Saga will work with “a smaller” number of agents to enable the operator to “build stronger relationships” with those partners.
The cruise and escorted touring company for the over-50s outlined changes to its business in a statement issued on Wednesday (January 19).
It said the changes had been made to “ensure we are delivering the holidays our customers want”.
“As part of this, we are moving to work with a smaller group of trade partners to enable us to more closely collaborate and build stronger relationships,” Saga said.
“This is all part of our strategy to build a more agile travel business, delivering the quality holidays that our customers want.”
Travel Weekly understands agents that primarily sell Saga’s escorted touring products are slightly more affected by the move.
Saga started selling through agents in 2014.
Advantage Travel Partnership’s leisure director, Kelly Cookes, called the decision “very disappointing”, adding: “The industry should be pulling together to support recovery at this point and there’s never been a better time to work with agents.”
A very disappointing decision from Saga today. The industry should be pulling together to support recovery at this point and there has never been a better time to work with agents! @AdvantageHQ
— Kelly Cookes (@KCookes) January 19, 2022
Agent Ashley Quint said the decision was “disappointing” because his colleagues at Travel Time World in Berkhamsted, Hertfordshire, had recently helped Saga customers who had booked direct.
Rather disappointing news about @SagaTradeTeam, especially as we have been helping people who booked direct recently as they didn’t have the support needed to help with the current regulations.
— Ashley Quint (@LuxuryTravelled) January 19, 2022
The over 50s specialist scrapped a number of 2022 departures following a review into its holiday products last month.
At the time, Saga said it wanted to offer “high quality” trips which had “the least potential for disruption”.
Around 3,000 bookings were affected by the decision. Affected customers were offered an alternative holiday or a full refund.