Two of the UK’s largest travel agent consortia have joined forces to lobby against reductions in commissions after the latest round of cuts from cruise lines.
Norwegian Cruise Line today announced it was following Royal Caribbean Cruise Line by moving to a 10% base rate from a variable rate of between 12% and 15%.
This followed the decision last year by Complete Cruise Solution to slash commissions to 5%. In a joint statement the Travel Network Group and Advantage said they have joined forces to reject the proposed changes.
Gary Lewis, group managing director, The Travel Network Group said: “We have now discussed this issue in great depth with our members and with Advantage Travel Centres and we are all deeply dissatisfied with moves by certain companies to reduce commission.
“Our strategy is, and has always been, to work with operators who help our members satisfy the needs of their customers, and who at the same time support the trade and our members commercially.
“There are a number of great quality Cruise lines providing fantastic cruise product to us as a Group and therefore, with immediate effect, we will be looking to strengthen our relationships with those cruise operators who are more supportive of our members and the trade.
“This will inevitably lead to a reduction of business going through those suppliers that are not supportive of this strategy.
“It is disappointing that during these already difficult trading conditions that some are choosing to make these commercial decisions that will ultimately harm the relationship they have with the trade and independent agents in particular,” added Mr Lewis.
Julia Lo Bue-Said, leisure director, Advantage Travel Centres, said: “Agents margins are constantly being penalised. Seven years ago they earned the base commission on every component, seven years on non commissionables can account for at least 2 per cent of the holiday price.
“This means that agents’ margins have continued to diminish whilst their costs have continued to increase.”
The Travel Network and Advantage combined sell around £350 million worth of cruise through their network of agents.
“Members of Advantage Travel Centres and The Travel Network Group are not supportive of the latest round of commission cuts and this will have a detrimental impact to sales. We have already witnessed the impact commission cutting has achieved and it does not drive incremental sales.” Bue-Said added said.