Whatever the reason, if it`s at a micro level (up to the individual level of the travel agency), this is what I would call an informal favorite supplier list. You`re the favorites. But — here`s the surprise — you`re playing vendor favourites in a formally preferred list of suppliers. And that brings us. (Note: I don`t know if these chords take place or not in a deep, dark alley. When it happens in my head, the dark alley with a lonely light bulb is the setting. The characters also have thick Sicilian accents as in The Godfather.) Preferred supplier agreements are terms that are incorporated into the contract when the contract expires and is re-evaluated. For new agents, it can be a little confusing. How do you get a list of preferred suppliers if you`re not an energy travel agency? Do you need it? Honestly, there is a lot of overlap with most travel agencies lists of preferred suppliers. When you start exploring, you`ll find many of the favorite vendors on the lists are the biggest, traditional tour operators and cruise lines.
So what I`m saying here is that if you have a favorite bike rental provider at the gates of Cancun . . . . Don`t expect them to be preferred. It`s like Rigel with his dog bone supplier. We can get the product from many different suppliers/stores of dogs, but he insists that we go into the store on the street, as they are his “favorite bone supplier”. This is because he made a deal with them, where he has a free cookie with every purchase. (He`s charming, you know.) As stated in harris and Howard Dictionary of Travel, Tourism and Hospitality Terms, a preferred product is a product that the tourism company has agreed to “push” in front of other similar products. This agreement is based on the payment of a higher commission than is normally related to the type of product concerned.
Other benefits such as advertising assistance may also be part of this agreement. But many hosts are not hush hush about their favorite suppliers. In fact, many hosts with our new site upgrades list favorite vendors directly on their profiles. Want to learn more about other features we`ve added profiles? Look no further. Good news here! Chances are you probably already have a group of favorite suppliers, even if you`ve never heard of that word. Agencies with smaller sales (maybe you are?) generally use the formal preferred supplier list of their consortium, franchises and/or host agency. When would you use this contract or pre-sale contract? Let`s start with lists of informal favorite suppliers. For all of us, just as we have favorite restaurants and grocery stores, we have a list of suppliers with whom we are happy to book our customers. And it`s not just my instincts here! A 2013 ASTA (American Travel Agents Society) Supplement Travel Agent Report revealed that 94 percent of respondents who entered into a preferred supplier relationship do so based on the reputation and quality of their product from the supplier. Well, a little piece of advice. If you want to join a host, franchise or consortium, it`s normal to ask for a list of their favorite suppliers when you`re in your “meeting” phase (additional tips for finding the best host agency or choosing a travel agency franchise).