FLIGHT Centre has
launched its ITC brand –
Flight Centre Associates
– in the South African market.
The retail travel group
initially introduced the model
for its own, more experienced
consultants, who had been
with Flight Centre for many
years and were looking for
flexibility. Now, the group is
opening up the model to the
rest of the SA travel industry.
Chantal Gouws, area leader
for Flight Centre Associates,
says that, in general, ITC
models are growing in
popularity and seem to be
the future for the travel
industry.
“Flight Centre’s ITC model
will be more than just a
ticketing service,” she says,
explaining that Flight Centre
will offer agents full and
comprehensive support.
To help members start
up, Flight Centre will offer
comprehensive IT support as
well as full administrative and
financial support; 24-hour
ticketing support and a
dedicated marketer to assist
with monthly campaigns,
Chantal says. “Members will
also receive 75% of their
total commission in the
month that it’s earned, so
they don’t have to wait until
the client has travelled.”
Although agents will be
independent, they will be
trading under the Flight
Centre brand, with payments
for travel arrangements made
into a central Flight Centre
bank account.
Flight Centre has put
safeguards in place to
regulate ITCs and avoid
incidents of fraud, Chantal
adds. “Each ITC will be
audited internally on a
monthly basis by our finance
department.”
To join Flight Centre
Associates, travel consultants
will have to pay a start-up
fee of R10 000 as well as a
monthly membership fee of
R1 500. They’ll also need to
bring with them an existing
client base and at least two
years’ industry experience.
Flight Centre Associates
successfully launched in
Canada two years ago and
has grown to over 140 ITCs
in just over 18 months.
Chantal says in most
countries where the brand
operates, including Australia
and New Zealand, it has
proved to be successful. She
says Flight Centre hopes to
reach 50 members in South
Africa by the end of June next
year.
For more on ITCs, see
TNW’s feature on page 9.
