| Journal: TWUK | Section: |
| Title: | Issue Date: 29/05/00 |
| Author: | Page Number: 78 |
| Copyright: Other |
Time to take on the big boys?
tors that independent factions do not have the power to stand up to them.The independent conferences are addressing the same issues and operators are also becoming frustrated at the lack of agents present at them. Many suppliers tell me everything is one way – they give consortiums higher commissions but they don’t get the bookings in return.
Forget for a moment that you prefer Advantage to ARTAC, or vice versa, or you like the friendly, clubby atmosphere that one has over another.
Think of the power of one national group of independent agents. With a focused management, it could have tiers of suppliers with various targets to justify increased commissions.
One conference could deal with all the issues and reflect the power of a national group of united independent agents.
And it wouldn’t half make operators think twice before taking the mickey with direct numbers on every brochure.
Of course, politically this is unlikely to happen. There are too many people with comfortable positions to protect on all the consortiums. But are they serving agents or themselves?Send your views to the usual address.
After the recent round of independent agent conferences, I believe the independent sector wouldbenefit from a major restructure. Isn’t it now time for one national group of independent agents?
Before you write the idea off as crazy and unworkable, there are many compelling arguments for it.
Many agents are frustrated by the power of the operators to seemingly take whatever action they like, as was demonstrated by direct phone numbers in brochures.
Although Airtours has softened its stance (see front page), there is a feeling among operators that independent factions do not have the power to stand up to them.
The independent conferences are addressing the same issues and operators are also becoming frustrated at the lack of agents present at them. Many suppliers tell me everything is one way – they give consortiums higher commissions but they don’t get the bookings in return.
Forget for a moment that you prefer Advantage to ARTAC, or vice versa, or you like the friendly, clubby atmosphere that one has over another.
Think of the power of one national group of independent agents. With a focused management, it could have tiers of suppliers with various targets to justify increased commissions.
One conference could deal with all the issues and reflect the power of a national group of united independent agents.
And it wouldn’t half make operators think twice before taking the mickey with direct numbers on every brochure.
Of course, politically this is unlikely to happen. There are too many people with comfortable positions to protect on all the consortiums. But are they serving agents or themselves?Send your views to the usual address.