Advantage Travel Partnership has launched a three-year plan which includes expanding the number of its independent travel agents through a broader membership.
Unveiling the proposals at the consortium’s conference in Madeira today, chief executive Julia Lo Bue-Said said the three-year strategy was centred on four key pillars.
The first of these is to grow the consortium’s ‘footprint’ by evolving its membership options to “suit all business models” while “continuing to be the voice for the independent travel agent”.
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The group also plans to increase the number of its market-leading commercial partnerships and expand its financial services through business solutions.
Lo Bue-Said said: “As the UK’s largest member owned travel consortium with a global buying power of 15 billion US dollars, partners in over 80 countries in key source markets leveraging the scale of the group creating true commercial value for our members remains core to our activity.”
The third pillar of Advantage’s strategy is to digitally transform member and partner touchpoints, increasing digital marketing and engagement at every interaction across the business, and finally to “do fewer things but do them well” ensuring “operational excellence”.
This will include improving processes and contact centres, supporting members with their sustainability and performance goals.
Lo Bue-Said urged members to “re-engage” with Advantage’s head office and use its support services, adding she was “incredibly proud” of how agents had risen to the challenges presented during Covid.
“As members I truly believe you have a unique opportunity to shout about the invaluable customer service you deliver under the buckling strain of consumers desperate to travel again,” she added.
“We have a clear vision to provide our members and partners with an unparalleled level of service and commercial gain – with our people being key to our success – speaking with one voice of authority on behalf of all our membership.”