Association of Independent Tour Operators and its sister organisation AiTO Specialist Travel Agents have received more than a 50% take up of its Closer Ties scheme.
The Closer Ties scheme, which aims to boost AiTO operators’ sales through its agency partners and was launched at the AiTO Specialist Travel Agents annual overseas conference in Mauritius last June, guarantees AiTO agencies a minimum of 10% commission.
The deal also sees operators agree not to offer direct discounts in return for high-level promotion through AiTO agencies.
Of the 106 AiTO members 56 operators have signed up to the scheme along with 90 of the 140 agencies in AiTO Specialist Travel Agents.
Speaking at the weekend at AiTO’s annual domestic conference in Warwick chairman Derek Moore and AiTO Specialist Travel Agents chairman Barry Moxley both urged their remaining members to back the deal.
“I’m a believer in Closer Ties,” Moore said. “It’s a simple pledge where both the agency and the operator know what they are getting.”
For a full report from the conference see this week’s Travel Weekly.