ADVANTAGE Travel Centres has scrapped more controversial demands in its franchise proposals after a barrage of complaints by members.
It is the second major U-turn by the consortium after fears only a handful of agents would sign up for the alliance with Airtours by the January 15 deadline.
It had already climbed down over the crippling costs involved in joining the franchise (Travel Weekly November 18 1998). Agents were furious after the prospectus, sent to agents before Christmas, revealed they would be charged ú15 for each booking with a non-preferred operator.
It also said target sales figures would be set with those failing to hit 80% of the target charged double the monthly ú90 royalty fee in the next quarter – a fine of ú270.
Lines to Advantage’s London base were jammed after members read the demands. After emergency discussions, the two demands were withdrawn.
Airtours UK leisure group development director Tony Bennett confirmed:”We are removing the performance targets and the low-value transaction fee after listening to what members had to say.
“To be honest, they were matters which were not important to us but obviously meant a lot to the franchisees. Perhaps they thought we were adopting the stick approach which is what we do not want to do.”
Bennett said the targets were introduced to protect the interests of those members who were “pulling their weight”.
Despite dropping the demands, some agents said they had lost trust and enthusiasm in the franchise.
Swifta chairman and Advantage board member Simon Maunder said many members had changed their mind and would now vote against the franchise.
“Since the franchise agreement was published, enthusiasm for signing among Swifta members has evaporated. I thought that some of the contentious issues would be negotiated away but members have simply lost enthusiasm.”
Geoff Lance, from Champion Travel, Hampton Hill, Middlesex, said: “I voted against this proposal and this is why.”
Sandy MacPherson, from Voyager Travel, Glasgow, added the issues were a major concern. “This was chipping away further at agents’ independence.”