Triton has renewed its bid to bring Midconsort Elite into the super-consortium in a four-horse race to clinch a deal with the Midlands-based agency group.
Midconsort Elite chairman Neil Basnett held a series of talks with rival consortia bosses at last week’s ABTA Travel Convention about forging closer ties. But he stressed he is against a takeover or merger.
Last year an invitation to join Triton was rebuffed by Midconsort members but Triton member Advantage is planning to form a new upmarket consortium of its members with Midconsort Elite forming its backbone.
Advantage managing director John McEwan sounded Basnett out at the ABTA Convention and Basnett is now waiting for a detailed written proposal.
Worldchoice chairman Colin Heal also contacted Basnett at ABTA. Talks did not take place, but Basnett believes Worldchoice has similar plans.
Freedom is launching a small consortium called Liberty and general manager Trevor Davis has held talks with Basnett to get Midconsort Elite on-board.
The door is also open to cement a working relationship with Hays Travel following discussions with managing director John Hays.
Basnett said: “There may be ways that we can work together. I will listen to what everybody has to say.” But he warned: “If there is talk of a merger or a takeover I will walk away.”
Following unrest caused by previous votes that rejected the advances of Triton and a new S8 independent group headed by former chief executive Charles Eftichiou, any proposals will be scrutinised by the eight-strong board before being put to the membership.
“We have been voted in, so the membership should trust us,” he said.
Basnett added he has concluded all the commercial negotiations for next year, which he claimed are: “As good as Triton’s and better than we would have got as part of S8.”