Report by Tanya Jefferies
THOMSON is expected to axe 10% of members from its
Preferred Agent scheme for not hitting their targets, as predicted by Travel
Weekly earlier this year (Travel Weekly July 24).
Those dropped from the scheme will lose enhanced
commission arrangements and benefits such as marketing support.
At the time, sales director Manuel
Mascarenhas said: “Some participants have not delivered. A year ago, we altered
the scheme after agents told us they did not have the tools to make it work.
“We gave them the tools and you would expect them to
deliver. They haven’t.”
Scottish Passenger Agents’ Association president Val
Foylan was critical of Thomson’s stance: “I think Thomson is being a bit
hardline. Few agents can survive on less than 10% commission.”
Global Travel Group senior
director Rod Bromiley said the group had a meeting scheduled with Thomson to
discuss the scheme on December 21.