More airline partners
Ensemble Travel Group has added four airlines to its preferred-supplier stable: Virgin America, American Airlines (international only), Emirates and Singapore Air.
Ensemble has more in the pipeline, said Brian Chapin, Ensemble’s senior director, air and travel solutions.
Ensemble’s air contracts have an upfront component, which means agents earn commissions. Ensemble has some net fare agreements, as well.
Commissions vary, and there are no commissions at all on the cheapest flights.
— Kate Rice
LAS VEGAS — Ensemble Travel Group is launching two new online booking tools, Hotel Express and On Location Express, the travel agency group announced at its annual conference, held at the Red Rock Resort Casino.
In Hotel Express, agents can book all of the Ensemble Hotel & Resort Collection. These hotels include exclusive amenities for Ensemble agents, and Hotel Express pulls those amenity codes straight from the GDS.
Ensemble has partnered with hotel aggregator CCRA Travel on Hotel Express. CCRA collects commissions for Ensemble members, meaning agents don’t have to waste time chasing commission.
Ensemble agents have traditionally booked hotels through GDSs, over the phone or via preferred partner CCRA Travel.
On Location Express automates booking the services of Ensemble’s ground operators — destination management companies and other small companies.
If agents are building a complicated, multi-country trip, On Location Express builds a single itinerary for that trip, even though the agent may be booking tours from different ground operators throughout the trip. Previously, agents would contact On Location companies individually.
Booking a multi-country trip is complex, because it involves multiple companies, different currencies and invoices from multiple companies. On Location Express simplifies this task because it unites the bookings into a single itinerary and frees the agent from dealing with multiple currencies.
Ensemble also has enhanced Air Express, which holds all 70 of Ensemble’s preferred air suppliers. Agents now can clearly see all fare options, Ensemble said. Agents can also see the commissions that they’ll earn, and can add in service fees.
Agents can hold tickets for 24 hours, and in some instances more than 24 hours. Agents can book travel originating outside of the U.S. in Air Express. The bookings are under Ensemble’s ARC number, which means that agents are not exposed to the risk of debit memos.
In addition to announcing upgrades to its Air Express tool, Ensemble said it is upgrading its Cruise Express booking tool.
Follow Kate Rice on Twitter @krtravelweekly.