The Triton Travel Group is to approach ABTA’s chief executive Mark Tanzer to discuss giving independent agents a stronger voice within the trade association.
Speaking at the Triton Conference in Palma, Majorca, on the future of the super-consortium, Advantage chief executive John McEwan, said: “We want Triton to be seen as the vehicle for the independent travel sector.
“We want to forge much closer links with ABTA. I think we should have one voice in ABTA as Triton representing our agents.”
Chairman and managing director of Worldchoice and chairman of the Triton Travel Group Colin Heal added: “There is a very strong case for the voice of the independent travel agent to be heard.”
The move follows the recent announcement that the Federation of Tour Operators is to merge with ABTA. Under the terms of the deal the FTO will become a formal committee of the ABTA board and it is intended that FTO members will nominate a candidate for one of the positions on the ABTA board.
Concern has already been raised by some independent travel agents who feared that the trade association would become dominated by the larger tour operators.