Triton believes tour operation will offer protection
Triton has claimed it is developing a tour operation to give members some insurance if commissions are cut by another supplier and also to allow agents to cash in on the growing independent market.
Triton director John McEwan denied the move would antagonise current preferred suppliers, like Thomas Cook. However, Thomas Cook UK managing director Manny Fontenla-Novoa has already said that it will remove stock from agents which dynamically package rather than selling its holidays.
Global managing director Andrew Botterill said the size of Triton’s tour operation needed to be kept in perspective. “We’re not looking for Triton to be vertically integrated, but instead it will just sit alongside other suppliers.”
During the conference, one agent called into question the consortium’s support for Thomas Cook as it undercuts agents by selling cheaper holidays on its website.
Global founder George Begg said he sympathized, but there was little he could do. “I’ve tried to deal with that problem. I wish it wasn’t happening and I wish it wasn’t with one of our partners. All I can say is that it is happening less this year than last year but selling through the web is cheaper for Thomas Cook than selling through independent agents.”
McEwan said the consortium had chosen to stick with the three separate brands, Advantage, Worldchoice and Global Travel Group, for practical reasons.
“It looks to the consumer as though we are competing with each other. We don’t want the names to disappear off the high street.”
Botterill admitted Global had a reputation for being more aggressive than Worldchoice or Advantage, but insisted they all had an equal partnership.
Report by Jeremy Skidmore (www.jeremyskidmore.com)
Vegas’s Billion-Dollar Secrets – What They Don’t Want Tourists to Know
Visit Florida’s New CEO Bryan Griffin Shares His Vision for State Tourism with Graham
Chicago’s Tourism Renaissance: Graham Interviews Kristin Reynolds of Choose Chicago
Graham Talks with Cassandra McCauley of MMGY NextFactor About the Latest Industry Research
Destination International’s Andreas Weissenborn: Research, Advocacy, and Destination Impact
Graham and Don Welsh Discuss the Success of Destinations International’s Annual Conference
Graham and CEO Andre Kiwitz on Ventura Travel’s UK Move and Recruitment for the Role
Brett Laiken and Graham Discuss Florida’s Tourism Momentum and Global Appeal
Graham and Elliot Ferguson on Positioning DC as a Cultural and Inclusive Global Destination
Graham Talks to Fraser Last About His England-to-Ireland Trek for Mental Health Awareness
Kathy Nelson Tells Graham About the Honour of Hosting the World Cup and Kansas City’s Future
Graham McKenzie on Sir Richie Richardson’s Dual Passion for Golf and His Homeland, Antigua
ADS PRO 
Phocuswright reveals the world's largest travel markets in volume in 2025
Cyclone in Sri Lanka had limited effect on tourism in contrary to media reports
Skyscanner reveals major travel trends 2026 at ITB Asia
Higher departure tax and visa cost, e-arrival card: Japan unleashes the fiscal weapon against tourists
In Italy, the Meloni government congratulates itself for its tourism achievements