Triton woos Midconsort members

AT LEAST 10 Midconsort Elite agencies have agreed to meet Global Travel Group founder George Begg as the Triton Travel Group steps up its battle to poach new members.

Consortia rivalry hotted up this week as Midconsort Elite member Peter Goord Travel announced it was moving to Worldchoice, while other Midconsort Elite members contacted Begg to find out more about Triton. The response follows letters from Begg to 50 Midconsort Elite members.

Begg claimed the number of agencies at next week’s meeting would be in “double figures”.

As Travel Weekly went to press, no date or location had been set. “We have had enough interest to schedule in a meeting. I’m not saying it’s enthusiastic support but they are opened-minded enough to listen,” Begg said.

Midconsort Elite chief executive Charles Eftichiou claimed Begg had stirred up interest in Triton.

He admitted: “I am surprised that many agents are interested, but Begg has created a mystique and curiosity factor around Triton that is creating a buzz, meaning people want to listen.”

Midconsort Elite chairman Neil Basnett revealed he had met with Begg and had lengthy e-mail correspondence with him over the potential role for the whole of Midconsort Elite within Triton.

Basnett said members may be interested in joining Triton as an equal partner.

However, Triton has only offered alliance status, meaning a Midconsort Elite representative would not be on the board.

Meanwhile, Peter Goord Travel proprietor Anthony Goord said he had decided to switch after attending Triton’s conference last month.

Goord said his mass-market business did not fit with Midconsort Elite’s specialist stance.

He criticised Midconsort Elite for failing to defer the vote on joining Triton to give it time to assess its success.

“Midconsort Elite shouldn’t have been against something it knew nothing about,” Goord said.