Don't Book OTA Rates - Book TSA Rates

Hello TRAVELSAVERS and NEST Members!

In the last edition of this column, I advised why you should book TSA rates vs. BAR rates. For this edition I’m staying with the same advice when it comes to booking TSA rates vs. OTA rates.

While there’s no shortage of advice and discussion on this topic, I recently read an article about an accidental hotel booking made on a popular OTA site that turned into a virtual nightmare for the individual when trying to get it resolved – so I believe this subject bears continued attention. Much like we advocate for the traveling public to use an accredited travel advisor to book their vacations or business travel, the TRAVELSAVERS Hotel Division also advocates that advisors utilize the TSA Hotel Program rates when booking hotels for their clients.

It’s been established in recent years that travel advisors have an edge over OTAs. It’s the personalized service, expertise, knowledge, avoiding scams and pitfalls, access to exclusive promotions and rates, and assistance during emergencies, to name just a few benefits. To the nightmare point above, travel advisors also create high-value travel over OTAs because you are better able to advocate for your clients when things go wrong…and we, in turn, are here to support you and your business success when it comes to your hotel content and rates.

So yes, I’ll say it again…

Please don’t book OTA rates – Book TSA rates!

Remember, a cheaper OTA rate isn’t always the best one. Here’s a recap of some of the top reasons to book TSA and not OTA (or BAR):

• TSA rates are most often better than BAR. Many of our hotel partners offer 5%, 10% and even up to 25% off the best available rate, giving you the edge on the best pricing available.
• Last room availability
• 52% of the properties in our program include complimentary breakfast in our rates
• 91% include Wi-Fi in our rates
• 51% of the properties in our program include parking in our rates
• Commission of up to 15% on TSA rates
• Complimentary upgrades at participating hotels
• Late check-in/check-out at participating hotels
• The support of the TRAVELSAVERS Hotel Division is behind you, particularly when an issue arises. We advocate on your behalf and our effectiveness is further reinforced when it’s a TSA rate code booking.

If you don’t see the TSA rates in your GDS for hotels participating in our program, please email me at wbennett@travelsavers.com, or reach out to your dedicated TRAVELSAVERS Business Analyst. It may just be a technical matter of enabling your agency’s PCC or OID to view and book our rates.

For more information about the TSA Hotel Program, please go to the TRAVELSAVERS Agent Extranet (US, Canada or NEST), under Hotel Programs – TRAVELSAVERS Preferred Hotel Program, which includes GDS booking formats under “How to Book in the GDS.” You can also download and print a copy of the GDS reservation booklet from this site as well. For non-GDS advisors, you can book the TSA rates (Preferred Hotel Rates) using our proprietary online booking tool, tripXpress.

Thank you for your continued support!

William "Bill" Bennett, Director – Agency Network
Telephone: +1 516-624-0500 x2341
Email: wbennett@travelsavers.com