Search Travel Market Report

mainlogo
www.travelmarketreport.com
  • News
  • Tours & Packages
  • Cruise
  • Hotels & Resorts
  • Destinations
  • Retail Strategies
  • Niche & Luxury
  • Well-Being Travel
  • Training & Events
  • Who We Are
    • Anne Marie Moebes
    • Brian Israel
    • Dan McCarthy
    • Denise Caiazzo
    • Dori Saltzman
    • Kelly Fontenelle

ARC to Close Travel Agent MarketPlace Portal Dec. 29

by Richard D'Ambrosio / November 02, 2017
ARC to Close Travel Agent MarketPlace Portal Dec. 29


Airlines Reporting Corporation (ARC) announced today that ARC MarketPlace — an exclusive web-based portal for travel agents to book commissionable tours, activities and passport and visa services — will cease operations on Friday, Dec. 29.

ARC said the closing of ARC MarketPlace is a consequence of Viator, Inc. deciding to terminate its partnership with ARC. All bookings made on ARC MarketPlace prior to Dec. 29, 2017 are valid bookings and will be honored by Viator and their suppliers, ARC said.

Viator launched its own travel agent booking website in October, offering 8 percent commissions on more than 70,000 tours and attractions. Viator is owned by the travel review site, TripAdvisor. At the time of the launch, Viator told Skift that “thousands” of agents had provided feedback during a summer beta test.

“We are disappointed that Viator has taken this action, and proud to have served the agency community with this source of products, commission payment and call center support for almost eleven years,” said Doug Mangold, ARC’s vice president of product.

According to ARC, the MarketPlace offered 70,000 products worldwide, including destination activities, tours, shore excursions, ground transportation, passport and visa services and even hotels. ARC said more than 16,000 unique agents from more than 8,300 travel agencies have used the site, and that year over year sales in 2016 were up 21%. For 2017, sales are ahead 16% so far this year.

ARC said that Viator was the primary partner provider on ARC MarketPlace.

“Commissionable products, such as those sold via ARC MarketPlace, are an important source of revenue for travel agencies, and we will support our customers in transitioning to suppliers that support them and will respect the relationships travel agencies have with their customers,” Mangold said.

In an FAQ posted on the ARC website, the company said all bookings made through Dec. 29, 2017 will remain valid regardless of travel date. ARC will continue to pay monthly commissions to agents for all ARC MarketPlace bookings in the month following travel (both prior to and after Dec. 29, 2017), and current commission processes and methods of payment will not change.

ARC said the last Quarterly Bonus Commission payments for bookings on the site will be paid out to qualifying ARC agencies in January 2018 based on their Q4 2017 sales (Oct. 1, 2017-Dec. 29, 2017).

ARC has already terminated the affiliate program in advance of the Dec. 29 closing date, and said that existing tours and activities affiliate links and/or banners will not be supported after Dec. 29, 2017. “All agents who have these links and/or banners on their website, should remove them prior to Dec. 29, 2017 to prevent confusion for your clients.”

Commissions on bookings via these links and banners on an agency’s website will be paid for all bookings made through Dec. 29, 2017, “in accordance with the existing commission payment process,” ARC said.

Inquiries can be directed to Viator at support@viator.com, and through ARC’s Customer Care Center at (855) 816-8003 or arcmarketplacehelp@arccorp.com.

  0
  0
Related Articles
Travel Agency August Air Ticket Sales Up 127% Over 2021
ARC Data: International Ticket Sales Up 50% Over 2021 for June
ARC Data: Inbound Test Announcement Boosts U.S. Outbound Ticket Numbers
What Data Can, and Should, Mean to Travel Advisors
U.S. Airfares Are Now at a Seven-Year High
Airlines Tickets Are Now 11% Higher Than They Were Pre-Pandemic
U.S. Travel Agencies Have Sold $91.3 Billion in Air Tickets This Year
ARC Encourages Agents to Analyze Sales Data More Through Software
New Products For Travel Agencies Top ARC Agenda
Airlines Reporting Corporation Sees Big Boost In Agency Sales Of One-Way Air Tickets

