p12 sep19 17/9/08 20:47 Page 12
news triton split
ttglive.com
Advantage denies move
weakens indies’ power
Consortium says split from
Triton will not harm agents’
ability to fight any commission
cuts. By Lee Hayhurst
CLAIMS that the failure of XL Leisure Group will
further concentrate power in the hands of the big
two – and raise the spectre of fresh commissions
cuts – have been rejected by Advantage.
Consortium chief executive John McEwan,
speaking after the consortium completed a
fractious exit from Triton, said he was relaxed
about the group’s strategy.
McEwan was replaced as Triton chairman at a
board meeting last week after he set out, in a
letter on August 27, his intention for Advantage
to exercise a get-out clause and leave the
The way they were: Andrew Botterill (left), Worldchoice’s Colin Heal (centre) and John McEwan celebrate Triton’s creation in 2006
super-consortium at the end of the year. At a “We are not a tour operator. We have made it but we feel it is an essential course of action to
Triton board meeting last week it was agreed clear Advantage wants to be seen as the most give clarity to the situation.
to allow Advantage to leave early, in four weeks, effective and efficient distributor of product.” “We have no problems with John as a person,
without penalty. However, Freudmann, a big supporter of but we do not feel he can take Triton forward.
the Triton project, said he was disappointed “He took over as chairman in bizarre
Leaving Triton with the Advantage stance and said he would circumstances after initially urging Advantage
McEwan contended Triton had served its purpose reconsider his firm Majestic Travel’s continuing members not to attend our annual conference.
by staving off commission cuts after Thomson membership of the consortium.
went to 7% in 2005. And after it stopped “The reasons for establishing Triton four years Commitment
negotiating central contracts in May, he said ago are extremely valid and they remain valid “Since then we have asked for commitment in
there was no commercial benefit to staying in. today. I’m very disappointed, therefore, that several areas, for example to our products and
But the decision prompted Advantage should have taken to a single independent conference, and this
bosses of Triton founding
“Advantage is
this stance,” he said. simply hasn’t materialised.
member Global Travel Group
to express frustration with
big enough to
“It’s a retrograde step and it “Triton has a great future but all need to pull
is bad for members and it’s one together to support the original principles that
Advantage and McEwan, while
negotiate the
Advantage will regret. Opera- have been diluted to keep Advantage appeased.”
former Advantage chairman
Steven Freudmann said he felt
best deals in
tors will continue to look for However, McEwan hit back. He said he had left
best value and there is still huge Advantage’s members to decide which confer-
Advantage was being compla-
the industry”
pressure on commissions. ence to support, and that Botterill had wrongly
cent about commission levels. “Agents are still extremely implied Triton product was owned by the consor-
Triton’s loss of Advantage, coupled with last vulnerable. Ask any independent agent and they tium when it was wholly owned by Global.
week’s demise of XL, the third-largest operator, will tell you they are having a tough time. “Once we decided to come out of Triton com-
has led to speculation that the big two could once Frankly, they need all the support they can get.” mercially earlier in the year, there was nothing
again seek to cut back on third-party deals – with McEwan was angry that a Triton statement left in the Triton Travel Group for us. Triton prod-
independent agents powerless to resist. following last week’s board meeting questioned his ucts are nothing to do with the group,” he said.
However, McEwan was unconcerned. commitment to the super-consortium while chair- “Triton is no longer the commercial vehicle it
“Our strategy is to build good-quality man and suggested Advantage had been ousted. was when it was set up initially. We are strong
mutually productive relationships with our key In the statement, Global chief executive enough to negotiate the best deals by ourselves.”
business partners,” he said. “The big two want Andrew Botterill, who has taken on the Triton
to work with productive third-party distributors. chairmanship on a temporary basis, said: “It is ■ “Advantage should never have been
It has to work for both parties. regrettable we have had to make this decision part of Triton”: Letters, page 49
12 19.09.2008
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