The travel technology and fashion marketplace recently announced a new Mondee partner network to offer exclusive access to a wider range of products and better economics for all travel content, including airline tickets, hotels and other ancillary services such as travel insurance, digital wallets, marketing tools, and more.
The travel industry is ripe for disruption. With the recent increase in canceled and delayed flights, only those who booked with a travel professional were able to get expedited rebooking and had access to the latest flight information. It is a common myth that travelers believe that working with a travel agent means that the trip is more expensive. It’s often not, and it’s something many travel experts work to dispel [Nerd Wallet].
A quick look at the travel experts industry
From the rise of travel experts in the creator economy to traditional travel agents, many are looking for new ways to monetize their specialty and add new revenue streams. Although not a new concept, affiliate networks can be a profitable supplement. Over the past year, AirBnB and AmEx have ended their travel partner programs, leaving a void in their respective industries.
Travel professionals are the only audience with access to exclusive offers and closed group discounts that ordinary business and leisure travelers won’t find on public travel discount sites. As part of the exclusive deals they can offer, partnering with these sites means an affiliate program allows them to save travelers money while increasing their own revenue.
“We are excited to introduce the Mondee Affiliate Network, a cost-effective solution for travel agencies, experts and partners who want to recover from the pandemic and become more competitive in the ever-changing market,” said Prasad Gundumogula, Chairman, CEO, and founder of Mondee. “The program creates an exclusive relationship between Mondee and its customers, accelerates Mondee’s immediate market share penetration in the aviation and hospitality industries and positions the company as a leading provider of complete travel content and experiences for travel agents and partner groups worldwide.”
Affiliate Program Benefits for Network Partners
Affiliate programs provide an opportunity to streamline and centralize all activities for travel experts and gig workers, meaning less time is spent on tedious and time-consuming administrative tasks and more time can be spent building the business. They also get instant access to marketing tools that keep them competitive and leading their audience. Marketing tools can range from resources, content and access to products, and in the case of Mondee, the company provides its affiliates with discounts, incentives, exclusive products and a monetization model with multiple revenue opportunities. This becomes a win-win for customers as through this model they have access to more and different types of discounts and offers than ever before.
Affiliate programs have matured from a trend to a critical component of an expert’s toolbox—especially for influencers, concertgoers, and a group of creatives who rely on affiliate marketing. This reliance stems from the demand for constantly new and fresh content that is customized and curated specifically for the influencer’s niche audience. This demand has encouraged affiliate programs to revolutionize their offerings as influencers rely on their audiences to earn.
Travel agents, agencies, airlines and hotels benefit from affiliate programs and have been the main benefactors before influencers. These groups still largely make up the vast majority of affiliate program users.
Affiliate programs in the current economic climate
There are many affiliate programs that exist in and outside of the travel industry. These programs continue to grow in volume because they have proven to be a successful, profitable path, and as the industry changes and becomes more inclusive of new groups of professionals, new programs offer marketing tools that meet their specific needs.
The current economic environment has a negative impact on the duration of programs, including affiliate programs, charitable initiatives, and more. For programs starting now, it is important to have a large base of members who have shown interest in this type of offering. Additionally, providing unique and exclusive resources to partners can also help maintain and increase credibility in these programs.
Working with a travel expert is no more expensive. This is beneficial and provides you with the opportunity to tap into a wide range of incentives and offers that you would normally never have access to and that you definitely won’t find online. Travel agents can actually save you money, streamline the booking process and expedite changes for you without the headache of long wait times and get you out of a travel jam when you need them.
Greg Grzesiak is a resident entrepreneur and columnist at Grit Daily. As the CEO of Grzesiak Growth LLC, Greg dedicates his time to helping influential CEOs and entrepreneurs make appearances that will increase their following and reach globally. Over the years, he has built strong partnerships with high-profile educators and influencers in Youtube and the traditional financial space. Greg is a graduate of the University of Florida with years of experience in marketing and journalism.