WATA BOARD FORUM

General Assembly

Following our exchange of mails on the subject of the 2009 General Assembly,   the members of the Board having expressed their votes as follows :

Considering the present situation, particularly in Europe,   Mrs Grimault,  Messrs Blagoev, Dans, Carrera, Hart are in favour of considering Barcelona, linked with EIBTM.   This will reduce travelling expenses and time and we may expect a larger number of participants as a good number will travel for EIBTM.

Also, it is expressed that,  in these difficult times, it would not be appropriate for WATA to make big celebrations.

Let's work on Barcelona and if for some reasons, this would not become feasible,  we would then see second option of Istanbul.

Of course, we all expect that things get better in 2010 in order to organize our event in India.   

 I hope that Capt. Kumar will understand and accept our decision.

                              Best personal regards

                              Adel  

Suppliers in WATA

Situation :   Accepting suppliers  (airlines, hotels, hotel chains, car-rental companies, ship companies)   is already foreseen in the WATA by-laws under : "Allied Members"  so it would no go against our by-laws.
Priority would be given to properties in destinations not covered by a WATA member.

 In case of a property in a country where we have a member, we would be more carefull and of course there would be a vote from the members.   It could be interesting for the WATA members in the country to sell this product with a higher commission.

 And above all,   we would not consider  hotel chains or big hotels in a city (I know your feelings) but we would select some real special properties, hotel de charme, spas,  restaurants,  or other suppliers having someting really different and appealing  to offer.

Our aim :
Enrich the WATA offer in the segment of special interest  and very particular products,  also fitting with some of our thematic websites (Gastronomy,  Luxury,  Sports,  etc) 

Obtain supplementary finances for the association

REACTIONS FROM MEMBERS :

Marc Dans :  Full support as a source of extra revenue.  Study the cost of it to the suppliers after the first 3 to 5 are in.

Brigitte Trenner :  thank you, but NO thank you
If suppliers do come in, I am not prepared to pay € 2.700,- anymore.

if suppliers want a platform then they can pay just like me € 2.700,-, why should they have it cheaper?

Why should I allow my competitors to enter my WATA platform

-        hotels give partly cheaper rates to outsiders than their own DM’s in the country, (they think nobody knows then what cheap rates they give) and in countries like Egypt, nobody dares to book directly, but in these countries the DMC gets the hotel booking as well and the agents very high commissions.

-        European hotels are now doing bookings for outside restaurants, busses, guides on behalf of clients

-        wherever customers can book hotels directly they will either via the websites or…. (we are last one in chain, when hotels are booked out then they come to us

I don’t have anything against Airlines taking part on our platform, they are no competition to us, or Cruise Ships.   But hotels and whatever……. NO

Ina Selden (New York) :  Sounds OK to me

Kristel Rohtmets  (Estonia)  :  Yes, provided the members of the same country do approve.

Virginie Grimault :  I totally agree and even we could envisage to accept our hotels and suppliers in our countries.   This is promotion for our country.   In case of hotels, they could sign an agreement by which they will engage themselves to ask us to organize the local arrangements if the hotel was seen on the WATA website.  This is a question of ethic.   Or have a questionnaire attached on the WATA website automatically returned to WATA Headquarters to be transmitted to the local member for information.  Then the WATA agent could contact the hotel to say that we are at disposal for land services.

Ralph Holt :   Votes yes

BBS Berlin :    are pleased to vote for “la Cerella” with YES. On our opinion this supplier offers lots of good and special products of high quality.We also agree with your intention to push on application of new suppliers in WATA association to enrich the WATA offer in special segments. This will also be good to increase our level of popularity in the world.

Gerlando Dispenza (Scala International _ MILAN) :  We express an adverse opinion on the admission of members which are neither tour operators nor travel agencies. Thank you very much for your cooperation and attention.

Gabi Christodoulou (Cyprus) :   fully agree and think it is a very good idea, but would like to add that the WATA member of the country from where the application comes (if it comes from one of “our” countries) should give first comments before voting.
For example Cyprus: If somebody applies from Cyprus I will send you my comments. I know here everybody or can get information, if the company is reliable and has a good reputation.  I trust my WATA members in the specific country to make the right decision.
Herewith I agree to the application of LA CERELLA.

Gabriella Salvadori (Bologna) :   I agree  with you on everything thanks