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FEBRUARY 24, 2009
Hotels Turning Their Backs on Agents?
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As we reported on Travel Agent Central earlier this year, AboutAnywhere.com has been creating quite the backlash amongst the agent community regarding the business' practice of a commission-free model in booking hotels for customers. And it appears as though the backlash could get worse. But who should it be geared toward? Can agents fault AboutAnywhere.com for the practice or the hotels that are partnering with it?
Most recently Barcelo Hotels & Resorts, which Travel Agent has always deemed as an agent-friendly resort, partnered with the site. Barcelo Hotels & Resorts and AboutAnywhere.com have entered into a strategic partnership for online distribution in the Americas.
Comments in a written statement by Miquel Moya, director of custumer relationship and ecommerce for Barcelo, blame the economy for essentially turning its back on agents. "We approached AboutAnywhere.com after reading about their new commission-free model in the press,” he said. “The model just makes sense for the industry and is long overdue. The timing with the economy is just perfect as we are definitely looking for ways to reduce distribution costs.”
So who is to blame for this attempt to eliminate you, the middle man, the travel agent from the hotel booking process? Is its the site or is it the hotels who join it?
Connect with other travel professionals on this subject in a community discussion at AgentNation.
By: Joe Pike
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Comments 1-10 of 18
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Jill Clancy (APRIL 11, 2009)
I just checked out the rate for the Barcelo Maya Palace on the Aboutanywhere.com website. I had just sold this property yesterday through Pleasant Holidays and I wanted to compare. The rate with Pleasant including transfers was $3081 for 2 adults and 2 kids. On Aboutanywhere.com it was $3236.70 without transfers, same as the Barcelo website. Kind of a no brainer where your clients are going to book. Plus the website is hard to get through. If people really think they are getting a deal by using this site they probably weren" your customers to begin with.
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Ramon Franco (APRIL 01, 2009)
Even more reason to book other better All-Inclusives, like Club Med. I always get very good feedback and return clients with them.
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Mike Mosley (FEBRUARY 27, 2009)
I have booked several hotels through AboutAnywhere.com and I always get my commissions from the hotels... so I don't see what all the fuss is about.
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Jennifer (FEBRUARY 26, 2009)
Barcelo has been on my stop sell list since last year when they agressively undercut my price with a destination wedding bride. Told her to bring any pricing I have and they will lower their price plus add additional amenities for her wedding for free but only if she booked direct! Shame as they have a decent mid range product that I could sell alot of.
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LisaD (FEBRUARY 26, 2009)
Hey Mr.Moya...It's the same old song and dance.You can say there are no service fees...or that you are commission free or whatever you want to say.YOU ARE TALKING OUT BOTH SIDES OF YOUR HEAD!Here's why...
If you are INCORRECTLY saying that we tack on 10%(which is not true) and you don't want to pay it....then what do you say to AAA and AARP members that get 10%(or more) off at the Barcelo chain?
Are you saying you would rather discount yourself right off the bat 10% to these people than pay 10% to a group of people that lead thousands of clients to your hotels? Guess what? Barcelo isn't the only game in town. -
Walt (FEBRUARY 26, 2009)
Linn Driessen is right on the button! Boycott the boycotters and see how they will run!
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Ann, CTC (FEBRUARY 26, 2009)
Has anyone looked at the wording the website uses about commissions?
"NO COMMISSIONS
Travel agents usually charge hotels 10% for each reservation they make. The online travel agencies charge hotels more than 30%! That means that you pay higher rates, and only view a limited selection of hotels in each destination... the large, expensive ones that can afford to pay the high commission. AboutAnywhere.com charges NOTHING! ZIP! NADA! For you, that means more selection and better rates. For hotels, it means more online exposure, which means more business. Everyone wins with AboutAnywhere.com!"
Note the "TRAVEL AGENTS USUALLY CHARGE" statement. Wrong! Hotels build that cost into their rates. If they don't pay a commission, that's 10% back in their pocket. I don't see this site stating that hotels are giving them a 10% discount because they don't have to pay an agent commission, do you?
In fact, they state that the online gorillas also "charge" more than 30%! Clueless... -
Vasuki sundaram (FEBRUARY 26, 2009)
Linn Dreissen has correctly stated, Agents need to unify and become the regulatory body. In India all the Six association have joined forces and fighting against the airlines for our commission.
All agent body take a unified action it will be check in their system. Til then No agent should promote Barcelo Hotels and also Anywhere.com -
David Gedansky (FEBRUARY 25, 2009)
It always amazes me how travel agents commission is considered a 10-15% distribution expense rather than 85-95% additional revenue received by the supplier which they would not receive if the travel agent did not refer his clients to them. Bean counters are interesting people, they would rather have less expense than more revenue.
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Jess Kalinowsky Professional Travel Agent (FEBRUARY 25, 2009)
Well, I for one will not be selling their hotel properties! The travel agent distribution system is still the best way to make travel arrangements, PERIOD! If agents support any kind of vendor that blatantly wants to bypass us, then we deserve to get screwed!
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