Elite aims for 150 members
Elite conference report from Jerez: The Elite Travel Group is aiming to boost its membership from 90 to 150 agents over the next few years.
At its 30th anniversary conference in Jerez, the consortium’s general manager Nigel Ham said it wanted to be big enough to have a voice in the trade, but small enough to be able to deliver quality to its members.
“We have had a lot of interest from agents and to a potential new member, I would say ‘why not join?’,” said Ham.
“We can save you money and not jeopardise your competitive edge. Our appeal to independent agents is to join us now or you will miss out because we will have a ceiling of 150 agents and after that we will operate a waiting list.”
Ham said the consortium was developing its Elite desktop system, which would make it easier for agents to offer dynamic packages, and was committed to staff training.
“Members, you are independent and we will not tell you how to run your business,” he said. “But we will help you with different marketing solutions.
“Suppliers, we expect service and quality from you but will also help you.”
Ham did not mention the massive Triton consortium by name, but told conference delegates that there were differences between different consortiums. He said Elite would retain its ‘one-member-one-vote’ structure and had no plans to provide product for its members.
Report by Jeremy Skidmore (http://www.jeremyskidmore.com/)
Jeremy Skidmore
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