Following months of industry speculation, and negotiations, First Travel Group (FTG) has confirmed that 98% of the YOU Travel & Cruise and FTG Independents have re-signed with the business.
It is the first major re-signing since the FTG network was acquired by Helloworld Travel in 2023—and represents 39 members across the two brands. The current contracts were due to expire at the end of Jun, and the confirmation puts an end to the uncertainty in the market, say suppliers. Travel Today understands that all but two of the YOU and Independents have signed up, and the majority for the next three years. FTG general manager John Willson declined to comment on the finer points of the agreements, but he did say the collective re-signing was ‘a strong demonstration of their commitment to the network into the future’. “I was always confident that our FTG business and financial model was the most impressive in the New Zealand travel industry, and we are delighted to confirm such an overwhelming re-signing success,” says Willson. “The 50:50 mix within our network of YOU Travel & Cruise and FTG Independent members has worked well in unison over the past nine years, and now we have the opportunity to enhance and continue that success.”
. . . Staff Remain
It is business as usual at FTG, says Willson, who adds that the company’s ‘experienced and respected management team’ of Paul Smith, Jacquie McLennan, Kylie Crouch and Alison Salmon are excited for the future of the business.
. . . YOU Continues
Travel Today understands that the YOU brand will continue to operate as normal and that a new wider FTG Advisory Panel will be established. Details around the First Travel Group manager’s conference, as well as an Oct frontliners conference, will be released in the coming weeks.
