SYDNEY – Travellers Choice has inked a long-term commercial agreement with Jetset Travelworld Group (JTG) that will see the two national retail travel networks work together to identify and secure business opportunities on behalf of their respective members.
Under the agreement – effective from July 1 – members of the Travellers Choice and JTG travel agency networks will continue to compete actively for Australian leisure and corporate travel business.
Each company will also pursue its own strategic plans.
The two companies will, however, use the combined buying power of their agency networks to negotiate single commercial arrangements – including sales targets and remuneration structures – with selected business partners.
These partners will include travel principals (airlines, hotels, cruise lines, etc), wholesalers and tour operators.
Travellers Choice managing director Gary Allomes said the commercial agreement offered both groups’ networks improved commercial terms with an expanded range of suppliers and business partners.
“By working together, Travellers Choice and JTG can leverage the buying power of more than 800 Australian travel agents to negotiate improved overrides and incentives from suppliers and business partners,†Allomes said.
The commercial agreement will enable Travellers Choice to close its Fares and Ticketing Unit (FTU), currently operated under contract with Consolidated Travel.
The JTG National Ticket Centre will handle all fares and ticketing services for both Travellers Choice and JTG.
“The Travellers Choice FTU currently operates just one office in Perth,†Allomes said.
“Using the JTG National Ticket Centre will allow our members to ticket in their own state, providing cost savings and operational efficiencies.â€
Allomes said the commercial agreement would have no impact on Travellers Choice’s continued development of a strong and successful national consumer brand.
More than 50 percent of Travellers Choice members have already taken the opportunity to enhance their agency and marketing presence through a co-branding arrangement.
Allomes added, “Travellers Choice is owned entirely by its members and at their direction the Travellers Choice board has for some time been investigating ways in which our network could benefit from the consolidation of the retail travel market without in any way compromising our independence.
“A commercial agreement with Jetset Travelworld Group fulfils both those criteria.â€
