Freudmann quits Advantage, claiming it is going backwards
New Triton chairman Steven Freudmann has resigned from Advantage, claiming the consortium’s leadership is taking it back 10 years.
Freudmann was a founder member of Advantage in its former guise as the National Association of Independent Travel Agents 30 years ago, but has today tendered his resignation and will join Independent Options. He takes over as chairman of Triton with immediate effect, following the departure of Advantage managing director John McEwan last week.
Freudmann said he had left Advantage for the following reasons:
- He is unhappy about key decisions made by the board.
- He disagrees with Advantage’s decision to negotiate with independent suppliers and believes they are dangerously exposed in a market that is continuing to consolidate.
- He is disappointed that Advantage now appears to want to poach members of rival consortiums and believes they should be concentrating on other challenges.
- He believes it is petty that Triton members, including sales director Andy Freeth, have been banned from attending the Advantage conference.
“My departure from Advantage is sad because I have been involved for so long but I’ve become increasingly concerned about the way it is being run,†he said.
“Key decisions have been made by the board which I am not happy with, but for confidentiality reasons I cannot talk about them.
“But another big issue is the unilateral declaration of independence by Advantage and their decision to negotiate separately. The issues that led to the creation of Triton – commission cutting – are as valid today as they were then. Triton remains a very, very good idea.
“I believe it should be united we stand and divided we fall. Just because Advantage has got a deal with TUI now doesn’t mean they will have one in the future.
“Consolidation is gathering apace and with just 330 members, Advantage is dangerously exposed and vulnerable. If they think commissions are likely to go up, they are so wrong. I expect it will be the opposite and Advantage’s stand is taking us back 10 years.
“Meanwhile, during the three years of Triton, there was an agreement that no-one would poach members of other consortiums, but Advantage now believes that should come to an end as they have left the association. For us to have open warfare and for Advantage to now be concentrating on poaching Global and Worldchoice members would be so silly and it’s disappointing because there are so many other challenges out there.
“Triton technology and products are used by 80 per cent of Advantage members but bizarrely Triton are not allowed at the Advantage conference. Andy (Freeth) had had his attendance at the conference withdrawn and many agents will be annoyed about that because he is a key supplier. But also, it is so petty.
“For these reasons I cannot stay with Advantage any longer.â€
Jeremy Skidmore
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