Net Rates, Not Commission

Buy at wholesale, sell at your price. Stop waiting 60-90 days for commission payments. Control your margins from day one.

White-Label Vouchers

Client-facing documents never reveal your cost. Present professionally while protecting your pricing strategy.

No Minimum Volume

Book one property or one hundred. No quotas, no penalties, no pressure. Scale at your own pace.

Let's be honest about the state of commission-based travel agency work: it's dying. Hotels have slashed agent commissions from 15% to 10% to 8%—some have eliminated them entirely. Waiting 60-90 days for a payment that might be 8% of a $200 hotel booking (that's $16, if you're counting) isn't a business model. It's barely a side hustle.

A B2B travel portal for travel agents flips this model completely. You buy at wholesale net rates. You set your own selling price. The difference is yours—immediately, at booking confirmation, not months later. That's what running an actual business looks like.

Commission Model vs Margin Model: The Real Math

I talk to travel agents every week who haven't done the math on what they're actually earning. Let me break it down clearly.

The Commission Model (Old Way)

  • Hotel sells room at $150 retail price
  • You earn 10% commission = $15
  • Payment arrives 60-90 days after checkout
  • If booking cancels, you get nothing
  • You can't adjust price—it's fixed by the hotel

The Margin Model (B2B Portal)

  • Hotel room costs you $105 net
  • You sell it for $140 (still $10 below retail)
  • Your margin = $35 (33% markup on cost, 25% margin on sale)
  • Margin is confirmed at booking, deducted from wallet
  • You compete with OTAs on price AND make more money

The Numbers Don't Lie

On that same $150 hotel room: commission model = $15, margin model = $35. That's 133% more per booking. And your client pays less than OTA price. Over 100 room nights per year, the difference is $2,000+ in your pocket.

Scenario Commission (10%) Margin (25%)
$150 hotel room $15 $35
5-night stay ($750 total) $75 $175
Family trip with 2 rooms $150 $350
100 room nights/year $1,500 $3,500

Features Built for Travel Agents

DMC Quote isn't a tour operator platform adapted for agents. It's built from the ground up for how travel agents actually work.

White-Label Everything

Your clients never see your cost. Hotel vouchers, tour confirmations, transfer details—all documents show the booking information without revealing net rates. You present professionally while protecting your margins entirely. Download client-facing vouchers that look like they came from your agency.

Simple Search Interface

You're not a developer. You don't need complicated systems. Search by destination, dates, and requirements. Filter by star rating, price range, meal plan. Select and book. Confirmation arrives in seconds. The interface works like consumer booking sites—because that's what you're used to.

Booking Management Dashboard

All your bookings in one place. See upcoming arrivals, past bookings, cancellation deadlines, payment status. Export reports for your accounting. No more hunting through emails to find confirmation numbers.

Instant Confirmation

For hotels with live inventory, confirmation is instant. Click book, get confirmation number, download voucher. No waiting for manual processing, no "we'll get back to you in 24-48 hours." When a client is on the phone ready to commit, you can confirm immediately.

Flexible Payment

Start with prepaid wallet—fund it via bank transfer or card, book instantly. As you build history, qualify for credit terms. Pay per booking or maintain a balance. Choose what works for your cash flow.

The Client Call Scenario

Client calls: "I need a hotel in Singapore for next Tuesday, 3 nights, near Marina Bay." With B2B portal open, you search while talking. "I've got Marina Bay Sands at $XXX per night, would you like me to book?" Client says yes. You book, get confirmation in 10 seconds, email them the voucher before hanging up. That's the workflow difference.

Understanding Your Margin Options

How much markup should you add? There's no single answer—it depends on the service, complexity, and your client relationship. Here's a guide:

Service Type Typical Markup Why
Simple Hotel Booking 15-18% Straightforward transaction, minimal work
Hotel + Transfers 18-22% Coordination required, more value added
Full Day Tour 20-25% Higher service complexity
Multi-Day Package 22-30% Significant planning work, multiple components
Custom Itinerary 25-35% High value-add, expertise required

The key principle: your marked-up price should still be competitive with (or better than) what clients could find on OTAs. That's the whole point of wholesale access—you can undercut OTAs AND make better money than commission models.

Real Example

5-night Singapore package: Hotel (net $600) + USS tickets (net $160) + Airport transfers (net $80) + City tour (net $100) = Total net cost $940. Apply 22% markup = sell at $1,147. Your margin = $207. Same package on OTA? Probably $1,200+. You're cheaper AND making real money.

How the Booking Workflow Actually Works

Here's the end-to-end process for a typical agent booking:

Step 1: Client Inquiry

Client contacts you with requirements: destination, dates, traveler count, preferences. You note the details—nothing different from what you already do.

Step 2: Search & Quote

Log into DMC Quote, search hotels/tours/transfers matching requirements. Review net rates, check availability. Build your quotation by adding your markup to each component. Send the quote to your client with your selling prices.

Step 3: Client Confirms

Client accepts the quote and provides payment (however you handle client payments—that's between you and them). Now you're ready to book.

Step 4: Book Components

Return to DMC Quote, book each component. Hotel, tours, transfers—each booking deducts from your wallet at net rate. Confirmation arrives instantly for live inventory.

Step 5: Deliver Documents

Download white-label vouchers for each booking. These are client-facing documents—no net rates visible. Email the complete voucher package to your client with itinerary summary.

