
www.pasc.co.uk
Short Term Accommodation Association
Membership type: Business
The Short Term Accommodation Association (STAA) is a trade association supporting the development of the short-term accommodation sector by ensuring of greater cooperation to tackle industry challenges and work towards a stable and supportive regulatory environment.
www.ukstaa.org
Tourism Society
Membership type: Individual
The Tourism Society is a professional membership body for individuals working in all sectors of the visitor economy to come together for discussion, debate, to share views and knowledge and to network.
www.tourismsociety.org
UKHospitality
Membership type: Business
UKHospitality is a trade association representing bars, coffee shops, contract catering, hotels, nightclubs, visitor attractions and other leisure venues in influencing policy making, promoting the sector, sharing best practice and creating networking platforms.
www.ukhospitality.org.uk
British Institute of Innkeeping
Membership type: Individual
The British Institute of Innkeeping is a trade association that supports, inspires, celebrates and promotes bar-staff, pub chefs, managers, tenants, lessees and free-traders working in the licensed trade.
www.bii.org
British Beer and Pub Association
Membership type: Business
The British Beer and Pub Association is a trade association that represents and supports brewers and pub companies by lobbying and campaigning on behalf of the beer and pub industry.
www.beerandpub.com
Hospitality Professionals Association
Membership type: Individual
HOSPA is a trade association for Finance, Revenue Management, IT, Marketing and Asset Management professionals working in hospitality focused on developing careers, networks and keeping up to date with industry trends and developments.
www.hospa.org
Independent Family Brewers of Britain
Membership type: Business
The Independent Family Brewers of Britain is an independent group consisting of 29 family owned breweries and advocates the Brewery Tie model; a mutually beneficial arrangement between Family Brewer and tenant. IFFB are also involved in supporting local economies through sponsorship, apprenticeships, suppliers and international beer exports.
www.familybrewers.co.uk
Institute of Hospitality
Membership type: Individual
The Institute of Hospitality is a professional body for managers and aspiring managers working and studying in the hospitality, leisure and tourism industry.
www.instituteofhospitality.org
Night Time Industries Association
Membership type: Business
The Night Time Industries Association is a trade association for owners and operators that seeks to influence policymaking and ensure that the night time economy continues to flourish, supporting regeneration, creating jobs and enhancing the UK’s international reputation.
www.ntia.co.uk
Society of Independent Brewers (SIBA)
Membership type: Business
The Society of Independent Brewers (SIBA) is a trade association that represents the interests of independent breweries in Britain through campaigning, lobbying and raising the profile of independent brewers.
www.siba.co.uk
UKHospitality
Membership type: Business
UKHospitality is a trade association representing bars, coffee shops, contract catering, hotels, nightclubs, visitor attractions and other leisure venues in influencing policy making, promoting the sector, sharing best practice and creating networking platforms.
www.ukhospitality.org.uk
Hospitality Professionals Association
Membership type: Individual
HOSPA is a trade association for Finance, Revenue Management, IT, Marketing and Asset Management professionals working in hospitality focused on developing careers, networks and keeping up to date with industry trends and developments.
www.hospa.org
Institute of Hospitality
Membership type: Individual
The Institute of Hospitality is a professional body for managers and aspiring managers working and studying in the hospitality, leisure and tourism industry.
www.instituteofhospitality.org
Nationwide Caterers Association (NCASS)
Membership type: Business
The Nationwide Caterers Association is a trade association and professional body for independent food & drink caterers that provides legal documentation, training courses and work opportunities and supports owners to be safe, legal and profitable.
www.ncass.org.uk
UKHospitality
Membership type: Business
UKHospitality is a trade association representing bars, coffee shops, contract catering, hotels, nightclubs, visitor attractions and other leisure venues in influencing policy making, promoting the sector, sharing best practice and creating networking platforms.
www.ukhospitality.org.uk
Association of Independent Museums
Membership type: Business
The Association of Independent Museums is a trade association that representing independent museums in creating a network for mutual help and support that shares good practice and provides a singular voice for independents.
www.aim-museums.co.uk
Association of Leading Visitor Attractions
Membership type: Business
The Association of Leading Visitor Attractions is a trade association representing members to Government, media and business and lobby for support for the sector, whilst providing training, benchmarking and advocacy initiatives.
www.alva.org.uk
British Association of Leisure Parks, Piers and Attractions
Membership type: Business
The BALPPA is a trade association representing the interests of owners, managers, suppliers and developers in the UK’s commercial leisure parks, piers, zoos, family entertainment centres and static visitor attractions sector.
www.balppa.org
Heritage Railway Association
Membership type: Business
The Heritage Railway Association is a trade association representing heritage & tourist railways, related museums, tramways, cliff lifts, railway preservation groups and related organisations and to encourage good practice in all fields.
www.hra.uk.com
Hospitality Professionals Association
Membership type: Individual
HOSPA is a trade association for Finance, Revenue Management, IT, Marketing and Asset Management professionals working in hospitality focused on developing careers, networks and keeping up to date with industry trends and developments.
www.hospa.org
Institute of Hospitality
Membership type: Individual
The Institute of Hospitality is a professional body for managers and aspiring managers working and studying in the hospitality, leisure and tourism industry.
www.instituteofhospitality.org
Institute of Travel and Tourism
Membership type: Individual
The Institute of Travel & Tourism is a professional membership body for individuals employed in the travel and tourism industry focused on developing and maintaining high professional standards for the travel industry.
www.itt.co.uk
Museum Association
Membership type: Individual
The Museums Association is a professional membership organisation for museum, gallery and heritage professionals, museums, galleries and heritage organisation.
www.museumsassociation.org
Tourism Society
Membership type: Individual
The Tourism Society is a professional membership body for individuals working in all sectors of the visitor economy to come together for discussion, debate, to share views and knowledge and to network.
www.tourismsociety.org
UKHospitality
Membership type: Business
UKHospitality is a trade association representing bars, coffee shops, contract catering, hotels, nightclubs, visitor attractions and other leisure venues in influencing policy making, promoting the sector, sharing best practice and creating networking platforms.
www.ukhospitality.org.uk
Institute of Travel and Tourism
Membership type: Individual
The Institute of Travel & Tourism is a professional membership body for individuals employed in the travel and tourism industry focused on developing and maintaining high professional standards for the travel industry.
www.itt.co.uk
Tourism Alliance
Membership type: Business
The Tourism Alliance is a trade association primarily for tourism trade associations and destination management organisations that seeks to establish and maintain a favourable operating environment for all businesses involved in the delivery of tourism.
www.tourismalliance.com
Tourism Management Institute
Membership type: Individual
The TMI is a network of professionals who promote and develop destinations across the UK, Europe and worldwide and supports members by providing opportunities for sharing knowledge and expertise and being a voice for destination management.
www.tmi.org.uk
Tourism Society
Membership type: Individual
The Tourism Society is a professional membership body for individuals working in all sectors of the visitor economy to come together for discussion, debate, to share views and knowledge and to network.
www.tourismsociety.org
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