The Triton Travel Group is seeking urgent talks with ABTA over recent subscription hikes as it attempts to take on a broader lobbying role.
Following the group’s board meeting last week, the group reiterated plans to take on a lobbying role for agents and outlined plans to campaign on issues facing the trade, including ABTA subscriptions and Medhotels.com’s decision to ditch principal status. The group is taking legal advice on Medhotel.com’s level of financial protection.
New Triton spokeswoman and Worldchoice director Helen Burgess said: “One of the areas we gain strength as Triton is negotiating and dealing with issues like the recent hike in ABTA subscriptions.
“Not only is the increase substantially more than many people realised, it is also fundamentally unfair since it hits the small agent hardest, with larger ABTA members having the smallest percentage increase.
She added that the subscriptions hike was seen by many members as “the final straw” and are concerned ABTA’s merger with the Federation of Tour Operators puts the balance of power into the hands of larger members.
“Agents are now questioning the relevance of ABTA to their business more than ever and are putting increased pressure on Triton to find a possible alternative,” she said.