ARC next week will begin enabling hotel bookings on its MarketPlace portal through a partnership with hotel rate program provider CCRA Travel Solutions.
The partnership will give agents access to more than 180,000 hotels in 156 countries, according to ARC director of product management Edyta Satchell. Agents can search up to five hotel rate categories and book stays through the portal, and CCRA will pay their commissions directly.
"We listened to our agents, conducted surveys and did a lot of research on what exactly they wanted on the product," Satchell said. "We decided this was the right fit for us when it comes to a hotel-only product."
Launched in 2007, the MarketPlace currently offers agents the ability to book car rentals and tour packages, and provide passport and visa services. Agents do not have do be ARC-accredited to use it.