All Tourism businesses have spare capacity, unsold inventory, tickets, rooms or seats or times when demand is lower than others. By using that spare capacity co-operatively we can make it more attractive for people to work long term in our industry, attract and retain better staff to our businesses state-wide and increase our professionalism and profitability in the long term.
Only TCWA members can participate as a Supplier
There is no cost associated with the advertising and promotional activity attached to the program
All offers must be valid from 1 Jan 2011 to 31 December 2011, new Suppliers can join the programme at any time
The only cost to Suppliers is the benefit they provide for TIC cardholders when they book. This may be as simple as extending staff rates you already have for your own people to TIC cardholders - people involved in other WA tourism businesses
The TIC rate needs to be a genuine staff rate, better than anything in any other program available to the public – otherwise it undermines the program
The offer needs to be attractive and simple so that it can work effectively in the online environment
Bookings must be made direct, but they don’t have to be done on line
Accommodation Suppliers generally make offers no less than 10% off the Wotif rate. As TIC bookings are made direct and no commission is payable, this equates to the same rate an operator would receive from a Wotif booking. To make their offer even more attractive, some operators have offered 15-20% off the Wotif rate
For Accommodation Suppliers, Levart Distribution Systems channel control clients will be able to establish a TIC rate to enable cardholders to book on line
Levart Distribution Systems has also provided a booking engine which will allow cardholders to search availability and rates for all properties that use Levart for their channel control.
Rates must not be available to, or able to be seen by, the public
Rates can vary in high and low season and are subject to availability
You don’t have to submit an offer on everything you do! Some people will only be able to provide offers on some of their tours/room types/entry fees. We are happy to discuss what offers may be appropriate for your business
The programme's own website is supported by a regular email newsletter providing Suppliers the opportunity to advertise specials to TIC cardholders free of charge. Special offers (which should be better than your normal TIC offer), can be emailed to admin@ticwa.com.au
The offer pages on the website will have email, phone contacts and a link to the Supplier's website for bookings to be made
There is an additional opportunity for all Suppliers to participate free of charge in the existing Westclub and WA Pass programs that have more than 100,000 members throughout WA. We would expect the offers for these programs to be different and somewhat less attractive than the TIC offer (eg value adds, free breakfast etc). Refer to www.westclub.com.au and www.wapass.com.au for further information.
To become a TIC Supplier simply download the Supplier Participation Agreement and email to admin@ticwa.com.au, fax to (08) 9425 5566 or mail to:
Tourism Industry Card
206 Adelaide Terrace
Perth WA 6000
Do I have to offer an allotment?
No, all bookings are subject to availability via your normal booking channels e.g. your own website, your own reservations staff or Levart Distribution Systems.
Can I withdraw my offer when bookings are tight?
No, the basic offer (eg 10% off Wotif or 50% off a river cruise) needs to be in place until 31 Dec 2011. All offers are subject to availability so can be closed out as you would with any other booking stream. It will however undermine the integrity of the program if your offer is impossible to book. Remember this is an opportunity to market your business to your tourism industry peers and their employees and will allow you to gain additional marginal business revenue and word of mouth marketing/promotion.
Is there a minimum advance booking period for cardholders?
No. This program is designed to utilise unsold inventory to provide tourism employees with additional benefits. It makes sense therefore to keep your offer available until the last minute if you can. Industry employees can sometimes have rosters and shifts changed at short notice providing them with last minute free time and an opportunity to use their card.
Why should I become a TIC Supplier?
Apart from the opportunity of gaining additional revenue, the success of this program will make it more attractive to work in WA Tourism in the long term which in turn will improve the quality of staff available throughout the Industry and minimise the traditionally high staff turnover and training costs involved.
If you have any questions about becoming a TIC supplier, or what offers may be appropriate for your businesses to provide, email admin@ticwa.com.au.