Marriott International’s extensive portfolio and commitment to travel professionals are well-known in the industry. For travel agencies looking to maximize their earnings and strengthen their partnership with Marriott, understanding the Marriott Preferred Travel Agency (PTA) program is crucial. A key component of achieving preferred status, and the enhanced benefits that come with it, is dedicated Travel Agent Training.
What is the Marriott Preferred Travel Agency Program?
Established in 1999, Marriott’s PTA program is designed to reward accredited travel agencies with a preferred commission rate of 10% on transient commissionable bookings across Marriott’s vast global network of brands. This represents a significant increase from the standard 8% commission, making it a highly desirable program for agencies aiming to boost their revenue.
Key Criteria for Achieving Preferred Status: Focus on Travel Agent Training
To qualify for the Marriott PTA program and unlock the higher commission, agencies must meet two straightforward criteria. The first involves an agreement at the agency management level, while the second directly emphasizes travel agent training:
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Agency Commitment: An agency owner or manager must electronically agree to the Preferred Travel Agency program’s terms and conditions. This signifies the agency’s dedication to the partnership.
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Qualified Travel Advisor(s) & Travel Agent Training: This is where travel agent training becomes paramount. Agencies need to ensure they have at least one qualified travel advisor for each IATA/ARC/IATAN/TIDS/CLIA number they hold. To be considered a “qualified advisor,” and for the agency to achieve preferred status, advisors must fulfill the following travel agent training requirements:
- Marriott Bonvoy® Membership: Advisors must be members of the Marriott Bonvoy loyalty program. This ensures they are connected to the Marriott ecosystem.
- MI Partner Privileges Profile: Advisors need to create or update their MI Partner Privileges profile. This platform is essential for accessing resources and managing Marriott bookings.
- Hotel Excellence! Core & Continuing Education: Crucially, advisors must complete the Hotel Excellence! Core training and stay up-to-date with the latest Continuing Education modules. This travel agent training is specifically designed by Marriott to equip advisors with the knowledge and skills necessary to effectively sell Marriott properties and provide exceptional service to clients.
- Valid ID (US-based Agencies): Travel advisors associated with IATA/IATAN or CLIA locations in the US are required to have a valid IATA/IATAN VER# or CLIA EMBARC ID on their profile for verification.
Agencies that do not meet these criteria, particularly the travel agent training component, will receive Marriott’s standard 8% commission. The preferred 10% commission becomes effective from the date the agency fully satisfies all program requirements, highlighting the importance of prioritizing travel agent training. It’s also important to note that rebates are not permitted within this program.
Marriott’s Ratio Policy: Maintaining Fair Access to Industry Discounts
Beyond the commission structure, Marriott also has a Ratio Policy in place to ensure fair access to Industry Discount Rates (Fam-Tastic, Plan-Tastic, and Travel Agent rates). This policy states that the number of room nights booked at these discounted rates by an individual agency location over a three-month period should not exceed one-third of their total aggregate room nights booked.
Agencies found to be in violation of this Ratio Policy will be notified and may have their access to Industry Discount Rates suspended. Marriott retains sole discretion over decisions regarding Ratio Policy violations and the reinstatement of discount rate access. This policy reinforces the program’s focus on rewarding genuine sales performance alongside travel agent training and program compliance.
Conclusion: Invest in Travel Agent Training to Maximize Marriott Partnership
The Marriott Preferred Travel Agency program offers a valuable opportunity for travel agencies to increase their commission earnings through a straightforward, criteria-based system. While agency commitment and advisor identification are important, travel agent training stands out as a core requirement. By investing in travel agent training and ensuring advisors complete the Hotel Excellence! program and ongoing education, agencies can confidently achieve preferred status, unlock higher commissions, and build a stronger, more profitable partnership with Marriott International. For travel agencies aiming for growth and enhanced profitability, prioritizing travel agent training within the Marriott PTA framework is a strategic and rewarding investment.
