The Expedia TAAP Travel Agent Toolkit was launched in Australia and New Zealand this week.

Stu Udy who looks after TAAP here, says agents have been asking for help with marketing themselves to their local and broader community.

Expedia Group is opening package travel rates to all of its travel agency community customers. Director retail distribution Stuart Udy, says this move recognises the impact of the Covid pandemic on agents.

Previously only silver and above level members had access to the discounts (around 20%) on products booked via the Expedia Travel Agent Affiliate Program (TAAP). Now all tiers will be included in the scheme, while those partners who had silver or above membership in 2020 will retain that level thorughout 2021.

Expedia TAAP is reporting increased optimism as the travel industry heads into 2021 and has extended agents’ commission tier status to support its trade partners.

Stu Udy, director retail distribution, says agents will retain the agency tier they started with in 2020, extended to the end of 2021, unless they have reached the threshold to earn a better one.

Udy says there are also reasons to feel better about trading conditions in the months ahead.

 Expedia remains confident that its Travel Agent Affiliation Progamme (Expedia TAAP) will make a strong comeback as consumers return to both leisure and corporate travel.

St Udy, Expedia’s director travel agent distribution, says consumers more than ever will want advice and confidence in where they are travelling and who they are travelling with in terms of suppliers.