Expedia launches agent programme in HK
Expedia has rolled out its Travel Agent Affiliate Program (TAAP) in Hong Kong.
Following previous launches in India, Singapore, Japan, Malaysia, Thailand and Korea, agents in Hong Kong can now access Expedia’s global inventory and receive commission on bookings.
“The internet has fundamentally changed the landscape for how travel products are distributed, and it is great to see that travel agents are adapting with the times and changing their buying strategies. Today travel agents can buy inventory from any part of the world at any time of the day from the internet. Expedia, the world’s largest online travel company, is offering a great opportunity for travel agents to increase their revenue when booking online,” said Charee Guico, Expedia’s Travel Agent Distribution Manager for Asia.
Travel agent becoming TAAP members will be able to also use the Expedia platform to check availability of hotels, flights and activities, and make bookings, while 10% commission is available on hotel and activity bookings, and 5% on packages (flight plus hotel stay of minimum three nights).
Expedia’s TAAP was first launched in Italy in 2002 and has since expanded to the rest of Europe, America and Asia Pacific. The programme currently has 3,500 partners in Asia. Subsequent TAAP launches are planned in Indonesia, Taiwan, Philippines and Vietnam in the coming months.
To mark the Hong Kong launch, Expedia is offering a bonus of HK$800 (US$103) for travel agents who sign up with the programme and make their first booking of HK$12,000 from now until 30 June 2012.