Triton conference special: McEwan attacks rival consortiums
Advantage Travel Centres chief executive John McEwan took a swipe at rival consortiums for trying to attract Triton members and claimed they had failed miserably.
McEwan said Harvey World Travel and the Freedom consortium were no match for the 2,000-strong alliance of Global, Advantage and Worldchoice.
“Harvey World had the Conneissuer brand and I think their one single member left recently. Freedom have spent tens of thousands of pounds trying to attract our members and I can say they haven´t attracted a single one to their ranks.”
McEwan also said it was vital for Triton members to back their preferred suppliers, as well as their own tour operation. The Triton group expects its tour operation to account for 30% or less of members´sales.
Triton has 21 Elite suppliers, 51 preferred and 67 that are recognised.
“With the Elite, we have deep and meaningful relationships. They give us support, marketing and commissions, but we are obligated to support them,” he said.
“The preferred band are good quality operators and then there are suppliers that we recognise as having value, but we don´t get behind them in an active sense.”
McEwan re-iterated Triton´s stance that it would only work with accommodation-only suppliers that had principal status.
by Jeremy Skidmore (www.jeremyskidmore.com)
Jeremy Skidmore
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