A NEW organisation created by the merger of Nova Travel Group and the Association of European Travel Agents is looking to expand overseas as part of a plan to increase membership by 50% by the end of the year.
Nova-AETA Travel Group, which has 100 members, is targeting a further 50 agents to help build the group into a major force.
The group is also predicting the merger will give it the power to negotiate better commercial deals with the major tour operators.
“We see many possibilities with expansion in Europe, particularly with the globalisation of the industry,” said Nova managing director Peter Kemp.
“At the moment we only have one overseas member, in Spain, but we are currently in discussions with agents in Belgium.
“I believe this merger has bought forward the development of the group by about two years.”
Newcastle-based AETA, which has 40 members and trust association Nova, with 64, completed the deal last week after eight months of talks. There will be no job losses, with both AETA remaining in the Northeast and Nova retaining its base in Hertfordshire.
AETAmanaging director Paul Bagnall, now one of three directors in the new set-up, said the merger will allow the group to compete with other independents.
“Previously we had no contracts with Thomson, Airtours or First Choice, and Nova did,” he said. “This merger will allow us to work with the major players and negotiate good deals.
“I don’t believe the independent agent can survive without being part of some organisation to help it negotiate.”
The deal also means Nova agents will have IATA licences, enabling them to sell flight tickets directly to customers.
“Amadeus will also now be developed for our members,” said Kemp.