Today, Expedia Group is celebrating Global Travel Advisor Day, recognising its worldwide TAAP partners.
- The celebration covers 16 events on three continents, including an event in London.
- Expedia is unveiling new products and expanding existing services to new markets.
- A deferred payment initiative is being expanded to more TAAP markets.
- A loyalty scheme for US travel advisors is extending to Canada and Mexico.
Today marks a significant celebration for Expedia Group as it recognises its global TAAP (Travel Agent Affiliate Programme) partners in honour of Global Travel Advisor Day. This worldwide event encompasses 16 gatherings across three continents, including a notable event in London involving around 60 partners alongside Marriott and Chicago DMC.
During the event, Expedia is not only unveiling new products but also extending its current services to new markets within its TAAP global booking platform. This platform connects travel advisors to a comprehensive array of hotels, holiday rentals, flights, packages, car rentals, and activities, enhancing their service offerings.
In a noteworthy development, Expedia’s deferred payment initiative, first launched in 2021, is now being extended to 30 of the 32 global TAAP markets, with the latest inclusions being Brazil and China. This initiative facilitates delayed payments for accommodation bookings, providing over 16,000 agencies the flexibility to manage cash flow effectively.
Research from Expedia highlights how travel agency bookings have a typically longer planning window than direct customer bookings, averaging around six months. The deferred payments option allows agencies to pay Expedia closer to the check-in date, enabling them to manage budgets and increase bookings by offering a pay later option.
Expedia is also broadening its loyalty programme for travel advisors beyond the US to include Canada and Mexico. This scheme incentivises advisors to utilise Expedia TAAP by allowing them to earn points on accommodation bookings, which can be redeemed for retail gift cards. Robin Lawther, Expedia TAAP vice president, emphasised the need to support travel advisors with enhanced services and flexible payment options to better meet customer needs and manage cash flows effectively.
Global Travel Advisor Day underscores Expedia’s ongoing commitment to enhancing support for its travel advisors globally.
