ACCOMMODATION-only specialists Apartments Abroad has claimed major operators are queuing up to buy bedstock in popular resorts.
But director Keith Shaw said it will not compromise their relationship with independents and have refused to co-operate.
“Because we work on guaranteed beds we are fast becoming the only company around with bed capacity in the Spanish islands and mainland,” he said. “We have already turned down approaches from two major operators to release bedstock in favour of supporting the independent trade.”
Meanwhile, Apartments Abroad has claimed the increasing number of no-frills flights is leading to growth in the independent travel market with holidaymakers buying cheap flights and then looking for somewhere to stay.
Managing director Ian Thirlwall said agents can cash in on the capacity squeeze by putting their own ‘packages’ together.
“It is an opportunity to compete with the vertically integrated retailers,” he said.
In a further development, Thirlwall said the company is currently developing a Web site which should be up and running within three months.
On-line bookings are likely to follow with a number of European cities likely to be the first features of the site.