| Journal: TWUK | Section: |
| Title: | Issue Date: 29/05/00 |
| Author: | Page Number: 1 |
| Copyright: Other |
Brochure phone number debate
Airtours bows to agent pressure
AIRTOURS is expected to omit its direct phone numbers from its overbranded Advantage brochure due out in July.The operator’s managing director Richard Carrick said he had listened to agent protests and was considering a number of options to appease them.
The issue of direct phone numbers sparked fresh debate at the Advantage conference in Tunisia where the consortium’s marketing manager Ray Dickinson slated the tactic.
“The policy is akin to asking agents to commit Hari Kari,” he told agents and suppliers.
Carrick, who met agents in Tunisia, said:”We never said we would put numbers in the Advantage brochures and we haven’t decided yet what we will do. It may be that we will put in an Advantage call-centre number or operate a commission rebate system when people who have taken the brochures from shops book direct.
“We won’t be offering a brochure without any opportunity to book direct – that would be naive. But it might be through Advantage. My aim is to make sure we don’t lose business to our rivals.”
n For Advantage coverage, see pages 3, 5, 8, 20, 78 and 80
Carrick: appeasing agents