An agent claims he is £23,000 a year better off after
leaving Worldchoice to join Global Travel Group’s Independent
Options.
Falmouth-based Newell’s Travel managing partner Roger Hawke
said the extra money came from increased commissions, the absence
of membership charges and a new marketing budget.
The news follows a spat between the consortia in December when
Worldchoice members of southwest agency federation Swifta
threatened to jump ship to Global.
Newell’s and Lets Go Travel, which between them have 41
shops, both left but the remaining 31 voted to stay. They are due
to review the situation this summer.
Hawke said the switch saved on Worldchoice’s annual fee of
£1,300 per shop, which had cost his six Cornish branches
£7,800. He has also been given £5,000 to spend on
marketing and expects to make £10,000 extra through better
commission rates offered for the big four, based on his 2004 sales
figures.
Worldchoice chairman and managing director Colin Heal said his
consortium still offered the best package. A recent
PricewaterhouseCoopers report had revealed the consortium was still
the most profitable on a shop-by-shop basis, he added.
In the past year, 40 members have joined Worldchoice, while the
consortium ran a £5 million marketing campaign last year,
followed up by a £3 million campaign this year.
