Just in time for a modest recovery in demand for hotel rooms -- Smith Travel Research estimates occupancies to rise by nearly 4% in the U.S. this summer -- CCRA Travel Solutions rolled out a cash incentive for agents who book through CCRAtravel.com, the hotel portal where bookings can be made at some 160,000 properties worldwide.
It's called CCRA Cash Rewards, and any travel agent with credentials from TRUE, IATA, CLIA or TIDS is eligible for the bonus pay of $1 for every consumed hotel night. The offer is good on bookings made across all CCRA Travel Solutions rate categories, including the 15% Commission/Express program that CCRA launched last month.
"We strive to find new ways to enhance our hotel booking portal and solidify the success of travel professionals," said Mai Meyaart, vice president and managing director of CCRA Travel Solutions. "This Cash Rewards Program is just another incentive that will help travel professionals earn more money, faster."
In addition to the Express program, agents can choose the Net Rate Markup feature that allows them to set their own, marked-up commission on nonrefundable net rates. Agents can mark up this rate to whatever the market will bear, but no more than 100% of the net price.
Agents already registered at CCRAtravel.com can receive the cash rewards by updating their online agent profile and filling in new information categories. Retailers new to the portal fill out a user registration form.
According to Meyaart, what sets the CCRA Travel Solutions portal apart from other hotel booking engines is the consolidation of rates and inventory from a variety of vendors, making them available in a single search.
Agents are presented with a variety of rate categories for each hotel selected, and can choose the room type, amenities, rates and restrictions that will be best for their client and most profitable for them.
The five rate categories are: CCRA negotiated rates, GDS rates, Internet discounted rates, net rates and the 15% Enhanced Commission rate. Additionally, many CCRA travel suppliers provide agents with preferred rates and promotions that are only available for bookings made on CCRAtravel.com.
Once agents are registered for the reward program, all accruals of $25 or more will be paid on a monthly basis. Cash Reward balances that remain under $25, will be paid biannually. The Cash Rewards payment will be issued separately from CCRA's regular commission payments, which are now issued on a weekly basis with a direct-deposit option.