Step 6: Post-Travel Follow-up

Client travels, everything goes smoothly (hopefully). Follow up after return, ask for referrals, build the relationship for repeat business. Your margin? Already secured at booking time.

Getting Started as a Travel Agent

Registration is free and straightforward. Here's what you need:

Documentation Required

  • Business Registration: Company incorporation, sole proprietor registration, or partnership deed
  • Trade License (if applicable): Travel agency license from your local authority
  • Tax Registration: GST/VAT number or tax exemption certificate
  • Bank Details: For payment verification and potential credit terms

Home-Based Agents

We welcome home-based travel agents. You'll need basic business registration (even sole proprietor status works in most jurisdictions). If you're operating under another agency's umbrella, contact us about sub-agent arrangements.

New to the Industry?

Just starting out without full credentials? We have pathways for new agents. Start with basic documentation, prove your booking activity, and upgrade your access over time. Email partners@dmcquote.com to discuss your situation.

What You Don't Need

Let me clear up common misconceptions about B2B portal access:

  • IATA Accreditation: NOT required. IATA is for airline ticketing, not hotel/tour bookings. It may help your rate category, but it's not a prerequisite.
  • Minimum Booking Volume: We have no quotas. Book once a year or once a day—your choice.
  • Office Space: Home-based operations are perfectly acceptable with proper business registration.
  • Years of Experience: New agents welcome. We verify credentials, not years in business.
  • Registration Fees: DMC Quote registration is free. We earn from bookings, not membership fees.

The Bottom Line

If you're a legitimate travel professional—whether that's a 20-year veteran with an IATA number or a new agent working from your kitchen table—B2B portal access is available. The only requirement is proper business documentation proving you're operating legitimately in the travel trade.

Frequently Asked Questions - Travel Agents

The best B2B portal depends on your destination focus and booking patterns. For Asia-Pacific destinations, DMC Quote offers strong rates with features designed for individual agents: no minimum bookings, simple registration, white-label vouchers, and responsive support. The key is finding a platform with competitive inventory where your clients actually travel—compare rates for your key destinations before committing.

With commission, you sell at a fixed price and receive a percentage (typically 8-15%) after the client travels—often 60-90 days later. With B2B net rates, you buy at wholesale and set your own selling price. If you buy a hotel room for $100 net and sell it for $130, you pocket $30 immediately upon booking. You control the margin, and there's no waiting for commission payments. It's the difference between being a salesperson (commission) and being a business owner (margin).

No, IATA accreditation is not required for hotel and tour B2B portals. IATA relates specifically to airline ticketing, not ground services like hotels, tours, and transfers. You'll need basic business credentials—registration certificate, trade license if required in your country, and tax documentation. IATA-accredited agents may qualify for better rate categories, but it's absolutely not a registration requirement.

Yes, many B2B portals welcome home-based agents with proper credentials. You'll need business registration (even sole proprietor registration counts in most countries), and ideally a trade license from your local tourism authority. DMC Quote accepts home-based agents who can provide legitimate business documentation. The requirement is legitimate trade status, not physical office space.

White-label vouchers show your client all the booking details they need—hotel name, dates, confirmation number, check-in instructions—without revealing your net cost. When you book a hotel at $100 net and sell it for $140, the client's voucher shows a confirmed booking, not your purchase price. This protects your margin while providing professional documentation. You can download these directly from your booking dashboard.

DMC Quote has no minimum booking requirements. You can register, book once a month or once a week—the platform earns from transaction volume, not membership fees. There are no quotas or penalties for low activity. Higher booking volume over time may qualify you for better rate categories, but there's no pressure to hit targets.

Most agents add 15-25% markup on net rates. Simple hotel bookings might be 15-18%, while complex multi-day itineraries with significant planning work might justify 25-30%. The key principle: your final price should still be competitive with OTA pricing—that's the advantage of wholesale access. You undercut consumer prices while earning more than commission models.

Yes, DMC Quote offers hotels, tours, transfers, and activities—everything you need for complete packages. Book all components through one platform, add your markup to each, and deliver a cohesive itinerary to your client. Each component earns margin, so a multi-day package with hotel + tours + transfers compounds your earnings across multiple services.

You contact DMC Quote's support team—we're your supplier. Our team handles communication with hotels, processes modifications or cancellations, and resolves issues on your behalf. We have business hours support plus emergency coverage for guests who are already traveling. This B2B support layer is a key benefit over booking through consumer channels where support is designed for end customers, not trade partners.

Often yes, because B2B portals aggregate inventory from multiple sources—direct contracts, bed banks, and wholesalers—and show you the best available rate for each property. Individual agents rarely have the booking volume to negotiate competitive direct rates with major chains. Portals leverage collective buying power. For specific chain properties, compare B2B rates against any direct agent programs you have access to—use whichever is better for each booking.

Start Earning Real Margins Today

Join thousands of travel agents who've switched from commission to margin. Free registration, no minimum bookings, instant access to wholesale rates.

Questions? Email partners@dmcquote.com or call +65-8948-0242

Related Guides

B2B Portal Overview

Complete guide to B2B travel portal features.

Calculate Travel Margins

Markup vs margin calculations explained.

How to Get DMC Rates

Complete registration and access guide.