Triton chairman Steven Freudmann claims that 15 of the UK’s largest independent retailers will take part in the first meeting of his proposed breakaway agents’ group.
He said they included Hays Travel managing director John Hays, Worldchoice chairman Colin Heal, TTA Worldchoice managing director Simon Hargreaves, and Andrew Botterill, managing director of Global Travel Group parent Stella UK.
“I invited 15 major players and 15 have accepted,” said Freudmann. “They all have a slightly different agenda but they all feel that their views aren’t represented by ABTA.
“It is fine for ABTA to suggest it represents the views of the industry in general but, frankly, if that is dominated by the multiples’ view and therefore doesn’t represent the views of one particular sector, then that sector needs to find a voice.”
Independent agents are understood to be concerned about financial protection, about being squeezed by the large players whom they believe are increasingly trying to cut them out of their sales channels, and about the costs of regulation.
It is thought Freudmann’s group could become more than a lobbying group, potentially offering alternatives to ABTA bonding.
Other agency leaders expected to attend the meeting include On the Beach commercial director Jonny Pollard; Travel Republic director Kane Pirie; Steve Campion, owner of Holiday Discount Centre; Advantage Travel Centres chairman Willie Stewart; Consort chair Doreen McKenzie; and Ken McNab, of The Travel Company.