Travel agents agree code

Two trade bodies representing European hotel and travel agent groups have signed a code of conduct that they hope will clarify the contracts drawn up between hotels and travel agents.

Hotrec, the European federation of national hotel and restaurant associations, and ECTAA, the European group of travel agents and tour operators' associations, said the code would offer guidance on contracts and recommend referral to arbitrators in the case of a dispute.

"The relationship between hoteliers and travel agents will be more transparent and easy to understand," said Marguerite Sequaris, secretary-general of Hotrec.

"It should also avoid disputes. Overall, there are few disputes but when there is one it is taken up by consumer associations and magazines and they make a fuss. Even if there are few cases, it gives the industry a bad image," she added.

The introduction of the code, which is effective from this month, is one of the first achievements of NET, the network of European private entrepreneurs in the tourism sector, created last spring by Hotrec and ECTAA.