Looking for a TBO Holidays Alternative?

Why Travel Agents Look for TBO Alternatives

The B2B travel market has evolved dramatically since TBO launched in 2006. What was once revolutionary - online hotel booking for agents - is now table stakes. Today's agents expect more than just inventory access. They want transparency, speed, and margins that make their business sustainable.

Here's what we hear most often from agents exploring alternatives:

These aren't isolated complaints. They represent systemic issues that emerge when a platform scales rapidly without proportionally scaling support and supplier relationships. And they're why the search for "TBO Holidays alternative" has increased 340% in the past two years according to Google Trends data.

TBO Holidays: Platform Overview

Before diving into alternatives, let's be fair about what TBO Holidays does well. Understanding their strengths helps you make an informed decision about whether an alternative actually serves your needs better.

Common Pain Points with TBO Holidays

Let's get specific. These are the issues agents report most frequently, backed by data from our conversations with switchers and public reviews on travel agent forums.

1. Pricing Transparency Issues

TBO operates on a markup model where commissions are baked into displayed rates. This creates several problems:

• Rate Fluctuation: The same hotel can show different rates on different days - not due to hotel pricing changes, but TBO's internal markup adjustments
• Commission Confusion: Agents report difficulty calculating actual margins because the "commission percentage" is applied to an already-marked-up rate
• Price Competitiveness: When clients compare your quote to OTA prices, TBO rates sometimes come out higher despite your "commission"

2. Support Response Times

TBO's support operates primarily through a ticketing system. While this scales efficiently for TBO, it creates challenges for agents:

• Average First Response: 24-48 hours during peak season
• Resolution Time: Complex issues can take 5-7 days
• Phone Support: Limited availability, long hold times reported
• Urgent Issues: No clear escalation path for time-sensitive problems

For context, when a client's booking has an issue (wrong room type, missing amenity, check-in problem), 24 hours is an eternity. The client is standing at the hotel reception wondering why their "confirmed" booking doesn't exist.

3. Commission Structure Complexity

TBO's commission varies based on multiple factors:

• Destination (India vs International)
• Hotel star rating
• Booking volume tier
• Payment method (wallet vs credit)
• Promotional periods

This complexity makes it genuinely difficult to quote clients accurately. Agents report quoting a price, only to discover at booking that their assumed commission was lower than expected, eating into margins or forcing awkward client conversations.

4. API and Technical Limitations

For agencies wanting to integrate TBO into their own booking systems:

• Legacy Technology: XML/SOAP API (industry standard has moved to REST/JSON)
• Documentation: Technical docs reported as outdated or incomplete
• Integration Timeline: 2-4 weeks typical, often longer
• Technical Support: Limited developer support availability

5. Limited Southeast Asia Depth

While TBO has international inventory, it's spread thin compared to regional specialists:

• Fewer boutique and mid-range options in Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand
• Missing local properties that tourists actually want
• Rates often higher than booking direct with regional DMCs
• Limited tour/activity integration for package building

DMC Quote: A Purpose-Built Alternative

DMC Quote was built specifically to solve the problems agents face with large aggregator platforms. Instead of trying to be everything to everyone, we focus on doing a few things exceptionally well.

What Makes DMC Quote Different?

We're not an aggregator - we're a DMC network. The difference matters. Aggregators like TBO collect inventory from multiple sources, add their margin, and resell. DMCs have direct supplier relationships, contracted rates, and local operations teams.

This means:

• Better Rates: Fewer middlemen = lower costs passed to you
• Faster Confirmations: Direct connections mean 70% instant confirmation vs going through intermediaries
• Local Problem-Solving: When issues arise, we have people on the ground who can physically visit hotels
• Exclusive Inventory: Properties that don't list on aggregators because they prefer direct DMC relationships

TBO Holidays vs DMC Quote: Complete Comparison

Let's put everything side-by-side. This comparison is based on publicly available information, agent feedback, and our direct knowledge of both platforms.

Real Pricing Comparison: TBO vs DMC Quote

Numbers don't lie. Here's a real-world comparison of actual bookings showing the margin difference between platforms. All rates are from January 2026 for illustration.

Annual Impact Analysis

Let's extrapolate these differences across a year of bookings:

*Calculations assume average booking value of $800 USD, TBO average commission of 12%, DMC Quote average margin of 25%. Actual results vary by destination and booking type.

Commission Structure: TBO vs DMC Quote

Understanding how each platform structures compensation is crucial for predicting your actual earnings. Here's the breakdown:

Support Quality: TBO vs DMC Quote

When things go wrong (and in travel, they do), support quality determines whether you lose a client or save the day. Here's how the platforms compare:

Real Support Scenarios

When to Choose TBO vs DMC Quote

Here's the honest assessment. Neither platform is universally "better" - it depends on your business model and client base.

How to Migrate from TBO to DMC Quote

Switching platforms doesn't have to be disruptive. Here's a step-by-step guide to adding DMC Quote to your toolkit (or fully transitioning if that's your goal).

Frequently Asked Questions