Advantage franchisees reacted angrily to claims that they had forfeited their independence and hit out at the Campaign for Real Travel Agents for throwing them out.
Steve Dawson of Galaxy Travel said he was furious at CARTA for rejecting him from the group, explaining that he could not afford to be idealistic in business.
He said: “I have got to be realistic. The specialist operators that people say would have stuck with us in the future will become a lot smaller in number because many of them have sold out.
“The principle of independence is correct but I am also a realistic businessman.”
Trish Pilnick of Pilnicks Travel Service in Malvern added:”This has been a very hard decision but we felt it had advantages all the way through.
“But at the end of the day, if I really don’t like a window display I’ve been sent, then I have no intention of putting it forward.
“CARTAhas made a very big mistake in throwing out franchisees. How dare they say that Iam no longer an independent.”
Gerrards Cross Advantage Travel Centre’s Murray Harold said: “You have to put the power behind you because its a dog-eat-dog world.
“I have 15 mouths to feed and I am tired of people getting emotional about this issue and faffing around.”
He added: “I think this is very arrogant of non-franchiseePaul Chandler to say he is going to sit back and see how the franchise guys get on and see if he wants to join it later. You should not be able to assume you can come along and arrogantly join willy-nilly.”
Advantage Travel Centres president Roger Smith said the franchisees could decide at any time when to close membership.