| Journal: TWUK | Section: |
| Title: | Issue Date: 01/05/00 |
| Author: | Page Number: 3 |
| Copyright: Other |
Cosmos puts consortiums in the firing line
Report by STEVEJONES
COSMOS has reignited the debate on consortium independence by attacking Advantage and ARTAC for persisting with their claims to offer unbiased advice.In fresh criticisms directed at consortiums, Cosmos managing director Nigel Wright said agency groups who align themselves with vertically integrated operators have no right to claim independence.
The attack came as Cosmos said its sales through consortiums was ‘disappointing’.
Advantage and ARTAC both rejected Wright’s remarks.
Speaking at the launch of Cosmos’ 2001 brochures, Wright urged Advantage and ARTAC to finally admit they are no longer independent.
“They set themselves up as being independent yet align themselves with a big operator,” he said. “They are saying one thing but doing another. They can’t have it both ways.
“And it’s not just Advantage and ARTAC. The Global Travel Group too are heavily tied in with Airtours.”
Wright, who is due to speak at the Advantage conference in Tunisia later this month, said if they are really independent, they should show greater support for Cosmos.
“We feel they have more association with us but their business has not moved on as quickly as it should have. It’s been a big disappointment.”
The independence issue has raged since Advantage announced its tie-up with Airtours and ARTAC aligned with Carlson and now Thomas Cook. Even though the Advantage/Airtours franchise has since collapsed, the two group are still pursuing close ties.
ARTAC chairman Colin Heal said: “It is rubbish to say we are not independent. We have a relationship with Thomas Cook but there are no targets for members.
“Our sales of Thomas Cook have gone up but then they haven’t told customers not to go to travel agents like Archers Direct. Nigel Wright will say he does not control Archers but it is in the same group. Members may have agreed to continue racking Cosmos but it has still had a negative effect on sales.”
Advantage president Roger Smith added: “We have 100 preferred suppliers and we should be pushing all of them. We sell whatever is right for the customer. If there is a problem with Cosmos, we will sit down and discuss it.”
n See Cosmos summer 2001 brochure launches, page 3