THE DEFINITIONof independence has been the subject of countless debates over the past 12 months.
With ARTAC and Advantage Travel Centres aligned with Thomas Cook and Airtours respectively, and specialist operators being snapped up by the big four, the issue has rarely been off the agenda.
At Advantage’s Independent Travel Agents’ conference in Portugal this weekend, it will again feature heavily, not just in the business sessions but no doubt in the delegates bar.
For Advantage, the conference could not have been better timed.
It comes as the dust settles on its controversial tie-up with Airtours UK Leisure Group and at a time when the favourable commission rates promised by Advantage management are becoming reality, not least because of the ruthless approach being adopted by Going Places.
Yet with such power behind them, it has been argued that the 352 shops have forfeited their right to be called independent.
Certainly the Campaign for Real Travel Agents hold this view and as a result it has thrown 50 Advantage/Airtours franchise agents out of the organisation.
Kirker Holidays managing director Christopher Kirker, AITO chairman Paul Chandler, Cresta Holidays managing director Steve Kimber and Spicer Travel Bureau joint managing director John Spicer will debate the issue on Friday.
Spicer, a franchised agent, fiercely defended his corner and refuted suggestions that he has sold out by joining the franchise.
“I hire and fire, I make my own money and sell to whom I want,” he said. “I am totally independent. I racked UKLG products before the alliance so in that respect nothing has changed and no-one is holding a gun to my head telling me to sell these products.”
Chandler has the opposite view – but declined to reveal his hand before taking the stage on Friday.
“It is not enough to say you are independent just because you are an owner managed business and I will explain why at the conference,” he said. “I was sent some promotional Airtours material but didn’t put it up because even that would undermine my independence.”
Among the anticipated 500 delegates will be around 15 from SWIFTA, half the consortium’s membership. Only a couple signed for the franchise with the remainder voting to stay as ordinary members. SWIFTA chairman Simon Maunder said members are anxious to discover what lies ahead for the non franchised agents but added that the signs are encouraging.
“At the moment the franchise has done us little damage. In fact we have better terms since the franchise,” said Maunder. “It’s fair to say the benefits are filtering through in the form of greater commission. Advantage promised this would happen and it has been true to that promise. But we want to see where Advantage is going and what long term benefits we can expect.”
Advantage commercial director Neil Armorgie admitted that independence would be a key debate at the conference.
He stressed non-franchised members would be given reassurances that they form part of the long term plan of Advantage.
“This is a conference for everyone, not just the franchise holders,” he said. “We will not use it to persuade non-franchised agents to sign up.”
Armorgie added that the theme of the conference will be customer focus with sessions looking at ways of developing and building relationships with customers.
“We must not lose sight that the customer is king,” he said.