Up to 20 “big suppliers” have backed plans for an advisory group to decide how they can access customer data in an emergency.
The former head of Freedom Travel Group Kelly Cookes is leading the project as part of her new role as leisure director at Advantage Travel Partnership.
Advantage chief Julia Lo Bue-Said announced plans to work with tour operators and agent members to find a mutually beneficial system where customers can be easily and quickly contacted if a large company fails or if there is a catastrophe such as a terror attack or severe weather event.
Cookes told Travel Weekly: “ I see a lot of opportunities and there are definitely going to be a lot of initiatives in the future.
“The next big (project) is going to be the data advisory group. I want to get that up and running as soon as possible.
“The response from suppliers so far is overwhelming. It’s definitely something that is needed.
“Between 15 and 20 big suppliers have already committed to taking part.”
The move was in response to calls from Travel 2 and Gold Medal boss John Bevan for third party operators to have access to customer data when there are “catastrophes” after his businesses could not get hold of Thomas Cook customers in the wake of its collapse.
Cookes has just finished her first week in her new role.
“Obviously I knew a lot about Advantage before, but as an outsider,” she said. “It’s a relatively small team but very effective, friendly and innovative.
“There’s lots of energy in the office and we’re just at the end of our five-year strategy so it’s the perfect time to come.”
She said the consortium was also beginning to start planning for its annual conference next year.
Cookes said one of her first priorities is to spend time getting to know members and “understand what they want”.
She said she would also spend time familiarising herself with Advantage’s non-managed member model, something Freedom did not operate, and look to grow membership.
“It’s a great offering in the market…we’re definitely seeing growth and want to harness that, but we always want quality over quantity,” she said.
Asked if Freedom members had followed her to Advantage, Cookes said: “There’s still a bit of movement going on.”
She said some Freedom members which had spent up to 30 years building their businesses were now “very much struggling”.
“I still have close relationships with the members. It’s incredibly sad. The impact is much more than anybody realised.
“I’m still trying to support where I can. The amazing thing is the support they have given each other.”