Ever wondered, how some travel agents are able to secure exceptional hotel deals? Apart from making excellent commissions, they get priority bookings, complimentary packages, free airport transfers for their clients, and much more. How do they do so? Travel suppliers (hotels, resorts, and other accommodations) offer special rates to travel agents registered in their loyalty programs or are a part of prestigious organizations such as IATA. These exclusive rates can help them get up to 65% off on their hotel bookings leaving a large room for commission and discounts to the customers; thereby, increasing their profits and clients’ satisfaction.
Significance of hotel discounts for travel agents
Sales happen when you are able to provide exclusive discounts to your customers that they can’t get anywhere. A well-discounted property results in obtaining a competitive edge and attracting more customers to a particular hotel. Once you have sold a particular package at discounted rates, it is highly likely that your customer will contact you for their future plans considering the service was a 5-star. Further, they will get you new customers through word-of-mouth and all you have to do is nail every booking with excellent customer experience at a great price.
Top tips or secrets to get exclusive hotel booking discounts
1. Promote travel during shoulder seasons
With people starting to understand the importance of travel and prioritizing it along with their jobs, the hotel industry has seen a sudden bloom over the past few years. As a consequence, Hotel rates are expected to increase up to 13% in several cities in 2024 (source: siteminder.com). Further, peak seasons create a burden on the industry; hence, hotel rates are dramatically high during these seasons. Promoting travel packages during the shoulder seasons can not only help you provide better deals for your customers but also secure good commissions. Additionally, the climatic conditions during shoulder seasons offer similar aesthetics and experience of tourism maintaining customer satisfaction above par.
2. Join loyalty programs
As hotels find it difficult to fill up their rooms during shoulder and off seasons, they tackle the situation by lowering down their tariffs and running special programs for travel agents. By doing so, they ensure a continuous inflow of guests and minimize the zero occupancy of their rooms. As per Online Dasher, loyalty members book more than 59.2% of room nights at major hotel chains. Travel agents can go through the loyalty programs on the hotels’ official websites or can contact the sales department to know more. Hotels also run discounts exclusive to travel agents during peak season and provide priority bookings that can be marketed by agents to get new customers and nurture past conversions. Some of the few benefits of loyalty programs include free breakfast, room upgrades, discounted or complimentary stays, early check-in or late check-out, priority access to hotel facilities, executive lounge access, etc. In loyalty programs, travel agents also have the option to redeem earned points for vouchers, travel, electronic items, and more.
3. Use travel distribution platforms
B2B travel distribution platforms such as TBO Holidays are great investments in organizing the travel of your vast clientele. These platforms offer state-of-the-art booking engines integrated with global PMSs to offer real-time booking details. Travel agents can use promo codes run on various properties, set commissions, provide support, track travel data, and much more. The investment in a travel distribution platform will save you time spent on discovering updated loyalty programs and discount codes. It is a win-win situation, where you get to save efforts while getting access to easily missed-out discounts.
4. Cross-sell packaged deals
A HubSpot study revealed that upselling could lead to a 41% surge in average order value. Similarly, McKinsey & Company’s research demonstrated that cross-selling has the potential to elevate a customer’s lifetime value by up to 14%. Travel agents can bundle their packages with nearby locations to promote their services and increase overall revenue. When talking about a particular hotel, travel agents can use travel booking platforms to upsell hotel rooms, lunch and dinner, spa treatment, and other services. Additionally, one can sell packages that include hotels and flights according to the requirements and booking data, along with other ancillary products, offering lucrative discounts on such packages.
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5. Sign up for newsletters
Hotels and travel distribution platforms send regular newsletters to promote the latest deals and discounts. These pre-sale announcements and flash sales offers are announced only to preferred bookers. Newsletters also boast seasonal specials, last-minute steals, and exclusive agent packages with bundled perks like airport transfers and spa treatments. To maximize the discoverability of these offers, subscribe to a wide range of emails – hotel chains, independent properties, regional travel boards, and popular booking platforms.
Conclusion
By implementing these insider secrets, travel agents can transform themselves into discount ninjas, securing exceptional hotel deals for their clients. This translates to happy customers with unforgettable experiences, solidifying their loyalty, and driving business growth. Remember, a little effort goes a long way in maximizing profits and client satisfaction in the competitive travel industry. So, put these tips into action and watch your travel business thrive!
Pratyush Kumar Srivastava is a seasoned expert in B2B travel writing with years of experience in the industry. With a deep understanding of the intricacies of travel technology, supplier relationships, and market trends, Pratyush offers valuable insights to help businesses optimize their travel booking strategies. Passionate about innovation and efficiency, he is dedicated to guiding travel agencies through the complexities of modern distribution channels to achieve growth and success.
