THE voice of grass-roots agents will be lost if the restructure of Newman Street goes ahead, members of ABTA’s Travel Agents’ Council have claimed.
Although the current plans have been pushed through by TAC, some feel the regions will be frozen out of decision-making by not being represented on the enlarged board.
Under the proposals, only two of the five places for independent agents will be chosen from the new council of regions – an 11-strong body comprising one representative from each region – with the rest elected through a national ballot.
Yorkshire and North Midlands chairman Simon Kalson said all five places should be elected by the council to ensure a fairer regional representation.
“Someone could be elected in a national vote purely because they are well-known, not because they have the welfare of grass roots agents at heart or are committed to their region,” he said. “It would be a shame if the entire blueprint broke down on this one point.”
Sandy McPherson, chairman of ABTA in Scotland and of the association’s Aviation Committee, added: “The smaller regions risk being frozen out as they will not have the support to win a national election. But they have just as much right to be heard as anyone else.”
ABTA stood by the national ballot, insisting it was the most democratic system.
“A vote was held by TACwhich overwhelmingly supported the proposals,” said chief executive Ian Reyonlds.
ABTA’s Tour Operators’ Council will discuss the blueprint later this week.
Meanwhile, a new directive will make it compulsory for the new ABTA board to consider recommendations from the council of regions.