Long-haul operator Travel 2/4’s acquisition by Harvey World Travel owner S8 is threatening to cool relations with some agency partners.
The deal, announced before Christmas after months of speculation, prompted S8 managing director Andrew Laurie to pledge to keep the two businesses separate.
However, agents are threatening to switch-sell amid concerns about the closeness of the relationship the operator has with Harvey World Travel. Rival operators believe Travel 2/4 will inevitably work closely with the agency.
Kinver Travel owner Sue Foxall said: “When we have a choice of which operator to book flights with we are going to use a business that doesn’t own its own travel agency.
“Hopefully the extra business Travel 2/4 will get through Harvey World Travel will cover what they will lose from independent agents.”
Tickets Anywhere managing director Bryony Hordern added: “I wouldn’t give Travel 2/4 any of my customers’ information.”
Meanwhile, JTA Travel Group national trade account manager Nick Hughes said: “It makes commercial sense for them to work together more closely.”
Gold Medal Travel believes the deal could work in its favour. “We will be doing all we can to service agents and maximise this opportunity to grow,” said sales director David Holland.
Travel 2/4 managing director Maria Whiteman said there were no plans to integrate with Harvey World Travel and added the agency is negotiating a deal with the operator as other agencies do.
She added: “We spoke to the majority of our agency partners the moment the deal went through and they were okay with it.”