MAJOR operators have insisted agents will remain an important avenue of distribution and pledged to maintain current rates of commission.
The assurances follow British Airways’ decision to axe commission. Airtours sales, marketing and development director Ed Sims said far from axeing commission, operators were now paying more to retailers than they had ever done.
He urged travel agents to switch sell from BA and concentrate on selling more tour operators products.
“Tour operators have always been branded the villains but most productive agents are on as good a deal as they have ever been,” he said.
First Choice sales and distribution director John Wimbleton said: “We have a successful commission structure that provides excellent results for both parties. I can’t see us wanting to change something that’s successful.”
JMC sales director Dennis Wormwell said commission will be here for a long time to come.
But he added: “With all the distribution channels, there will undoubtedly be different ways of rewarding businesses that sell your product. A new entrant into the industry would not look at offering straight commission.”
Thomson said it had no plans to alter commissionstructure.