TravelBound, a supplier of hotel rooms, activities and transfers exclusively to travel advisors for 35 years, is undergoing changes that promise to improve the way it serves the agent community, said Tommy Ryder, head of sales-North America. Last year Hotelbeds Group purchased the company’s parent, GTA Travel. TravelBound will be integrated with Bedsonline, a Hotelbeds subsidiary that has a similar B2B business model and also works with travel professionals.

“We will have bigger and better support, more product, and compensation will be very attractive,” Ryder, adding that the combination of companies has resulted in a growth of product from 55,000 to more than 170,000 hotels in over 180 countries, along with additional attractions and activities, and a much larger agent sales force.

Global buying power:

Being a part of Hotelbeds is a “great partnership that increases our buying power globally and offers additional sources of distribution for our hotel and supplier partners,” he said. The company will add car rentals as an option. TravelBound is also rolling out the Hotelbeds booking engine this summer, but the brand will remain separate from Bedsonline for the time being.

Meanwhile, TravelBound continues to do what it has been doing for decades—offering a flexible platform for agents to use in building their own packages, or to book products à la carte at good rates, with strong support and client-centered benefits.

The company is also continuing to add content and options to its portfolio of products. For instance, a recently announced partnership with Context Tours and Walks of Italy will mean additional sightseeing experiences in popular destinations.

What makes the TravelBound model work, Ryder said, is its local presence in global destinations. There are more than 200 market managers throughout the world who contract directly with suppliers for exclusive deals.

Flexible booking options:

The key to working with TravelBound is flexibility, said Ryder. As an example, he noted that some clients may want to experience a five-star hotel for one night on a trip, but not for an extended period. “They might be celebrating an anniversary and want to indulge for one night in a castle but not for their entire stay,” he said.

Flexibility also means agents can book a single airport transfer as well as a single sightseeing tour or hotel night. There are no minimum requirements on any purchase, unlike the policies of competitors who require minimum hotel stays, Ryder said. There is instant availability and instant confirmation. And agents can pay directly online. “Agents can book and pay for a hotel within five minutes,” he said.

In many cases, TravelBound even pre-buys room blocks so that it can control inventory and enjoy exclusivity that enables it to offer rates not available elsewhere. The company offers accommodations in hotels ranging from two- to five-star—and in different room categories within those hotels as well.

Consortia partnerships:

As the integration with Bedsonline develops, TravelBound will continue to work closely with agents. Ryder said the company is a preferred partner with 17 consortia and does a great deal of its business with them.It also provides 24/7 support so clients can find assistance if they are in a different time zone than their agents. Although virtually all bookings are made online, there is a call center support desk for any challenges or questions that may arise.

And TravelBound continues to evolve as travel patterns shift. One important trend, Ryder said, is that apartment and vacation rentals have become part of the portfolio. In a short time, 3,000 apartments have been listed globally, and more will be rapidly added. He said the apartments are all serviced and are excellent for families who want to have kitchens and more space. Another trend involves pre- and post-cruise bookings in major cruise ports. Ryder said those sales add strong commissions for agents, and value to the cruise for clients.