Hilton centralises commission
Reports from the USA say that Hilton Hotels Corporation has announced that it is extending its centralised commission processing to its hotels within Hilton’s International Division.
Beginning January 2007, travel agents will receive one payment for all participating Hilton Family hotels globally, claiming that this will provide agents with the following benefits:
* Weekly payment, consolidated across all Hilton Family brands and across multiple travel agent branches as selected by the Agent
* Payment in the Agent’s preferred currency
* Payment in the Agent’s preferred method, including Wire and Check
* Option to hold payments until a minimum payment amount is reached
Earlier this year, Hilton enhanced the commission services for travel agents booking Hilton Family properties in the US and this latest development extends all of these service enhancements to all agents booking Hilton Family properties worldwide, including:
* Real-time, online ability to check commission status and payment detail
* Online ability to open enquiries and view enquiry status
* Automatic return of enquiry closure responses to Agents by email or fax
* Electronic statements of commissionable and non-commissionable bookings
* Extensive online reporting and ad hoc report capability
* Live travel agent help desk, plus automated 24-hour help desk
* Additional future benefits include hotel ‘Self-Billing’ functionality and creation of VAT Invoices on behalf of the agent in relevant jurisdictions
Gunnar Brandberg, Senior VP Strategic Third Party Distribution said, “We feel confident that these enhancements will engender loyalty and preference for the Hilton Family of Hotels among agents, by consolidating commission payments and reporting, reducing travel agents’ administrative costs, cutting check-cashing costs, and guaranteeing response or payment of commission enquiries.”
“Many agents also benefit from more favorable foreign exchange conversion rates on international commissions and the elimination of third-party processing fees of up to 12% of commissions processed.”
James Farrow, Senior VP Sales, International Operations, added, “For decades, the Hilton Family has been a leader with respect to our relationships with, and support of, the travel agency community and this commission payment program will enable us to provide more accurate and timely service to valued travel agency professionals worldwide.” “We want to ensure our agents and hotels receive the highest quality services and web-accessible reporting tools available in order to strengthen our mutually beneficial relationship with agents.”
Report by The Mole
John Alwyn-Jones
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