Sabre introduced TripTailor, a tool that
enables agents to create vacation packages and add a mark-up on top
of the commission that Sabre pays and guarantees to agencies.
TripTailor,
accessible at TripTailor.com and through the MySabre agency portal,
is Sabre's latest and most ambitious foray into wholesaling. Using
the TripTailor dynamic-packaging engine, Sabre-connected agents can
bundle air, car, hotel, tour, event and dining
components.
Sabre stated that
the package choices have broad reach, covering 1,500 destinations.
Numerous "travel extras," such as excursions, attractions, shows,
special events, transfers, parking and dining, can be added to the
packages for more than 150 destinations, Sabre said.
Dan Westbrook,
Sabre Travel Network's general manager for TripTailor, said Sabre
acts as a wholesaler. It contracts with suppliers for the right to
put inventory into agent-built packages and pays agencies
commissions. Commission checks will go out twice a month, and
agents will usually get paid about a month after the client's
departure.
"We're anxious to
embrace the agency community as a marketer of travel," Westbrook
said.
He added that the
"thrust" and initial focus of TripTailor was directed toward
agents, but Sabre had discussed marketing it directly to consumers,
as well.
Previously, the way
for Sabre-connected agents to book packages in the GDS was through
Sabre Tours and Sabre Vacations, a Web-based product available
through a Sabre relationship with Trisept Solutions.
Although
TripTailor.com is accessible to anyone, only agents can make
bookings because that part of the process is password-protected.
During the reservations process, agents can view the preliminary
package price. This includes the bundled price of air, car, hotel
and tours; travel insurance; and "taxes and fees" (including taxes
on the net rate, other government fees and Sabre's fee from
suppliers).
Agents can then add
a mark-up, which won't be broken out on the customer receipt, and
view the total price.
TripTailor then
calculates agents' commission and mark-up so agents can view their
total revenue from the package.
Westbrook said the
commissions Sabre pays would be competitive, although they wouldn't
be the highest in the marketplace.
Sabre is also
offering Sabre Rewards in connection with TripTailor, enabling
agents to collect points toward travel perks, gift certificates and
merchandise.
Although Sabre
contracts for net-rate inventory, agents can also book published
inventory and last-minute packages from Site59 through
TripTailor.
Sabre introduced a
dynamic-packaging product, Trip Shopping, for agents several years
ago, but it was discontinued when Sabre phased out its eVoya
platform. Under that product, agents could not set their own
mark-ups and received commission on the package
components.
"One of the key
differences with TripTailor is that it contains the combination of
published and merchant content fully commissioned by us," said
Sabre spokeswoman Kathryn Hayden. "In addition, agents are now much
more willing and looking for opportunities to sell more than air
than when we introduced our first generation of dynamic
packaging."
Sabre dabbled in
wholesaling a few years ago, as well. In 2002, Sabre introduced
Sabre Exclusives, obtaining net-rate hotel inventory and paying
commission to agents.
Several functions
of TripTailor, including itinerary changes and cancellations,
require e-mails or phone calls to support personnel.
Westbrook said this
was a function of "operational issues" related to suppliers.
To
contact reporter Dennis Schaal, send e-mail to [email protected].