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Restructure forced tough decisions over jobs
Advantage has taken tough decisions that included axing five members of staff, revealed new managing director Julia Lo Bue-Said.
The consortium has trimmed its 50-strong staff by 10% and restructured its central team since Lo Bue-Said took over in July last year.
"We’ve been through a lot of pain. We’ve had to restructure the central team and we’ve re-aligned roles and had to lose staff.
"To make sure we’re alive to what our members require, we have to make sure we are streamlined and operating efficiently. "
Advantage has re-focussed its priorities to make sure it acts solely on behalf of its members.
Lo Bue-Said claimed real changes had taken place over the past 10 months.
She said: "The organization has changed. Just because something has been done before, it is not a reason to continue.
"We’ve refocused on the members. If it adds value to members we continue with it, and if not we get rid of it. We’ve taken a very strict view and we’ve spoken to people face to fact to find out what they want.
"We can’t be complacent and we no longer are."
The consortium has put in rigid corporate systems to ensure the business operates at the highest levels.
"We have committees coming out of our ears," said Lo Bue-Said.
She admitted that members didn’t always want to carry the Advantage brand as their own name carried more weight with local customers.
"That’s why we’ve changed to Advantage Travel Partnership. It means more."
Advantage is to help members decide on the direction for their business and offer training workshops.
"I’m astounded how many members are not sure what direction their business is going in," said Lo Bue-Said.
"We have experts to help with business plans, whether it is financial, succession planning or exit strategies. We also run business skills workshops and there will be a lot more."
Meanwhile, Advantage Managed Services is turning over £26m a year, the consortium revealed.
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