iata travel agent accreditation

Travel Agency Accreditation, Explained: IATA, IATAN, ARC, CLIA, and TRUE

• 14 min read
• Published: 29 May, 2023
• No comments Share

What is travel agency accreditation? Why do you need it?

• IATA accreditation for selling air travel worldwide
• ARC accreditation for selling air travel in the US
• CLIA accreditation for cruise booking
• TRUE accreditation for cruise and tours booking

IATA accreditation for air travel: IATA vs IATAN vs TIDS

• full IATA accreditation – a standard approach for international businesses that want to support ticketing and
• a TIDS (travel industry designator services) code – a non-ticketing IATA accreditation. A TIDS code is simply an identification that helps your supplier network grow. It’s also used to grant commissions.
• IATAN accreditation – the same as the full IATA accreditation but for US businesses only and
• IATAN non-ticketing accreditation that provides the same opportunities a TIDS code does.

Overview of IATA accreditation options

Full IATA accreditation

• proof of general business operations,
• proof of your qualifications,
• confirmation of travel agent experience,
• proof of financial viability.
• Register at the Customer Portal .
• Submit the application form with required documents.
• Pay the registration fee.

TIDS accreditation

• confirmation of business ownership,
• copy of business registration,
• bank statement,
• one letter of recommendation from an IATA Airline, GDS, or other major industry supplier,
• travel agency license,
• signed copy of the TIDS Terms and Conditions .
• Select TIDS.
• Submit your application for review.

Full IATAN accreditation

• IATAN is used only for US-based travel businesses with over 2 years of experience and
• in the US, all payment transactions are processed not in BSP, but via the Airline Reporting Corporation (ARC) .
• ARC approval,
• business license,
• proof of ownership,
• proof of Seller of Travel Registration for states of California, Florida, Hawaii, Iowa, and Washington,
• proof of two years of experience.
• Fill out the required forms ( click to download .zip file ).
• Submit the documents and forms at [email protected].
• Pay registration fees.

Non-ticketing IATAN accreditation

Arc accreditation for airline booking in the us.

• ARC-Accredited Agency – the most complete option that enables ticketing for you.
• Verified Travel Consultant (VLC) – the same but without ticketing capabilities.
• Corporate Travel Department (CTD) – option for businesses not in the travel industry.

ARC-Accredited Agency for issuing flight tickets

• confirmation of an established bank account with ARC,
• a bond or a bank statement for $20,000.
• Designate an ARC Specialist in your office who must pass the certification.
• Complete the application form .
• Pay the fee and submit your application form with required documents.
• Pass an interview.

Verified Travel Consultant for non-ticketing agents

• Review the VTC Agreement and Handbook .
• Fill the application form .
• Pay an application fee.

Corporate Travel Department for non-travel businesses

• an IRS Employer Identification Number (EIN).
• Assign an ARC Specialist Qualifier and a Manager Qualifier (they can be the same person).
• Meet the ticketing security standards.
• Submit the form, payment, and the required documents.

CLIA credentials for cruise booking

Travel Agency Membership (TAM)

• Special commissions and discounts – in your membership welcome package, you get a coupon booklet for special commissions, and the program itself provides bonus commissions, special discounts, as well as discounts on office supplies and technology.
• Members-only information – access to special webinars, news digests, and other latest information on the cruise industry.
• Promotion – a listing on CLIA’s Agent Finder platform, where vacationers can find your agency by postal code, promoting you as a credible professional.
• Ability to join CLIA as Individual Agent Members – Only agents affiliated with CLIA’s TAM can get an Individual Agent Membership, which comes with its own set of benefits. We will cover this option below.

Individual Agent Membership (IAM)

Ccra true accreditation for niche travel booking.

• proof that you’re a sole proprietor,
• proof that you’re meeting your state’s requirements as a seller of travel,
• proof that you have at least 6 months of travel selling experience,
• 3 business references,
• proof of an active bank account in good standing.
• Submit a form and payment.

