MIDCONSORT’S chiefexecutive Sue Foxallemphasised in her guestcolumn (Travel Weekly June 7) that the Truely Independent Professional TravelOrganisation is not offering common – and preferential -commission rates to agents.
As I believe, the TIPTOmembers will already offer excellent commission levels and marketing deals, Isee no need for the group to actcollectively to improve on these.
In fact, 38 tour operators have so far formally applied to join us.
In addition we have hadletters from another 30-plus smaller operators who have asked to be considered if we even introduce a second tier of membership.
It now looks likely that TIPTO will have more than the original 20 which Ihad first envisaged. That means a combined promotion and marketing ‘pot’ of at least £625,000.
No other organisation is contributing so much to the independent sector.
Given the fact that we plan to spend what is clearly a major amount of money in developing an even stronger relationship with theindependent sector, how could any organisation committed to the independent sector really not give its backing to our organisation?
For Sue to dismiss the May 25 meeting as a “complete waste of time” cannot surely be in the interests ofMidconsort members.
Travelpack’s John Standley – who, incidentally, has not applied to join TIPTO – stated in his letter (Travel Weekly June 7) that £25,000 percompany represented “good value for money”, but expressed his irritation that membership was being limited to 20 operators. So why, he asked, did we invite so many companies to the meeting when so few would ultimately be chosen?
I make no excuse forinviting so many companies – all who expressed interest and stated they wanted to hear more.
A meeting was the only practical solution as I could hardly have rung them allpersonally to explain theconcept in the detail they would obviously have required in order to make a decision.
Certainly the extremely encouraging response I have since received indicates that a very high percentage of those who attended felt it had been more than worthwhile.
Gary David
Managing director
Cadogan Holidays
Southampton