Travel agents can now link their websites to Ski.com, the largest provider of mountain travel in North America, and earn commissions on bookings their clients make on Ski.com via that link.
Ski.com upgraded its agent website, SellSkiVacations.com, in August, giving agencies the ability to set up the link.
When clients click on the link, they will see the Ski.com name and logo. But the phone number displayed will be the agency’s phone number, not Ski.com’s.
Typically, most ski consumers browse the site and then call to book, said Dan Sherman, managing director of marketing for Ski.com.
Any bookings made through the link are flagged with the agency’s industry identification number.
Agents can opt to have the call go to a Ski.com agent if they so choose, and will still get their usual commission even if a Ski.com sales agent does the booking.
However, Sherman said that most agents opt to talk to the client and qualify the client and then work with a Ski.com agent on the client’s behalf.
In addition to being a booking engine, SellSkiVacations.com, introduced last year, has a variety of agent tools. Agents can create quotes for clients on the website and customize emails with deals to send to clients.
The site also offers agent training. Current training modules cover Colorado and Utah. Ski.com is about to introduce a module that covers what resorts are best for which customers—families, luxury, access and other groups.
Ski.com offers mountain vacations to 100 resorts in North America, South America and Europe. About half of its bookings come from travel agents.