Advantage has opened its doors to bed banks who do not act as principal for the first time in more than a year, Travel Weekly reports this week.
Bed banks who act as agents will join a list of 'authorised' rather than 'preferred' suppliers fo the consortium. These are sold by members but not actively promoted.
This seems like an inevitable move by Advantage, since fewer and fewer bed banks are acting as principal. Agents are limiting their options by only booking with those that do. However, booking with a non-principal could leave agents in the line of fire if something goes wrong overseas.
It is essential agents understand their legal position if, as Advantage points out, they are not to be 'hung out to dry'.
It will be interesting to see if other consortia and agents slacken their standards on the principal issue, and what consequences this will have on the industry.