OPERATORS fear they will have to pay out six-figure sums in extra commission if Going Places continues to demand an increase in payments from them to 18%.
As exclusively revealed by Travel Weekly (March 1), the multiple is currently renegotiating summer ’99 contracts on behalf of its 710-strong chain, Travelworld and the 352 Advantage agents which have formed a franchise partnership with Airtours.
Existing contracts are being terminated by Going Places if the operators refuse to renegotiate.
One operator, who did not want to be named, said: “This could seriously hurt operators like ourselves and could cost us a six-figure sum. The whole thing stinks.
“Any extra money has not been budgeted for and will have to come out of our bottom line.”
Going Places is looking to secure increased commission rates in time for the Advantage conference in the Algarve in mid-April.
One source said: “They want to show the non-franchised agents what they are missing out on.”