p6 News mar13 11/3/09 17:43 Page 6
news
ttglive.com
Advantage says Abta is
‘partner not competitor’
Lee Hayhurst.
Advantage is also setting up two alternative Abta chief executive Mark Tanzer that the
A SURVEY of 20 of Advantage Travel Centres’ membership schemes for non-Abta agents. emergence of “Abta alternatives” was more
most influential agents has found they are One will be based on a new trust, while another, about competition between consortia.
generally happy with services provided by Abta. the Advantage Protection Scheme for preferred Until now Advantage has not had ways for
Consortium bosses will meet with Abta to suppliers, is backed by bonding provided by IAIC non-Abta members to join, unlike Global Travel
address concerns that were raised about how Ltd, the consortium’s financial services business. Group’s Independent Options, and the Travel
independent retailers are represented. In contrast to Worldchoice, Advantage insisted Trust Association which now owns Worldchoice.
Advantage chief executive John McEwan said it was not seeking to present these as direct McEwan said: “We are not positioning anything
feedback was positive, particularly about alternatives to Abta membership. we do as encouraging members to leave Abta.”
aspects of Abta membership such as legal advice In an email sent to members entitled “Abta – a He added that although IAIC posted losses
and consumer faith in the brand. partner not a competitor”, McEwan said he saw last year due to failures and exposure to
The findings were in contrast to claims made Abta and Advantage “becoming closer rather the XL collapse, it was financially sound and
by Worldchoice that widespread dissatisfaction than drifting apart”. “trading profitably this year”, and through
with Abta was driving its new non-Abta scheme. McEwan told TTG this week he agreed with re-insurance had capped its risk at £100,000.
COSMOS COCKTAILS: Cosmos invited
Freedom warns
about 40 agents to an afternoon of
Caribbean cocktails at the Caribbean ‘don’t leave Abta’
Scene restaurant in London’s ExCeL
exhibition centre, to promote its new THE FREEDOM Travel Group consortium has
programme to Grenada and Tobago. warned agents against moving away from Abta,
Agents won prizes including places on saying alternatives are unlikely to succeed.
fam trips to both islands and a holiday Jane Atkins, head of the Co-operative Travel
at LaSource. Operators supporting the Group’s Freedom arm, said it remained
event included Rex Resorts, Caribbean “absolutely committed” to Abta membership.
Collection and Blue Waters Inn. “In difficult economic circumstances,
consumers look for brands they know and trust,”
she said. “Abta carries the travel industry’s
best-known consumer protection logo, and is as
Worldchoice woos
merger with the Travel Trust Association we can important as Atol bonding to the consumer.”
offer a variety of membership types.” Referring to Worldchoice’s announcement of
homeworkers
The new programme is designed to allow high a cheaper alternative to Abta, she added: “If
street agents, people who are new to travel or Worldchoice continues down this route, they will
members of other groups, the chance to become have to spend a fortune promoting it to the
WORLDCHOICE is promoting a new homeworking Worldchoice homeworkers. sceptical consumer, and who will ultimately foot
membership scheme to support agents who Pickering added: “The most important thing is that bill? I would not be at all surprised to see
want to move off the high street. marketing. The support homeworkers get will the idea of an alternative to Abta disappear from
Director Bill Pickering revealed enquiry help them tap into markets when their high view when members realise its real cost.”
numbers about how to move businesses from street presence is no more. All contact with
high street office to home have been on the up customers will remain in the hands of agents; we
since the start of the recession. do the drudge part of the job for them.” New image: Freedom Travel
“It is getting harder and harder to operate on New homeworkers will be invited to spend Group revealed its new logo
the high street. Many agents want to reduce their time in Worldchoice agencies for training. and brand identity this week.
costs and find out how to change their business About a dozen homeworkers are currently The consortium says the new look was
model,” he said. in place, and Pickering wants to grow that designed to present a more modern image,
“Over the last six months, the upturn in number “cautiously but continuously” at the rate and will be supported by a new website.
demand has been noticeable and now with the of two or three a month.
06 13.03.2009
Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36  |  Page 37  |  Page 38  |  Page 39  |  Page 40  |  Page 41  |  Page 42  |  Page 43  |  Page 44  |  Page 45  |  Page 46  |  Page 47  |  Page 48  |  Page 49  |  Page 50  |  Page 51  |  Page 52  |  Page 53  |  Page 54  |  Page 55  |  Page 56  |  Page 57  |  Page 58  |  Page 59  |  Page 60  |  Page 61  |  Page 62  |  Page 63  |  Page 64  |  Page 65  |  Page 66  |  Page 67  |  Page 68  |  Page 69  |  Page 70  |  Page 71  |  Page 72  |  Page 73  |  Page 74  |  Page 75  |  Page 76  |  Page 77  |  Page 78  |  Page 79  |  Page 80