An improved outlook for independent agents is fuelling autumn promotional campaigns for new members by leading agency consortia.
The Travel Network Group and Advantage Travel Partnership have kicked off campaigns promoting their services in print and online.
Homeworking opportunities and managed service propositions, where back-office operations are run from the consortia headquarters, feature heavily.
Other consortia, including Hays Travel’s Independence Group and the Co-operative’s Freedom Travel Group, have also been prominent in appealing for new members in recent weeks.
Consortia said the post-peaks period was a prime time to recruit new members and that the improving economic backdrop was encouraging agents to consider their futures.
Gary Lewis (pictured), managing director of Worldchoice and Travel Trust Association parent TTNG, said it was vital for consortia to provide more support than just commercial deals.
“Agents have gone through tough times and have changed their models, and they are looking for the next steps to move their business on with the existing team or sell it.
“We are ensuring that anyone thinking about what they require for their business is aware of TTNG and that we are a part of that conversation.”
David Moon, head of business development at Advantage, said: “This is a time for agents to take a step back from their businesses to think about what they are going
to do next year.
“Increasingly, agents are looking at how they can retain and get new customers, and what support is going to make that happen.”