Travellers Choice to build fully branded national chain

SETTING THE AGENDA FOR TRAVEL

News

Salary and Job Satisfaction Survey

Travel Pursuit

Australian Travel Awards

News

6/11/2006

Travellers Choice to build fully branded national chain
Steve Jones

Travellers Choice will give members the option to sign up to a fully-branded retail model next year in a move to further strengthen its marketing power and attract new members.

Managing director Gary Allomes, unveiling the concept at its annual conference in Fiji, said it will operate the brand under a licensing agreement.

He said co-branding, with members using a combination of their own identity and that of Travellers Choice, has worked well but said it was time to take it further.

“There is no doubt that some agents are disappointed with the way rapid consolidation of the retail sector….has affected their relationship with their franchise or buying group,” he said. “Some agents now feel they want more control over the direction their group takes and Travellers Choice…can certainly offer that.

“But what we cannot offer at the moment is a fully branded model like those provided by traditional franchise groups. And some agents, especially those operating in highly competitive urban locations, prefer such an arrangement.”

Continued on page 3.

6 November 2006

More News

Jetset forecasts 35 per cent profit increase (1-May-2006)
The Jetset Travelworld group is forecasting a full-year profit increase of approximately 35 per cent over last year. more

Agents told to get web savvy (28-Apr-2006)
We’re taking shorter holidays more often and we’re “enthusiastically embracing the internet” to plan for our holidays, according to a study from research company ACNielsen. more

CWT snaps up TQ3Navigant for USD510m (28-Apr-2006)
Carlson Wagonlit Travel (CWT) has bought TQ3Navigant (Navigant) in a USD510 million deal it claims will see it become the number one travel management company outside of North America. more

TSAX agents find Travelkey to success (28-Apr-2006)
Travelscene American Express agents say the Travelkey rewards scheme, launched earlier this year to AMEX card members, is attracting more customers to their agencies. more

First Choice buys US operators (27-Apr-2006)
UK travel giant First Choice has strengthened its global presence with four acquisitions in the educational group travel sector in North America for GBP16 million ($37.6 million). more

Growth plan for HWT UK (24-Apr-2006)
The UK arm of Harvey World Travel has set its sights on becoming the fifth major travel agency chain in the UK with 300 shops and a GBP1 million technology deal. more

Lacaze the new boss at HWT (20-Apr-2006)
Transonic managing director Peter Lacaze looks set to become the boss at Harvey World Travel under the terms of a merger agreement signed between his company and S8. more

Resort spa incentive from Explore (10-Apr-2006)
Explore Holidays is offering travel consultants the opportunity to ‘earn’ up to five nights in Hua Hin Resort and Spa accommodation as part of a new sales incentive centred on two land-only packages. more

Turner gives up executive chairman role (30-Mar-2006)
Flight Centre Limited founder Graham Turner is relinquishing his executive chairman role in order to focus on his managing director duties. more