Accreditation overview: IATA vs ARC vs CLIA vs TRUE

• full IATA accreditation (if you’re outside of the US),
• full IATAN accreditation (if you’re in the US),
• ARC Accredited Agency (if you’re in the US).
• TIDS (if you’re outside of the US),
• IATAN non-ticketing (if you’re in the US),
• ARC Verified Travel Consultant (if you’re in the US).
• IATAN non-ticketing,
• ARC Corporate Travel Department.

Host Agencies

• Accelerator Course
• Travel Jobs
• Travel Agent Chatter
• Etiquette & Rules
• Privacy Policy

Travel Agency Accreditation Options [+Infographic]

Hello, fearless reader—today, you are about to learn another language: travel agency accreditation acronyms (TAA . . . jk). When I was a newbie to the industry myself, my brain almost exploded trying to learn this language. It’s complex stuff, but it's all broken down here. So even if you're a newbie like me, you'll get the hang of it. We'll look at target markets for different travel agency accreditations, their application requirements, what services they provide, and then some.

Let's not dilly dally.

Travel Agency Accreditation Options [a Flowchart]

Here's what our infographic looks like, below.

If you choose to download our flowchart, the links are fun and interactive so you can easily check out the best options for you. All you need to do is sign in to download it (in all its interactive glory) below!

⭐️ HAR Article Highlights: ⭐️

• Accreditation 101: What is Travel Agency Accreditation and Who Is It For
• Accreditation 201: Travel Agency Accreditation Options In Depth

Go Directly to the Accreditation Organization You Want to Explore

Iata & iatan.

• Host Agency

Travel Agency Accreditation 101

What is a travel agency accreditation? At its most basic, accreditation is a unique number assigned to travel professionals so their business is recognized by suppliers as a travel agency . It gives travel agents the ability to book travel, receive commissions, and—with some accreditations—issue airline tickets.

I like to think of travel agency accreditation options like different credit cards — Visa, Discover, AmEx. Some accreditation numbers are more widely accepted than others, but they all do the job. And just like credit cards, accreditation organizations won’t hand out their numbers willy nilly to anyone who wants one, there’s a vetting process and eligibility requirements.

What is Travel Agency Accreditation For?

Short answer: If you want to be recognized as a travel agency, you need an accreditation number. Typically, accreditation organizations market themselves to three different kinds of travel professionals:

1. Independent Agents: For this article, by independent agent I mean an agent that is not hosted—whether they are home-based or storefront. In short, an independent agent can’t sell travel without an accreditation number.

2. Hosted Agents:  These are agents or agencies under a host agency’s umbrella. ( What is a host agency? ) It gets a little trickier here. Because these agents use their host agency’s accreditation number, they do not need to have their own accreditation.

In fact, that’s one of the benefits of using a host agency is you don’t have to worry about the financial and administrative responsibility of applying for and maintaining your accreditation. Also, with many host agencies, you will have access to multiple accreditations. BUT some hosted agents choose to also get their own accreditation in addition to aligning with a host agency (I'd say this is the exception, not the rule).

3. Corporate Travel Department (CTD):  Some accreditation agencies (ARC and IATA) have specific programs for CTDs (a wedding planner, for example, or any company that books a significant amount of air for their employees). We're not going to go too deep into this option because if you're on the site, this probably isn't you. But if this IS you, give me a holler in the comments or at [email protected] because I'm happy to provide any extra info you're looking for (if I can!).

There you have it. As a travel professional, you can gain access to accreditation through a host agency and/or apply for your own. So let's dig deeper because that's where the gold is.

Travel Agency Accreditation 201

Wading through accreditation options can make your eyes blur and your head spin. It's like trying to remember the names of your 50 cousins at a family reunion: There are IATA and IATAN. There’s ARC as well as their VTC and CTD programs. There’s CLIA and CCRA’s TRUE#. That's just the beginning.

Some offer air ticketing, some don't. Some accept agents outside the U.S. Some don't. Choosing the right travel accreditation is like finding the right-sized tool for a job. If you’re a leisure agent with a comparatively lower volume of air ticketing, getting an accreditation with ticketing is like chopping carrots with an ax.

So which tool is right for you? Below you can check out info on accreditation options. It includes information on eligibility requirements, geographical locations accepted, cost as well as other details.

