THE TRULY Independent Professional Travel Organisation launched itself as a force to be reckoned with this week.
In these changes times the concept is great – even if the name is a bit misleading. Basically, a group of tour operators want to convince independent agents to act like multiples and directionally sell their products.
That’s not how its presented. But operators will want a return on the £25,000 they’re each putting in.
Many who attended the inaugural meeting left with more questions than answers. Operators wanted to know why so many had been invited when TIPTO founder Gary David is going to choose the 20 he wants.
Meanwhile, agents raised the point that if the operators chosen weren’t their preferred operators, then they wouldn’t be doing business. And these plans for training and educationals are all very well, but many independents haven’t got the time to allow staff to participate.
Gary David isn’t everyone’s cup of tea, but I like his ‘can-do’ attitude. He’s got off his backside and done something positive in a very short period of time, while others have sat around and moaned about the situation.
He’s still got a lot of work to do, not least getting agents to buy into the concept. But if he can do that, he might just have devised a scheme which is successful and – more importantly – profitable for its members.
Jeremy Skidmore – editor