Thomson gets tough with miniples

Thomson gets tough with miniples

THOMSON has given regional miniples a month to get their house in order before deciding whether to axe them from the Preferred Agents’ scheme.And the operator’s managing director Shaun Powell has been drafted in to the next round of Preferred Agents’ lunches, which started in Scotland last Friday, as a further commitment to getting the scheme to work.Sales director Manuel Mascarenhas said some non-performers would simply be dumped from the scheme but that “borderline” cases would be given a month to prove themselves.Many independents have argued that their poor Thomson sales were due to a downturn in overall bookings or increased competition locally rather than an unwillingness to sell the operator.But Mascarenhas warned: “Agents have got to start thinking who they are going tosupport. We still have to have these discussions with the major consortia.”Scottish Passenger Agents’ Association president Val Foylan of Bell Travel said Powell’s attendance was not before time, adding:”When Airtours did its roadshows, managing director Richard Carrick turned up.”

THOMSON has given regional miniples a month to get their house in order before deciding whether to axe them from the Preferred Agents’ scheme.

And the operator’s managing director Shaun Powell has been drafted in to the next round of Preferred Agents’ lunches, which started in Scotland last Friday, as a further commitment to getting the scheme to work.

Sales director Manuel Mascarenhas said some non-performers would simply be dumped from the scheme but that “borderline” cases would be given a month to prove themselves.

Many independents have argued that their poor Thomson sales were due to a downturn in overall bookings or increased competition locally rather than an unwillingness to sell the operator.

But Mascarenhas warned: “Agents have got to start thinking who they are going tosupport. We still have to have these discussions with the major consortia.”

Scottish Passenger Agents’ Association president Val Foylan of Bell Travel said Powell’s attendance was not before time, adding:”When Airtours did its roadshows, managing director Richard Carrick turned up.”