IMPORTANT: This feature is currently only available in the US, Mexico and Canada for selected travel agencies
Grow your business with additional revenue streams by adding an agency service charge to a booking. Up to 30% of the total booking value can be applied at the travel advisor’s discretion.
Advisors can now add an agency service charge directly on the check-out page, enabling them to manage this entire process through the Expedia TAAP booking tool. The applied agency service charge will appear as a line item in the itinerary builder, enhancing overall traveler experience. It will also be displayed in the downloadable earnings statements giving travel agency managers better visibility of earnings so they can manage team compensations accordingly.
Best of all, for a limited time only(*), travel agencies will be able to retain the full amount of any agency service charge they wish to apply to a booking.
An agency service charge can be applied to the following types of bookings:
Hotel bookings only, with standalone or package rates.
Before you input traveler and credit card details, you will also be able to see a breakdown of the total booking cost (including room nights, taxes, fees and agency service charge) and a breakdown of your total earnings (including commissions and agency service charge) for the booking. When you are ready click complete booking and that's it!
Travel advisors are responsible for determining their own tax obligations and may be liable for taxes calculated on the agency service charge.
When will this feature be available to other regions and travel agencies?
We hope to expand it to other regions and travel agencies. Your sales support team will keep you informed and confirm when it is made available to you.
Are there any exclusions to the agency service charge?
Agency service charges cannot be applied to vacation rentals or pay-later bookings. They also cannot be added to any other line of business outside of lodging e.g. Flights, bundled packages, activities, car rental, ground transportation, etc.
Can I add an agency service charge to properties in California?
Yes. You can add an agency service charge to a hotel that is in California.
Can I add an agency service charge to a booking set up for deferred payment or installment payments?
Yes. In some countries, you may have additional payment options, such as deferring payment to a later date or paying in installments. An agency service charge can be applied to these bookings.
Can I add an agency service charge to a quote?
Yes. You can apply an agency service charge when generating a quote using the quotation tool.
Will the traveler receive a refund for the agency service charge if one was applied on the booking?
If the cancellation policy is fully refundable, the traveler can receive a refund for the agency service charge. All questions related to the agency service charge refundability should be directed to the sales support team (and not agent support).
Will commissions be calculated on the agency service charge component of the booking?
No, commissions are calculated on the booking amount and do not include the agency service charge.
How will the agency service charge appear on a traveler’s credit card statement?
The booking will appear as a single transaction on the traveler’s credit card statement. The agency service charge will appear itemized as a separate line on the TAAP checkout page, itinerary builder and other statements and reports.
When modifying bookings can I edit or remove the agency service charge?
No, you will not be able to cancel or modify the agency service charge once booking is complete. You will be able to modify the reservation as usual if needed, but not modify the service charge.
*For the first year agencies will be able to retain 100% of the agency service charge applied to a booking, with no processing fees added.
