TripAdvisor’s Viator has launched the Travel Agent Program (TAP), a new booking platform offering travel agents direct and immediate access to more than 70,000 commissionable tours and attractions.
Agents can now join the programme as an individual, a host agency, or member of host agency and receive direct commission from Viator, without third-party payment distribution.
Tours and attractions available to agents will include TripAdvisor and Viator’s VIP, Exclusive and Skip the Line products. TAP also offers a “competitive commission rate”, according to a Viator statement, and caters to a global travel agent audience, allowing for multiple currencies, along with monthly reporting for easy performance analysis.
Agents will also have access to a resource centre with tips and content, including agent training, product knowledge development and destination guides to increase industry knowledge and in turn, their bottom lines.
Since testing began last month, thousands of agents have created accounts and booked experiences for their clients directly through Viator, according to a statement.
“While most platforms cater to the end-user or traveller, we’ve designed TAP specifically for travel agents and their businesses. For the first time, agents will have direct access to the world’s largest collection of attractions and tours, and we’re working to make their booking experience seamless,” touted Ben Drew, head of growth, Viator.
“We’ll collect and incorporate feedback from early adopters as we continue to evolve the programme and, ultimately, help agents around the world grow their businesses.”
