I BELIEVE our industry is in grave danger of shooting itself in the foot. Tour operators are always bleating on about tight margins, they are paying agents too much for their services and cannot increase commission levels. Anne Robinson is always on their case and I am normally on the operators’ side – being in the industry I believe it is right to support them, until the other day.
I was approached by a client for a price for the Mar de Menorca, First Choice, travelling on the July 12 from Glasgow, two adults and two children. I duly priced the holiday – before our own discounts the price was ú2,712. The client looked on wide eyed then asked if I could match the price she had been quoted by Eclipse Holidays. I could not believe what I saw, ú2,113, for exactly the same holiday. What does this tell the client, that as travel agents on a ú2,700 booking we are clearing ú600 commission? I don’t think so.
How can First Choice/Eclipse justify this? How can they tell the agents they are cutting holidays to the bone in order to capture market share when they are selling the same breaks at a ridiculously low price?
If they don’t want us to sell their holidays all they need do is tell us. What point is there in an agent putting effort and time into attempting to secure a booking with no chance of competing on price? A message to the operators – level the playing field instead of moving the goal posts.
Gordon Aitchison, a disgusted retail manager, sent by e-mail
n We would welcome a response from First Choice/Eclipse