THE AGENT named and shamed by Mark Warner for under-cutting its prices online has hit back at the operator.
Surrey-based Avant Garde was named Mark Warner’s Agent of the Year in 2005.
Director Carolyn Szepietowski said: “I am very upset to have been singled out. Only last year they were wining and dining us. But we do still want to work with them.”
Her company, which has shops in Weybridge, Esher and Surbiton, said Mark Warner’s move to stop it and other agents appearing on Google had resulted in lost sales for the operator. Rivals such as Club Med had benefitted.
“Club Med sales have improved dramatically, as they value agents,” said Szepietowski.
“Surely it’s better to pay agents commission and let them discount to secure a booking than be left with unsold holidays.”
But managing director David Hopkins insisted Mark Warner remains committed to the trade and said it would drive business to agents.
The operator announced it had sought a ban on retailers piggy-backing on its name on Google last week (Travel Weekly, February 24).
This added to agents’ concerns that the company is moving to sell more product direct.
But Hopkins said: “We will be having more educationals and initiatives.”
He added that the appointment of Justin Coles as agency sales manager had brought in someone with more trade experience than ever before.
Avant Garde Travel was the only agency named by Mark Warner on a list of 15 agents said to have been offering discounts on its holidays via Google.
Hopkins conceded that Avant Garde had been upset at being named, but said the change in policy was to protect the Mark Warner brand.