Kuoni will help cover card fees for independent agents
Kuoni has announced that from next January it will help independent agents cover their costs for card bookings.
The long-haul operator has promised to uplift commission by 0.5% for all independent travel agents.
The move comes as new legislation will ban agents from charging fees to customers for the use of debit and credit cards.
Consultants say the new rules, which come into effect on January 13, could cost the travel industry up to £150 million.
Brad Bennetts, Kuoni national sales manager, said: "It may be good news for consumers but the impact on agents’ bottom line from not being able to charge for credit card payments will be significant. We know this topic has been front of mind for many of our travel agent partners. The financial impact is a genuine cause for concern for them.
"Trade support is really important to our business and we want to send a clear message to agents now to say that we get it. We’ve listened and we want to take early meaningful action to help you to run your business profitably."
"We will cover the agents’ costs by raising commission. It will be there for all independent agents from the start of next year when the legislation is due to come into force.”
He said the proposals were developed with ‘some really useful conversations’ with The Advantage Travel Partnership.
"As industry leader for worldwide travel for more than 50 years, we remain firmly committed to supporting and investing in the trade,” said Bennetts.
“It feels right that we should take the lead in responding to this potentially costly legislative change."
Bev
Editor in chief Bev Fearis has been a travel journalist for 25 years. She started her career at Travel Weekly, where she became deputy news editor, before joining Business Traveller as deputy editor and launching the magazine’s website. She has also written travel features, news and expert comment for the Guardian, Observer, Times, Telegraph, Boundless and other consumer titles and was named one of the top 50 UK travel journalists by the Press Gazette.
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