Casting a wide net

The power of Europe’s TMC networks and consortia is an increasingly attractive prospect for mid-market and smaller independent TMCs

It feels that in 2022 more happened in in the agency network and consortium space than in most years.

The new ownership of Radius Travel – it was acquired by Corporate Travel Management as part of its acquisition of Travel and Transport in 2021 – saw some members leave during the year. Clarity and World Travel both left and formed their own alliance, 50:50 owned by the TMCs, called One Global.

In October, Canada’s Maritime Travel – which had joined Radius in 2017 – announce that it was rejoining the GlobalStar network, of which it was a founding member back in 2001.

Meanwhile, Lufthansa City Center expanded what it says is the world's largest independent franchise company in the travel agency market to 500 offices in 90 countries. The network also became the first TMC to offer sustainability aviation fuel packages from Lufthansa Group.

At the LCC conference in Nice, the first in-person since Covid hit, LCC’s Markus Orth said that TMCs were no long just about booking. “The future is about finding extensive solutions for bookings, digitalisation, sustainability, duty of care, expense and more.”

In the UK, the Focus Travel Partnership welcomed two new members – Ison Travel and Spotnana – while the Advantage Travel Partnership also enjoyed a good 2022, with CEO Julia Lo Bue-Said a welcome and visible presence in championing the independent sector across the media.