Inteletravel agents barred from social media group
Members of the US homeworking gaint Inteletravel have been temporarily barred from joining the travel agents Facebook group Travel Gossip, despite gaining ABTA membership.
Members of the social media group voted seven to one in favour of the ban, with some saying they felt inexperienced Inteletravel homeworkers would mine the group for valuable information.
Group founder Bruce Martin decided to ask existing members of Travel Gossip to vote on whether to allow Inteletravel agents to sign up after the group was granted ABTA membership last week.
They had previously been barred since ABTA had refused Inteletravel’s initial application in early 2018. Martin told Travel Gossipers: "Travel Gossip is your community and we think the fairest thing to do is let you decide."
The vote was overwhelmingly in favour of a ban, with 720 saying Inteletravel should be barred and only 110 saying their agents should be allowed to join the group.
As a result, Martin said there would be a temporary ban.
"I will keep the restriction on Inteletravel agents but I’d like to suggest that we review this later in the year once the dust has settled and the ABTA membership has been in place for a longer period," he wrote.
"Travel Gossip has always taken a very supportive approach to new people in travel. We have always let in new agents and young apprentices from other travel organisations, indeed our tagline is ‘We welcome everyone in travel from newbies to experts’.
"So I can see the point of those that have said it’s hard to justify banning them from the group as they are now ABTA members and are working in the travel industry. However, I completely understand your concerns and a vote of 7:1 in favour of a ban cannot be ignored.
"People have raised points relating to their business model, recruitment practices, agent training and how this could reflect on traditional agents. I also agree that we do not want an increase in basic questions in Travel Gossip. We’ve all created an amazing community so I absolutely do not want to spoil it or upset members.
"So let’s keep things as they are an agree to review the decision later in the year."
Linsey McNeill
Editor Linsey McNeill has been writing about travel for more than three decades. Bylines include The Times, Telegraph, Observer, Guardian and Which? plus the South China Morning Post. She also shares insider tips on thetraveljournalist.co.uk
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