Travel Advisors & Boutique Hotels Working Together

BLLA to provide IATA’s (International Air Transport Association) AgentExperience ID Card program with authenticated list of boutique hotels

The two associations will work together to ensure identified holders of the IATA/IATAN ID Card  will have access to agent rates and perks at global boutique hotels worldwide.

BLLA today announced the collaboration of a very special program distributed through IATA’s travel agent website AgentExperience.com. More than 120,000 global travel advisors, who currently are identified through the IATA/IATAN program, will soon have access to the Boutique Hotel Collection – By BLLA on the AgentExperience website.

Click here to sign up for the program.

Travel professionals (or travel agents) have long been the travel industry’s influencer for their customers who are looking for travel advice. These days, hotels have a choice of marketing through social media influencers or directly to travel agents who actually make the bookings.

This program by BLLA, will organize specially discounted rates and perks such as upgrades, food & beverage and other benefits in an effort for the travel agent to experience boutique hotels first-hand. Rewarding them through this program and particularly during these times, will show support and encouragement as we move towards recovery in our industry. 

Holders of the IATA/IATAN ID Card have the benefit of industry identification from the world’s leading airline association IATA. There are other similar programs for agents, but none quite as recognized globally as the IATA/IATAN ID card program supported by both airlines and travel suppliers. Travel agents must first apply for the card which is then reviewed and vetted before being approved.  

Many hoteliers feel that travel agents are the industry’s true influencers, acting as ambassadors as they know how to organize a business or leisure trip for their customers. It’s like art, gracefully putting together all the pieces, which matches very well with the ethos of a boutique hotel. Experiencing the property first-hand so that the agent gets to know the hotel intimately in order to truly describe it to their network, is a recipe for success. 

Click here to sign up for the program.

IATA reached out to BLLA directly as they felt our program for monitoring, verifying and selecting only authentic boutique hotels (and boutique experiences) is a unique organization capable of sourcing these hotels for the AgentExperience website which matches their own authentication progress. 

Hotels that wish to participate will need to request links through blla.org or apply to become an official member of BLLA. The association is currently covering the cost of membership for all hotels that are approved. 

About the Boutique & Lifestyle Leaders Association (BLLA)

The official organization for the world’s boutique lifestyle leaders promoting connection, education, and advocacy. As a pioneer in forecasting the boutique movement, the BLLA’s network has grown beyond its hotel foundation to welcome more passionate entrepreneurs, businesses and purveyors that amplify the boutique lifestyle. BLLA is a catalyst for trends and the future of boutique. blla.org

About IATA

International Air Transport Association (IATA) represents some 290 airlines comprising 82 of global air traffic. iata.org