Campaign for Real Travel Agents chairman Chris Kirker called on Advantage members to resist the advances of the multiples.
He warned non-franchisees and franchisees that independents may be benefiting from good commission deals now but that the vertically integrated operators would not hesitate to maximise profits in the future, even if that meant bypassing the trade.
He told delegates: “The vertically integrated companies are stealing independence from right under our noses and we seem to be helping them along. We continue to sell their brands and they pay good commission but what will happen when they decide to switch to direct selling?”
He said consumers were far from ignorant about directional selling. “Why else are Thomson and Airtours keeping the brand names of their recent acquisitions?Trust in your independence because you will profit from it in the end.”