Travel agents have broadly welcomed the proposed merger of Worldchoice and the Travel Trust Association.
The merger and planned buyout of Worldchoice shareholders by TTA’s holding company TTA (2007) will create a group of more than 800 independent agencies.
The deal involves the purchase of the Worldchoice business that runs nine agencies bought from retiring members and the merger of the wider agency network. It needs approval from 75% of Worldchoice shareholders at a meeting expected by the end of the month.
Under the recommendation, Worldchoice would retain Triton Travel Group membership and Worldchoice agents would receive performance-related payouts in five years.
Chris Bailey, owner of Worldchoice agency Bailey’s Travel, originally favoured Stella Travel Services’ bid but said: “What we are looking at here is a better deal. I cannot see any flaws.”
TTA agent Helen Doyle, managing director of Perfect Weddings and Honeymoons, said TTA members would benefit from the Worldchoice brand. “From a consumer point of view Worldchoice is a much-recognised brand. We’d be happy to have the Worldchoice logo on our website,” she added.
John Garbutt, managing director and owner of Worldchoice agency Thorpe Travel expressed relief Worldchoice’s Peterborough head office of 20-25 staff would be retained following rumours it could be cut under a deal with Stella Travel Services.
TTA founder and director Todd Carpenter said: “We do not need to go cost-cutting. Rationalisation was not a prerequisite for a deal.”