ARC Accreditation

(Airlines Reporting Corporation)

Explaining ARC to people outside the industry or who are new to it can be tough. So first things first: ARC is a travel agency accreditation company that only works with US agencies.

That’s their base. ARC is owned by airlines and was created to handle financial transactions between agencies (thousands of them) and airlines (hundreds of them). We’re talking about transactions to the tune of $95.3+ billion in 2023 1 . Whoa.

ARC is like the accounting arm of the airlines: You buy a ticket, that money goes directly to ARC, and then ARC sends the moola to the airlines. And it’s not a one-way street either. If you book a ticket that earns commissions ( more on travel agent commissions here ), the airlines pay the commission to ARC, who sends that money back to you.

And just like with Visa (sorry to harp on the credit card metaphor), if you have a beef with fraudulent activity on your card, you call VISA—not the merchant directly. The same goes for ARC—they broker interactions between agencies and airlines. 

ARC has three accreditation options. We'll walk through their three options, tell you what type of agent it's geared toward, and then you'll get more info on our side-by-side ARC comparison chart below, as well as a sample application.

ARC Accreditation Options: A Comparison Chart

Below is a side-by-side comparison of ARC accreditation options:

1. ARC Accredited Agency

At its most basic, ARC travel agency accreditation is for U.S.-based travel agencies (or host agencies) that book air through the GDS.

Long story short, if you're a travel agency that primarily sells leisure, straight up ARC might be too big a tool (think, trying to use a sledgehammer when what you need is a pickaxe).

While you technically don't need any prior experience, the application process is rigorous and lends itself to independent agencies that are a bit more established. To qualify you'll need:

• A background credit check
• Submission of a tax ID number and required state licenses (such as verifying seller of travel)
• Submission of a Personal History Form for owners and officers
• An established bank account with ARC
• Bond, letter credit, or a cash deposit of $20,000
• An agency office must have an ARC Specialist Qualifier (ASQ), Manager, and administrator for MyARC (Don’t worry! It can be the same person!).
• Onsite interview with agency owners—ARC representatives will run through the Agent Reporting Agreement (ARA) requirements, overview ARC benefits and make sure the application is complete and accurate.

Long story short, if you're a travel agency that primarily sells leisure, straight-up ARC might be too big a tool (think, trying to use a sledgehammer when what you need is a pickaxe). If that's the case, check out ARC's VTC as an alternative.

Here's the rest of the details and a sample application below:

Sample of ARC's Accredited Agent Application

Here's a peek behind the curtain of an ARC application!

🎧 Here's what ARC has to say about their ARC accreditation! 🎧

2. Verified Travel Consultant: ARC's VTC

When you get down to the brass tacks, ARC's VTC is the  non-ticketing alternative to ARC. It's a lower-cost accreditation and is good for independent travel agencies who a.) don't book a lot of air but b.) want supplier recognition/to book directly through vendors.

VTC's are allowed a maximum transaction limit of $25,000 in service fee transactions per week and $10,000 per transaction.

Applying for ARC's VTC is less intensive than the ticketing option (read: no $20k financial obligation, phew!). But their application process still has a lot of overlap with ARC's ticketing accreditation. To apply you'll need:

• A background and credit check
• The submission of a tax ID number and required state licenses
• The submission of a Personal History Information form for owners and officers

Aside from no air ticketing, another major difference between VTC and an air-ticketing ARC accreditation is that ARC imposes transaction limits are imposed upon VTC-accredited agencies . VTC's are allowed a maximum transaction limit of $25,000 in service fee transactions per week and $10,000 per transaction.

Sample ARC VTC Application

Unlike the ARC accreditation, the VTC application is completed entirely in ARC's portal. Here's what you can expect:

🎧 Listen below to what ARC has to say about their VTC accreditation 🎧

3. Corporate Travel Department, ARC's CTD

If you're here, congrats! You are a diamond in the rough when it comes to our readership! *High five!* I'd love to know who you are!

ARC's CTD is specifically for businesses that regularly issue airline tickets to their employees (and only to their employees).

Why do I say this? Because ARC's CTD is specifically for businesses that regularly issue airline tickets to their employees (and only to their employees). An example may be a pharmaceutical company that sends employees to multiple conferences or a wedding planner that wants to scout destinations. If you're a straight-up travel agency, ARC's CTD is not for you!

