According to the group, the “transformed” consortium now offers members access to technology, products and expertise that would cost agents great sums to purchase independently, including a suite of more than 80 new marketing products added in the last 18 months alone.

Membership services director, Lisa Henning revealed the figure to delegates during the group’s Inspire conference onboard Celebrity Eclipse.

Henning cited the 5,000 meetings The Travel Network Group had conducted with members over the last 18 months as evidence that the consortia does not take “a one size fits all” approach.

“In fact, if you take into account the level of expertise we now have within the team, the value to each member could be even higher,” said Henning.

The group further echoed the value of what it offers it members with group marketing director Si Prentice laying out a trio of newly offered products.

A new TTA Holidays website has been created to help drive business to small and niche tour operator members of the Travel Trust Association.

“It’s all about giving them resources they wouldn’t necessarily have themselves,” Prentice told TTG.

“We want to make sure it’s actually about taking the product to market and members being able to use it and benefit from it. The website is both consumer-facing and to promote TTA operators to TTNG agents.

Also in the spotlight was an SMS platform launched in January, which has been used successfully to attract consumers to high street stores with an event invite sent via text message. “It’s all about engaging customers and using a tactical opportunity to get people into stores,” explained Prentice.

“Stores submit to us the message they want to give to customers and we send it out. It’s a one stop shop.”

Prentice revealed the consortium is to launch its first TV cruise channel next month, on a home shopping channel.

The broadcasts, which begin on June 20, will feature hour-long programmes including cruise offers from a TTNG member.

“We have the airtime and will have a presenter to really sell the product, which helps bring the proposition of cruising to life,” Prentice said.