Triton scraps fees for new system

Triton is to offer its new tour operating system to members subscription-free as part of its drive to encourage agents to use it.

Director Andrew Botterill said that typically systems would cost agents between £15-25 a month, but the board had taken the decision not to charge for Triton Search. So far 83% of the 2,000 members had signed up and fellow director John McEwan said he was confident the remaining 17% would take it.

Botterill said it was in buoyant mood going into the peak booking period of January to March. Retailers can use Triton Search to build fully-bonded holidays as an alternative to those offered by up other suppliers, and make up to 20 per cent commission.

In addition, around 200,000 copies of its new inhouse brochure will be distributed to Triton agents from January, and an e-brochure will be available online.

“We’re in very good shape now,” said Botterill. “There has been some issue about the speed with which this has come to market, but the system is now working well.”

Some commentators have suggested Triton Search could take up to 20% of the mainstream package holiday market in the peak booking period, but Botterill refused to set targets.

“We can’t measure how much we lost in the first quarter of 2006 due to previous partners not giving us support and also the trend towards booking direct over the internet. But we expect to make good progress during the first few months of 2007.”

McEwan denied there was a danger that Triton’s preferred suppliers would turn their back on the consortium if agents started building holidays as an alternative to working with them.

Botterill said that retailers had to make the best business decision for them if faced with the choice between using a preferred operator or Triton Search.

“Our members will take a view and do what’s best for them,” he said. “Suppliers now know there is a competitive element in the relationship.
“What we are doing is giving agents back the power to control their own destiny. It has been said at this conference that we are in a golden age for good travel agents, for those who are good business people and we agree with that. But they must be travel arrangers and providers, rather than just agents.”

Fellow director Colin Heal said it was taking a responsible attitude to environmental issues and all delegates attending next Spring’s Triton conference in Portugal would be charged £3, with the money going towards a carbon offsetting scheme.

By Jeremy Skidmore (www.jeremyskidmore.com)