Was I suffering the after effects of the Northern Irishbar’s hospitality after the ARTAC conference in Jersey to come across so negatively in my column (Travel Weekly April 19)?
The conference was very positive – indeed more so than the Advantage conference in Portugal.
Talking to suppliers and a few agents who had attended both conferences, it was felt that the ARTAC conference had been better in content and had more inspiring speakers.
Independent agents at both events had mixed reports on sales, most were doing all right and it was only the odd one that appeared to be down on last year. Those that were down, like ourselves, were all successful and mature businesses and you cannot realistically increase your bookings year on year forever. The odd ones who were down were those trying to compete on discounts with the multiples.
You need a good business mix. If you are down in one area, another sector like business travel and our groups department brings you back.
The Advantage conference was dominated by the split between those franchised with Airtours and those who remained ‘independent’. This ‘independence’ was the subject of one of the best debates with all sorts of arguments for and against, the speakers summing up like barristers in a court room, only serving to confuse.
As an ARTAC member, I listened with interest to the arguments on whether it was right to be aligned with Airtours. Both sides were very convincing and many of the non-franchised agents are clearly playing a waiting game.
The short delay in launching summer 2000 brochures is welcome but insignificant. However, if the multiples turn their focus onto next year’s holidays, they could easily take their eye off the lates ball. There will be a bigger lates market for years, especially for the next three months, and independents could clean up.
Andrew Dickson
St Andrews Travel
Bolton