Expedia has announced that it will launch a new travel agent section to its website soon, which will allow agents booking with the portal to receive commissions from travel products.
According to a report in etravelblackboard.com, Expedia is now taking registration from interested agents. Those registered under its Travel Agent Affiliate Programme (TAAP) will be able to search through the online travel agent’s entire database for the best available travel products.
The prices and products shown on the agency’s booking will be identical to those shown on the consumer’s website, despite the agents’ site already including a commission. An average commission rate applicable on hotels is at ten per cent, packages at five per cent and car hire at six per cent. For a limited period, agents who sign up will receive 12 per cent on hotels until the end of June this year. Expedia’s TAAP will include a one-off membership fee of USD 100, but fees will be waived for those who sign up before May 1, 2010. A volume-based incentive for top sellers could also see commissions boosted up to 11.5 per cent.
Stuart Udy, Manager of Travel Agent Distribution APAC, Expedia said, “Agents immediately see the benefits of having access to a huge amount of additional inventory at Internet rates negotiated through the biggest online player in the world.”
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