First Choice has hinted it plans to work more closely with independent agents almost a year after it slashed commission payments.
The company said it has not ruled out restarting negotiations with agency groups such as super-consortium Triton, which ditched First Choice as a preferred supplier at the start of the year.
First Choice mainstream holidays managing director Dermot Blastland suggested the company had now softened its approach and was happy to enter into negotiations with productive third-party agents “in the right relationships”.
First Choice cut base commission to independents to 10% at the start of this year following Thomson’s decision to slash commissions to 7% and 10% this time last year.
“We were beaten up more than Thomson and there was a perception we were worse,” Blastland said at this week’s ABTA Travel Convention.
“Most outlets are not big enough to support all of the big four and if you want to get into partnership with us that’s fine.”