The online booking tool is the latest internet company to offer an olive branch to the retail trade, following lastminute.com and easyJet in providing access to selected agents.
Expedia’s Travel Agencies Affiliate Programme (TAAP) will allow agents access to Expedia’s full inventory, apart from its flights. A spokeswoman said that commission of 6%-10% would be payable.
Agents can sign up for the programme free until the end of the year, after which it will cost a one-off fee of £40. New members will also get enhanced commission rates until March next year.
‘There are definitely still people out there that want to book through a high street agent,’ said an Expedia spokeswoman.
TAAP will provide a dedicated agents’ homepage. It will be managed by a call centre in Italy, but Expedia said there would be native English speakers among the staff.
See also:
Expedia and Ryanair in furious legal battle (15/10/08)
Expedia Distribution drives bmi’s hotel growth (18/09/08)
Expedia reports double digit revenue growth (01/08/08)