The Flight Centre Travel Group (FLT) has unveiled plans to give the Australian travel agency sector broad access to its products.
The company has today announced a new partnership program that has been designed to give external travel agents and chains the opportunity to secure better products and deals by tapping into FLT’s global negotiating strength via an unbranded buying group.
FLT Australia General Manager Melanie Waters-Ryan said the partnership program would complement the Escape Travel franchise offering and deliver exciting new product buying options to Australia’s agency community.
“As a company. we are strong believers in the agency model and we are keen to work more closely with agents for mutual benefit. We are already doing this via the Escape Travel franchise offering, but we are also keen to build on this by giving agents more options when it comes to sourcing and buying product.”
Ms Waters-Ryan, FLT Australia General Manager
Escape Travel Macquarie Park, Sydney
“Effectively, the partnership program will allow agents from outside the company to take advantage of FLT’s buying power and access products and rates that haven’t previously been available.
“We believe this opportunity to become part of an unbranded buying group will appeal to other chains, unaligned agents and agents who are linked to other networks but considering their future options.” Ms Waters-Ryan said.
Today’s announcement follows the relaunch of the FLT franchise offer two years ago, a move that has allowed external agents to become part of the nationwide Escape Travel network.
Independent agents could soon benefit from the new FLT offering
To help grow this franchise network and to develop closer ties with agents, FLT has recruited former Helloworld and Traveland executive Danny Roche.
In his new role overseeing business acquisitions for Escape Travel, Mr Roche will work with Sue Rennick, the General Manager of the brand’s franchise business, to expand the partnership program and promote the franchise offering.
“Danny has vast experience and is well known and well respected within the industry,” Ms Waters-Ryan said.
“In his new role, he will help develop long-term relationships with agents who are interested in either becoming part of the Escape Travel network or interested in gaining access to our product ranges via the partnership program.”
