Fees can work – but only for the minority

Comment

Fees can work – but only for the minority

Our front-page story last week about Edwin Doran saying that fees can work, caused much debate and argument in the industry.

That was the whole point – to get people talking about the issues and portray a cross-section of views.

The article says that in some markets, agents may be able to charge fees. Edwin Doran of Edwin Doran’s Travel World in Twickenham has only charged two of his clients, but the important point is that all of his clients have agreed to the policy. For him it is a stepping stone to across-the-board charges if and when commissions are axed completely by some suppliers.

Sources of income other than commissions have to be investigated.

But we appreciate Edwin is in a fortunate position and that service fees will not be accepted by the clients of the vast majority of travel agents.

We sympathise with Jill Waite of Pole Travel in Manchester who says that she is a retailer competing with other retailers (see Letters, page 10).

We will continue to campaign hard on behalf of all agents against cuts in their livelihoods.

We’d like to hear from as many agents as possible on this subject.Would you ever be able to charge fees?Or is that a hopeless suggestion in such a competitive market? E-mail jeremy.skidmore@rbi.co.uk or fax on 020- 8652 3956.

Jeremy Skidmore – editor