Government has been slammed for its "arrogance'' after awarding hundreds of thousands of dollars of business to a company without any explanation.

The Bermuda Travel Agents Association (BTAA) hit out at the Cabinet Office after they ordered all Government overseas travel and associated trade be directed through one company.

They said the move was not fair on other travel agents who never had the chance to put a proposal forward for the business, after it was funnelled to Travel Planners.

Patti Daly Franklin, president of the BTAA, warned that any company that relied on one huge client could be heading for trouble -- especially as Government was a notoriously bad payer. She said it was arrogant for the work not to be offered around, since all businesses were taxpayers.

"I have never seen anything like this, if they did this in America they wouldn't be considered Government,'' Ms Daly Franklin said. "We dealt with Government for 19 years with no problem and we enjoyed a good working relationship.

"It was news to me. We certainly are ones that covet clients that pay and see good value in our services. I don't think that is the way Government should run its business -- I don't understand it.'' The Royal Gazette revealed last week that a Cabinet Office memo had been circulated throughout Government, ordering all departments to use Travel Planners for any air tickets, hotels or related business.

Previously each department arranged its own travel with a number of different agencies -- spreading commissions around on travel worth around $3 million a year.

Agents complained that they had been cut off without warning and had had no chance to bid or put forward a proposal for the "contract''.

Despite repeated requests and written questions sent to the Cabinet Office over the last few days, Government has not responded to how the lucrative business was awarded to Travel Planners and why.

Ms Daly Franklin said they had no knowledge of the deal being advertised or being made known it was available, and could not explain how one company could get the business.

"Somebody must have approached Travel Planners about giving them that business,'' she said.

But she warned that reliance on one large client could be problematic.

"It could be quite tenuous if Government doesn't pay for six months, it could put somebody out of business.

"Is it worth it? Not to me it's not. I am not upset at all.

"We would rather re-direct towards people will to pay bills and who want to see good value.'' BUSINESS BUC