Consortia ask ABTAto issue leaflets on fees

Association awaits MORIpoll result before taking action

Consortia ask ABTAto issue leaflets on fees

Report by DIANE SMITH

THE MAIN consortia have called on ABTAto publish a leaflet on service fees to help agents educate the public.

But the association is waiting for the outcome of its consumer research into service fees, due to start next month, before any final decision is made.

ARTACWorldchoice, Advantage and Midconsort agreed to ask ABTA for help at the first of what is to become a regular joint consortia meeting, where they will join forces against the threats facing independent agents (Travel Weekly July 31).

Advantage sales and marketing director Colin O’Neill said: “Introducing service fees requires a change in the consumer’s perception and ABTAhas strong credibility with the consumer.”

ABTAsaid although the proposal to run a consumer awareness advertising campaign was rejected by the ABTA board, the association would consider producing a leaflet.

It will carry out a MORI poll next month in which it will ask customers if they are prepared to pay a service fee.

An ABTAspokesman said:”The last time we carried out a MORIpoll we found most people would not use an agent who charged a fee. Hence we decided a campaign telling customers agents charge fees may not be the best way.”

He added agents should incorporate any service fee into the overall holiday quote rather than highlighting it as an extra charge.

The consortia also agreed to give their backing to the Scottish Passenger Agents’ Association’s campaign to persuade operators to remove direct numbers from their brochures.

ARTAC, Advantage and Midconsort are scheduled to meet again in six weeks’ time.

The Scottish Passenger Agents’ Retail Consortium may join the meetings after it decides whether to join another consortium next week.