Octopus goes after agents
OctopusTravel.com has launched a trade website that pays 10% commission.
The company has previously worked with suppliers like easyjet and Eurostar, offering hotel product to sell alongside flights/trains. It now says it wants to encourage bookings through agents.
Octopus managing director, Ray Mason told TravelMole: “We want to get agents into the habit of offering extra services to their customers. They have to give a good service to compete with online.
“It’s also worth remembering that there is still a huge volume of people who don’t have the confidence to book online.”
The website features the same products at the same prices as the consumer website – 15,000 hotels and 1,700 sightseeing tours around the world. The products can be booked in real-time and there is a commission of 10% paid by Octopus on each booking at the time of booking.
Octopus has added extra functions to the agent website such as management reporting – so agents can track bookings, delayed payment up to eight days before the hotel stay, and a reminder email to the agent to pay up ten days before the hotel stay. Agents can also search by passenger name or departure date, and can attach their own reference number to bookings.
Mr Mason told TravelMole: “Agents have always had a number of ways to book hotels but often the rates aren’t good, the portals or GDSs often pay commission after the hotel stay, this can be paid in local currency, and often is a poor commission anyway.”
Agents can register for free on the dedicated website.
Vegas’s Billion-Dollar Secrets – What They Don’t Want Tourists to Know
Visit Florida’s New CEO Bryan Griffin Shares His Vision for State Tourism with Graham
Chicago’s Tourism Renaissance: Graham Interviews Kristin Reynolds of Choose Chicago
Graham Talks with Cassandra McCauley of MMGY NextFactor About the Latest Industry Research
Destination International’s Andreas Weissenborn: Research, Advocacy, and Destination Impact
Graham and Don Welsh Discuss the Success of Destinations International’s Annual Conference
Graham and CEO Andre Kiwitz on Ventura Travel’s UK Move and Recruitment for the Role
Brett Laiken and Graham Discuss Florida’s Tourism Momentum and Global Appeal
Graham and Elliot Ferguson on Positioning DC as a Cultural and Inclusive Global Destination
Graham Talks to Fraser Last About His England-to-Ireland Trek for Mental Health Awareness
Kathy Nelson Tells Graham About the Honour of Hosting the World Cup and Kansas City’s Future
Graham McKenzie on Sir Richie Richardson’s Dual Passion for Golf and His Homeland, Antigua
ADS PRO 
Airlines suspend Madagascar services following unrest and army revolt
Qatar Airways offers flexible payment options for European travellers
Airbnb eyes a loyalty program but details remain under wraps
Air Mauritius reduces frequencies to Europe and Asia for the holiday season
Major rail disruptions around and in Berlin until early 2026