Amadeus announced the availability of Amadeus Hotel Shopper for users of Amadeus Vacation Link, the one-stop booking portal that enables leisure travel agents in the U.S. and Canada to book high-profit, commissionable vacation travel.  With Amadeus Hotel Shopper, Amadeus Vacation Link users now have easy and integrated access to both GDS and non-GDS hotel inventory and rates from a single, multi-source display.

For Amadeus Hotel Shopper, Amadeus entered into an exclusive relationship with CCRA Travel Solutions, a recognized leader in travel industry technology and marketing, whereby CCRA’s extensive hotel inventory will be made available to agents using Vacation Link. Under the agreement, hotel content is provided through CCRA’s proprietary hotel booking portal, offering real-time rates and availability at over 160,000 hotels worldwide.

“Access to relevant and comprehensive content continues to be a key focus for our travel agency customers in assuring they can best serve their clients,” said Tom Cates, Chief Commercial Officer, Amadeus North America.  “The addition of Amadeus Hotel Shopper will help deliver the widest choice of lodging options to Amadeus Vacation Link users via an efficient and intuitive platform in combination with a compelling commercial program.”

Amadeus Vacation Link is a single point-of-sale, agent portal for booking cruises, vacation packages and tours, as well as consolidator airfares, activities and entertainment.  Launched in April 2009, Amadeus Vacation Link currently has 2,700+ registered users, including traditional and home-based agents.  All features of Amadeus Vacation Link are available free to travel professionals in North America regardless of their GDS affiliation.

With Amadeus Hotel Shopper, Amadeus Vacation Link agents can access and book all five rate categories available on CCRATravel.com at over 160,000 hotels - all in a single, integrated search without leaving the Vacation Link site. Rate options include net rates that agents can mark up; online rates; CCRA-negotiated rates; a wide range of GDS-available rates and the new 15% enhanced commission rate. Hotel content is provided through CCRA’s proprietary hotel booking portal, CCRAtravel.com.  CCRAtravel.com was developed in 2005 as an alternative booking tool for travel agents without access to the GDS, and work with a variety of vendors to provide agents with the most comprehensive rate options in the industry.

Agents who book hotels through Vacation Link will also qualify for COMMISSION/ Express, CCRA’s weekly commission reconciliation and payment program.