eTravel ITCs retain more earnings

THIS year eTravel ITCs
retained 80,68% of
their earnings, a vast
increase from the 55,9%
retention offered in 2000.
Garth Wolff, ceo of eTravel,
stressed that the consortium
now offered far more value
through the continuous
increase in percentage
payouts for the group’s ITCs.
The group is celebrating
18 years since its inception
in 1999 and a turnover of
just over R1 019 479 000
for 2017. This year’s growth
of 1,2% had been relatively
small, with the majority of
growth generated through
the acquisition of new ITCs.
Garth predicted that the
group would continue to
grow in 2018 with a further
increase in ITC payouts
expected. He expected the
consortium to reach the
R1,2 billion turnover mark
by 2020.
Garth said travel was very
dependent on economic
conditions and that the past
few years had been tough for
the industry as corporates
scrutinised all expenses
and questioned the service
fees charged by TMCs. He
added that companies were
investigating technological
enhancements such as
mobile apps and online
booking tools. “We must
embrace technology together
while also continuing to offer
our clients personal service.”
He added that the group
had seen a dip in supplier
override payments for
the year. Payouts
that had amounted
to R16,1m in
2016 but had dipped to
R11,4m in 2016. This drop
was related to a decline in
overrides from SAA from
R8 million in 2015 to
about R1 million for the
current year.
Overall, Garth remained
positive for the future,
urging group members
to take stock of how far
they had come. “We must
remain positive and ignore
the negative environmental
noise around us that
threatens to overwhelm us.
We must focus, never stop
and never give up on our
dreams.