SMALLEST consortium Midconsort is under threat as
larger rivals look to snap up its members, Travel Weekly can reveal.
Global Travel Group and Advantage are believed to have
declared open season on Midconsort, hoping to persuade independents to jump
ship this month before they pay their annual £750 subscription fee.
Many have reported personal visits from Global and
Advantage sales staff, with Global representatives offering a free membership
deal. At least 14 agencies are believed to have switched allegiance, although
Midconsort said it will not know how many have left until all subscriptions
have been paid. The fee was due on May 31 but members are usually given a
month’s grace.
Midconsort managing director Charles Eftichiou was
confident no more than five members would leave and denied it was under threat.
But he said Global’s door-stepping approach – face-to-face visits rather than
brochures in the post or faxes to shops – verged on harassment. “It goes beyond
the normal ethics of our trade and makes you wonder if there is a hidden
agenda. As a small consortium you always get concerned but I’m confident this
will not have a major effect. “
With 165 members, Midconsort is smaller than its
rivals. Global has almost 800 members, while Advantage has about 900 and
Worldchoice 700.
Global – which includes the Independent Options
division of ABTA-bonded agents – maintains its expansion policy is “normal
business practice”.
Independent Options business development director Sue
Foxall said: “There is nothing to stop us talking to members of other
consortia. We are not doing anything different.”