What are travel wholesalers?
Travel wholesalers are B2B companies that purchase hotel room inventory in bulk at a discounted rate and sell it to OTAs, travel agents, tour operators, airlines, and other travel or accommodation vendors.
Also known as a bed bank, wholesalers are the “middlemen” who sit between travel agents and travel suppliers (in this case, your hotel). They never sell your rooms directly to travelers.
Each wholesaler will have a unique price for operators to participate in their programs, and different wholesalers often sell in different ways. For example, some may sell rooms only while others offer packages. Some are even limited to specific property types or markets.
Despite being a polarizing entity in the industry, the new narrative around wholesalers could be one of opportunity for your business. Let’s take a closer look.