LOYALTY MEMBERS DIRECT BOOKING RATES
Recently, several major hotel brands including Marriott, Hilton, Hyatt and InterContinental Hotel Group have reduced their loyalty members direct booking rates in order to encourage booking on the hotels’ websites. This effort has primarily put Online Travel Agencies (OTAs) such as Expedia and Priceline.com at a disadvantage as the prices that the hotel groups offer the OTAs are generally higher than what the traveller can book directly on the hotel brand’s website. While the hotel groups and OTAs battle for online booking traffic, hotel groups have made these direct booking rates available to their valued corporate travel agency partners. When you book with Traveltrust, you can rest assured that you continue to get the best rate available for most hotel groups, complimented by our bespoke management service.
DISCOUNT FOR AGENCIES AND THEIR CLIENTS
What do the major brands have to say about this recent trend and what it means for travel agency partners? One Hyatt representative was quoted in saying “The Hyatt Gold Passport member discount rewards members for their loyalty, and many of our members book their travel through our valued agency and corporate partners. The discount has always been available to these agencies, and we have taken steps to make it seamless for agencies to book it for our members and their clients.” IHG has also made similar comments.
