Former Advantage chairman Steven Freudmann has quit the consortium to chair rival travel agency grouping Triton Travel Group in an increasingly acrimonious split between the former partners.
Advantage was part of Triton until two weeks ago, although its withdrawal from the commercial group – set up three years ago to give independent agents greater bargaining power – was expected by the end of the year.
Freudmann and his agency Majestic Travel will join Triton consortium member Independent Options, part of the Global Travel Group. He will take over as chairman immediately having stepped down as chairman of Advantage in July when his term of office ended.
Announcing his switch of allegiance, Freudmann said: “I have been disappointed by a number of recent decisions by Advantage. Given we do not see eye to eye I think the honourable thing is to resign. The board of Triton invited me to trake over as chairman and I am delighted to accept.”
Advantage managing director John McEwan stepped down as Triton chairman earlier this month, with Triton leaders announcing he had been forced out and McEwan saying he had resigned. The tension resulted from disagreement about the direction of Triton, which was conceived as a super-consortium of independent agents but has operated as an alliance for the duration of commercial agreements.
Freudmann said: “The reasons for establishing Triton three years ago remain. Independent agents are feeling the pinch and need as much support as they can get. The Advantage board believes that, commercially, Advantage is strong on its own. I think that is a high-risk strategy.”