I READ your report on the ABTA proposed restructuring with great interest (Travel Weekly March 8). Some of the comments from chief executive Ian Reynolds proved how misled some people are.
When he stated that the agents will have to become the “agent of the customer”, Reynolds proved he was a convert of directional selling. Any agent, by definition, should be acting on behalf of their clients. It is well known that if a client walks into an independent, they will have more choice than if they walk into a multiple. But isn’t it about time that agents asked their clients what they want, rather than sell them what their performance targets show is lacking?
The point that some agencies will be suffering because multiples have started to offer free insurance is very worrying. If ABTA has members that are more insurance brokers than holiday providers, then surely they should be members of the ABI rather than ABTA. I have never seen insurance as anything but an ancillary service.
Reynolds’ view that agencies that are non-ABTA will be aspiring to join after they started is supremely arrogant. Why should agencies want to join an association where they have to pay for other people’s mistakes; where they pay for other people’s expense accounts; and where they can run an agency at a cost that is less, while having their clients funds as secure, if not more, that those people belonging to ABTA.
I have run my own agency by using an independent trust account for the last four years, by being non-ABTA, and I enjoy a very successful working relationship with most operators. I also like to run my agency to high standards, so much so that we have been nominated in the Travel Weekly Agent Achievement Awards.
The only membership that I have is CARTA, of which I am proud, and I will be looking at Gary David’s group with interest, depending on its criteria on racking.
ABTA has lost its way, as far as attracting new members, and it will have to go a long way to make me interested in joining them, even after the restructuring.
Richard Knight, Kingfisher Travel, Broxbourne, Herts