The Triton Travel Group will no longer operate as a joint buying group with consortia member groups freed up to manage their own commercial deals.
The news was announced this morning at the start of the group’s third annual conference in Palma, Majorca.
Advantage, Global Travel Group and Worldchoice will still remain part of Triton but will no longer be tied into negotiating with suppliers as one group. It is understood Advantage had pushed for more commercial freedom to stay within the group following rumours it was on the verge of leaving Triton.
Advantage chief executive John McEwan said: “We are not going to pull out, we are going to stay in Triton but move to the next stage.We will manage our own commercial negotiations with our business partners.
“We want to work together with some business partners but it will be a choice of individual consortia to do that. T riton will no longer be a buying group as it was on the commercial side but other aspects will continue.”
Triton chairman Colin Heal denied the decision would weaken the group and said there could be more ‘real’ partnerships with suppliers in future.