TRUE Code Hotel Program

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TRUE Code Hotel Program

• Delivering hotel bookings
• to your branded website

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Travel Retailers Universal EnumerationWhy
Travel Agents choose TRUE

• In 2001, IATA and OSSN created the travel agency
  code known as TRUE. Travel agents use their TRUE
  Code to book hotels, cruises, rail, car, air
  consolidators and tours.
• To qualify for a TRUE code, travel agents
  must have the following criteria
• Provide documented proof of state registration
  with the Seller of Travel laws, in your state
  or other states that require out of state sellers
  of travel to register
• Provide proof of an established professional
  business checking account
• Maintain an active agency membership with OSSN,
  a professional travel trade association.
• Minimum 6 months experience selling and promoting
  travel
• About 90 of TRUE Code agents book through
  brand's suppliers websites and other online
  travel content.
• OSSN and TRUE invest heavily in agent training
  and educational programs, including monthly
  Webinar meetings and chapter meetings that are
  managed by OSSN and their 80 chapter directors.
• Over 240 Host Agencies are members of OSSN. These
  professional Host Travel Agencies support the
  education and training programs that OSSN
  delivers to their members.
• Here are just a few Consortia and Travel Networks
  that support and are actively involved with OSSN
  CCRA, TravelSavers, Mast, Nest and Vacation.com.

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Bringing the product to the customer at a
reduced Cost

• TRUE code agents book travel through online
  channels, and about 67 of our membership book
  hotels through various online agencies.
• When you partner with TRUE we will deliver our
  agent bookings directly to your branded website,
  a WIN-WIN.
• Your cost of distribution is greatly reduced and
  our agents benefit from ease of booking directly
  through your branded website.

Estimated Costs to Hotel to Book a Room Costing
220 using different booking Channels.
Travel Agent Books via Total Cost to Hotel
Branded Website 5
Direct through hotel Website 5-15
Via the GDS 22-27
Online travel agency- merchant model 66
Online travel agency- agency model 18-24
(Marketing Leadership in Hospitality and Tourism-
Shoemaker, Lewis, Yesawich. p. 528)
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Marketing in Action-Capture your share of the
TRUE homebased business

• Education and Training-
• TRUE agents are an extension of your hotel sales
  team, so make certain that all your information
  is up to date on your links, specialist programs
  and other training tools on your brand link at
  www.checkatruecode.com.
• TRUE agents specialize in group and leisure
  travel segments worldwide.
• TRUE Webinar - Use your complimentary Webinar to
  speak to our agents about your specialist
  programs, new hotel openings and renovations,
  focus study or new hotel promotions.
• Communicate often to keep your relationship alive
  and fresh with our agent community.
• Educate your reservations, sales, customer and
  guest service teams about the TRUE Code. A solid
  marketing strategy is word of mouth promotion
  so make it easy for TRUE agents to book and they
  will tell everyone.
• Pay hotel commission promptly. Paying a hotel
  commission is the last step in the sales cycle,
  all agents reward hotels that pay them their
  commissions.
• Network and build agent relationships with the
  OSSN Chapter Presidents. OSSN has over 80
  chapters located throughout the US, so you can
  effectively target market. Visit
  http//www.ossn.com/chapters.asp

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Glossary of Terms

• TRUE - Travel Retailer Universal Enumeration. An
  accredited travel identification that allows
  travel agents to book travel for their customers
  and receive a commission for their services. The
  TRUE Code travel identification is in its 8th
  year.
• OSSN - Outside Sales Support Network. A
  professional travel trade association that
  furthers the professional development, education
  and success of the independent travel agent. OSSN
  is celebrating their 20th year in business.
• Seller of Travel - A state issued certificate
  that allows an agent to sell travel to the
  consumer in that state. TRUE will not accept any
  agency that does not comply with the Seller of
  Travel Laws within their state of business as
  required by law.
• PATH - is a non-profit, all-encompassing,
  non-partisan corporation known as the
  Professional Association of Travel Hosts, Inc.
  PATH's members are comprised of Host Agencies
  only. OSSN/TRUE are allied members of PATH.
• Host Agency - A travel company with ARC, IATA,
  CLIA and TRUE accreditation that allows its
  independent contractors to operate under their
  umbrella.
• Independent Agent - usually caters to special or
  niche markets, such as leisure travelers with
  interests in cruising, golf and tennis, cultural
  and culinary tours, adventure travel, and group
  travel.
• Travel Agent valuation - a type of competitive
  advantage that seeks to improve relationships
  with the travel agent industry to secure a
  greater volume of business.

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Contact Information- TRUE

• To become a TRUE Hotel Partner click on
  www.TRUEcodedownload.com.
• For information on the TRUE Hotel Program email
  TRUEhotels_at_ossn.com
• To verify a TRUE Code click on
  www.checkaTRUEcode.com
• To contract TRUE email true_at_ossn.org
• To learn more about Home-based agents click on
  www.OSSN.com