MOST VIEWED

  1. All U.S. Flights Grounded Due to FAA Computer Outage
  2. Norwegian Cruise Line Brings Back COVID-19 Requirements
  3. Delta Air Lines Will Offer Free Wi-Fi Starting on Feb. 1
  4. Forbes Says ‘You Need a Travel Advisor in 2023’
  5. Cruise Ducks: A Cruising Tradition Travel Advisors Should Know About
  6. What’s New in Travel Agent FAM Trips

MOST EMAILED

  1. Forbes Says ‘You Need a Travel Advisor in 2023’
  2. Here Are the Automatic & Suggested Gratuity Policies for Each Major Cruise Line
  3. All U.S. Flights Grounded Due to FAA Computer Outage
  4. Delta Air Lines Will Offer Free Wi-Fi Starting on Feb. 1
  5. Tour Operators & Advisors Forced to Cancel Trips as Peru Shuts Down Machu Picchu
  6. Cruise Ducks: A Cruising Tradition Travel Advisors Should Know About
TMR THIS WEEK
Sponsored by Explora Journeys
//services.travelsavers.com/AMGService.svc/REST/GetImage?ImageID=790a5703-649e-ed11-9b4d-005056a855ed&Width=350&Height&250

Selling Savory Cruise Experiences to Foodie Clients

With the boundaries of food and beverage programs being pushed across nearly every sector of cruising, the interest of clients in culinary experiences is also piquing.

Read More...
TMR Subscription

Subscribe today to receive daily in-depth coverage, analysis of industry news, trends and issues that affect how you do business. Subscribe now for free.

Subscribe to TMR

Top Stories
ASTA’s General Counsel Peter Lobasso Appointed to DOT Subcommittee
ASTA’s General Counsel Peter Lobasso Appointed to DOT Subcommittee

Lobasso will serve as the ticket agent representative on the subcommittee. 

Read...
Allianz Adds “Cancel Anytime” Coverage to OneTrip Prime and OneTrip Premier
Allianz Adds “Cancel Anytime” Coverage to OneTrip Prime and OneTrip Premier

Cancel Anytime covers the "most unforeseeable circumstances."

Read...
Consumers Want More Personalization When It Comes to Travel Planning
Consumers Want More Personalization When It Comes to Travel Planning

More than ever, travelers want the ability to customize their vacation packages. 

Read...
SEO Nets Big Results for One LGBTQ+ Travel Specialist
SEO Nets Big Results for One LGBTQ+ Travel Specialist

"SEO actually works the way they say it works," says Scott Wismont. 

Read...
Travel Advisors Save the Day … But Travel Protection Can Save the Trip
Travel Advisors Save the Day … But Travel Protection Can Save the Trip

If there’s one thing we’ve learned from the past several years is that when it comes to travel, it’s safest to expect the unexpected at every leg of the journey. 

Read...
We Tried ChatGPT – Here’s What It Said About Travel Advisors and Their Future
We Tried ChatGPT – Here’s What It Said About Travel Advisors and Their Future

Even a robot knows that travel advisors are here to stay.

Read...
TMR OUTLOOKS & WHITE PAPERS
river cruise 2022
group outlook 2022
lux cruise outlook
CP White Paper
Multi-Gen Outlook
River Cruise Outlook 2019
View All
Advertiser's Voice
Celebrate National Don’t Plan for Vacation Day with Delta Vacations
About Travel Market Report Mission Staff Advisory Board Advertise
TMR Resources Webinars Calendar of Events Outlook/Whitepapers Previous Sponsored Articles Previous This Week Articles
Subscribe to TMR
Select Language
Do You Have an Idea Email
editor@travelmarketreport.com
Give Us a Call
1-(516) 730-3097
Drop Us a Note
Travel Market Report
71 Audrey Ave, Oyster Bay, NY 11771
News |Tours & Packages |Cruise |Hotels & Resorts |Destinations |Retail Strategies |Niche & Luxury |Well-Being Travel |Training & Events |Who We Are
© 2005 - 2023 Travel Market Report, an American Marketing Group Inc. Company All Rights Reserved | 243 South Street, Oyster Bay, NY, 11771 USA | Telephone (516) 730-3097| Terms and Conditions
Cookie Policy Privacy Policy