The Elite Travel Group is confident it will achieve its membership target of 150 in less than three years.
Chairman Neil Basnett, who is stepping down as chairman in two weeks’ time, said potential new members are approaching the consortium on a daily basis.
Speaking at the group’s 30th anniversary conference in Jerez, Spain, he said: “Members at other consortia are obviously discontented and are looking at other options. When Worldchoice merges with Global they fear they’ll be dictated to and lose their independence.
“We can offer agents an alternative to their current consortium, somewhere where they will have a voice.”
AITO specialist travel agents chairman Barry Moxley and Jim Tadgell of Ariel Travel were among those attending the conference from other consortia.
Newly appointed business development manager Julie Franklin will be launching a recruitment drive in the coming weeks. The group will cap its membership at 150 and put any other interested agents on a waiting list.
Basnett is stepping down to concentrate on his own business Tana Travel. The board will vote for a new chairman following the annual general meeting on October 30.
He added: “The challenges this year have been too many to mention but we remain the only truly democratic consortium. We’ve adapted to change and that’s why we are still here. “
Also launched at the conference was online booking system Elite Desktop and a brochure of exclusive deals called Exclusively Elite.