By Bev Fearis, published 30/09/20
WIN Global Travel Network has relaunched its Global Accommodation Programme to better align it to market conditions.
The international TMC group has simplified the process and added new features, including a new rate code, WLW, in light of Covid-19.
This rate is room only, excluding breakfast but including Wi-Fi, and is based on distressed inventory, with discounts off Best Available Rate.
The programme will be launched to WIN partners in 75 countries, more than 200 TMC members of the Advantage Travel Partnership, plus extensive user groups in January 2021.
Accommodation providers are now being invited to apply for inclusion in 2021. This year the programme included 35,000 hotels worldwide.
Leigh Cowlishaw, Global Supplier Partnership Director for The Advantage Travel Partnership, said: “When evolving this mature programme, we have continued to review the market and challenges this sector face today and look at how we can rebuild for the future.”
“Reacting to a member survey, 81% predicted an increase in demand for more choice to enable guests to social distance and every respondent agreed it was increasingly important for accommodation providers to have accredited policies in place for cleaning standards, wellbeing, safety and security. Flexible cancellation policies continue to be key.
“We have acted on the feedback, reviewed landscapes, as well as setting performance metrics within this new programme, and put ourselves in the shoes of the end customer, as well as trying to embrace corporate cultures to ensure that this programme is fit for purpose and aids recovery of this sector. We are also opening up our rich content to other new users, which enables us to further aggregate the spend on our chosen platform and provide deeper benefits to all.”