It was interesting to read the At Lunch article (Travel Weekly May 31) on independent operators and agents. As one of the original members of the Association of Independent Tour Operators 100 Club and a presentmember of the Campaign for Real Travel Agents panel, I am perhaps biased. I am also a member of ARTAC Worldchoice.
I have to say that Ido find small operators (and especially AITO members) are in many ways superior to themainstream operators. For example:
l They know their productbetter.
l They show an interest in what they are selling.
l They answer their telephones promptly and deal with enquiries and correspondence quickly and efficiently.
l They aim to provide theholiday the client wants rather than what makes the most money for the operator or uses up the surplus cheap charter seats and committedaccommodation.
Whether the previous independent operators which have been acquired by the majors will continue to operate in the same way is still open to question.
Nevertheless even if the product is still good I am reluctant to support a company (howeverindependent it may be in some respects) that is owned by a major group which has not for some years given any form of support or encouragement to independent agents and which aims to poach our clients away to its own in-house agency.
Regarding the TrulyIndependent TravelOrganisation I am not sure whether it will have anything significant to offer consortium members over and above what we get already.
We get many offers of training, educationals, roadshows, etc and often far too many brochures.
Visits from operatorrepresentatives are often useful but a compulsory hour a week could be a waste of time if my past experience of some merchandisers, who repeat information parrot fashion, is anything to go by.
I would also hope that any roadshows are of a higher standard than the one run by Cadogan earlier this week in Reading. I have no problem in wanting to be independent – I only have one shop and I decide which operators have preference.
On city breaks, Kirker comes top of the list but if they cannot provide what our client wants at a reasonable price we will use the best operator for the client.
Only independents canprovide the choice and service which many clients want.
Peter Stone
The Travel Centre of Henley
Henley on Thames
Oxfordshire