Long-haul specialist Somak Holidays, escorted tours and cruises operator Insight Vacations and Turkey specialist Goldtrail Holidays have joined TIPTO (Truly Independent Professional Travel Organisation).
The marketing consortium now has 19 members for 2006/07 with a fourth new supplier expected to join.
TIPTO chairman Colin Wilson (Bourne Leisure) said: “It is testament to the success of TIPTO and the continuing relevance of our activities geared towards the independent travel agent that we are able to maintain a strong membership.
“We are delighted to welcome these three newcomers, who I am sure will quickly benefit commercially from being part of TIPTO. We are also greatly encouraged that there continues to be a high level of interest from other companies to join the organisation and we hope to finalise one further new member before the end of September.”
TIPTO has a pooled marketing budget of almost £500,000, which is invested in a programme of round-Britain roadshows, kicking off in Leeds on October 3. The organisation re-launched its website, www.tipto.co.uk, in February and introduced an online training academy, which is due for further development later this year.
Insight Vacations managing director John Boulding said: “We decided to join TIPTO because it has the distribution facilities and resources to reach independent travel agents that we otherwise would find it hard to get to.
“With a product such as Insight’s, where price is not the primary driver of a booking, product training is key to successful sales and the exceptionally high standard of training that TIPTO is able to offer independent agents through the roadshows, its website and other activities is invaluable.”
Report by Phil Davies
