Expedia TAAP Announces New Promotion To Boost Travel Agent Recovery During Key Summer Period

Expedia® Partner Solutions (EPS), unlocking the power of Expedia Group™ for partners globally, today announced a new summer promotion to further aid travel agents in their recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic. The promotion is available in Italy, Spain, Mexico, United Kingdom, Germany, Netherlands, France, Belgium, Sweden, Denmark, Switzerland, and Norway. There are slight variations to the promotion available in the United Kingdom, Germany, and the Netherlands.

As global travel and tourism slowly starts to gather momentum again, the new promotion will see all standard tier Expedia TAAP agents promoted to silver tier for three months, empowering them to earn more with each booking they make. Standard tier members who hit their booking target will be able to extend their silver tier status for the rest of the year. Additionally, all tier levels (standard, silver, gold and platinum) will receive +2% commission on premium plus properties for the same three-month period.

These promotions - starting 1st June - will be available to both new and existing Expedia TAAP partners, helping them to capitalize on the expected increase in travel over the peak summer months. This means travel agents that join Expedia TAAP during this time will be able to earn up to 3% more in commission for each booking.

"The COVID-19 pandemic has served as the backdrop to one of the most challenging periods in the history of the travel industry," says Robin Lawther, Senior Director at Expedia TAAP. "As the world slowly starts to open, the traditionally busy summer months will be crucial to recovery. We hope initiatives like the one being announced today will serve as a much-needed catalyst, helping both new and existing Expedia TAAP partners bounce back as quickly as possible."

Today's announcement is the latest in a series of EPS initiatives designed to provide ongoing support and assistance to travel agents during this difficult time. Over the past year, the company has made nearly 70% of rates refundable by reclassifying the vast majority of non-refundable rates, helping agents provide more flexibility and reassurance to travelers. In February 2021, Expedia TAAP introduced a new tier retention program, allowing over 10,000 Expedia TAAP partners to keep their 2020 tier for a further 12 months. It has also opened package rates (discounted rates on accommodation bookings when combined with transport) to all partner tiers, creating new revenue opportunities for thousands of agents.

All of this is in addition to a wide range of new tools and services for Expedia TAAP partners. These include a recently released virtual agent; self-service functionality that allows agents to manage bookings more efficiently, and the new TAAP Academy learning portal, designed to help partners unlock the full potential of Expedia TAAP.