Clear reporting provides confidence for Magellan members.

Transparency for its members has been one of the founding principles and determining factors for the Magellan Travel Group and remains a priority for the future of the company.

This open and honest approach has allowed Magellan to provide its members paramount deals from suppliers to pass onto their customers.

“The business’ key role is the distribution of supply payments and overrides with some very clear reporting to our member agents,” Magellan Travel Group chief executive Andrew Macfarlane told e-Travel Blackboard.

“At the end of each financial year there is a full report of our results; given transparency has been one of our guiding principles.”

Magellan Travel Group was established in April 2008 by three high profile, long standing members of the travel industry; Andrew Jones, Trevor Jones and Kevin Dale.

Now nearing 70 member agencies, Magellan agents are recognised as some of the top travel consultants and consistently receive major industry awards.

Word of mouth plays an important part in growing member agencies as Magellan steers clear of typical recruitment tactics.

Magellan operates on a simple payment principle according to Mr Macfarlane, “these were your sales, here is the percentage override that you earned - sales times the percentage override - and here’s your check or deposit into your bank account for that amount.”

Magellan communicates regularly with its members through weekly email updates, discussion forums on its closed user group website, state dinners and the Magellan Travel Group annual conference held between September-November.

“We felt that travel agents needed to have absolute confidence that they are getting value out of their group and to do that they need transparency,” Mr Macfarlane said.

Magellan remains true to its focus on the unexploited niche in the market as a group formed specifically for higher performing independent agents.

“The view of the founders was that if you were running a business where you don’t need brand, you don’t need marketing, you don’t need lead generation, you’re very experienced so you don’t need BDM’s calling on you, then there was an ill fit for an agency like that with the big franchise groups in terms of the services they deliver.”