A CTD is good for businesses that book a high volume of air for their employees. CTDs can either invest in their own GDS or hire a third party (like a travel management company) for booking tickets.

Beyond that, the CTD operates much like the ARC accreditation in terms of eligibility, application process, and capacities. Here's what you need to apply:

• An IRS Employer Identification Number (EIN)
• A bond, letter of credit, or cash deposit in the minimum amount of $20,000
• The agency office must have an ARC Specialist Qualifier (ASQ) and a Manager Qualifier (MQ). 2 Don’t worry! The MQ and ASQ can be the same person!

Sample ARC CTD Application & Soundbite

The ARC CTD application is a doozie. Here's what you can expect:

🎧 Learn more about ARC's CTD here 🎧

CLIA Credentials

(Cruise Lines International Association)

There are two quick things I need to mention about a CLIA Industry ID Number (which I'll refer to as a CLIA Number from here one out):

1. CLIA doesn’t consider their CLIA Number an accreditation number. So why are they still in this article? Well because CLIA still offers unique booking numbers/credentials to travel agencies that function in the same as accreditation. An agency gets its CLIA number, makes a booking, and suppliers recognize that number and attach it to total agency sales.

2. Using your host or storefront agency's CLIA# doesn't necessarily mean you're a CLIA member. Weird. I know. If the agency your host or storefront has a CLIA number, that’s at the agency level. You’ll need to get your own membership (IAM) if you want the perks of CLIA's coupon book, EMBARC ID cards, access to their professional development, and other goodies that come with CLIA.

While CLIA's agency memberships are geared toward vendor recognition, the IAM will not accredit your agency . Rather, IAM's emphasis is marketing your travel agency to clients and gaining access to CLIA's education programs and other perks. So if you're a solo agent who wants the supplier recognition we were talking about earlier, you need to get a Travel Agency Membership.

In total, CLIA has accredited approximately 20,000 agencies and has issued IAM membership to 30,000 agents. Here's what they offer, below:

CLIA Credentials: A Comparison Chart

Here's a side-by-side comparison of what CLIA offers in terms of credentials and/or membership. It's important to note that, while included, CLIA's IAM is not a booking credential.

Here's a closer look at their options:

1. CLIA's Travel Agency Membership (TAM)

CLIA's TAM is for travel agencies with fewer than ICs that focus on selling cruises or for those who are interested in growing the cruise segment of their biz.

There are no requirements set in stone to apply for a Trave Agency Membership, and, because there's no air-ticketing, the application process is quick (when compared to ARC or IATAN).

Rather than submitting piles upon piles of business documentation, the CLIA application requires you to sign an affidavit stating that your business is in good standing, following all your local rules and regulations, and that everything you state in your application is truthful.

SAMPLE OF CLIA's Travel Agency Membership Application

More of a visual learner? Feast your eyes on a sample of CLIA's TAM application

2. CLIA's Premier Agency Membership (PAM)

Well, this is going to be a short section, because CLIA's Premier Agency Membership is invite-only CLIA's PAM is for large agencies with more than 500 ICs.

The other detail I can add (that's not mentioned in the comparison chart) is that CLIA will not accept any MLM travel agencies (or host agencies) as a premier membership.

3. CLIA's Individual Agent Membership (IAM)

CLIA's IAM is the black sheep insofar as it's not a booking credential. So why do I mention it here? Because it's so dang popular and I guarantee someone would write me in about a week there was no info on it. So I'm trying to beat you to the punchline!

We write all about the IAM it in this overview of CLIA . But at its most basic, an IAM allows advisors to take advantage of their myriad travel agent education and certification opportunities. Not only that but then you can plug into other CLIA fun, like their travel agent finder, their travel agent coupon book, their Embarc ID card, and more.

If you want an IAM, you'll need to go to your CLIA-credentialed host agency or travel agency. While CLIA recommends IAM's have a history of cruises to the tune of $5k in annual cruise commissions, it's ultimately up to your CLIA-credentialed agency if you can apply or not.

SAMPLE OF CLIA's Individual AGent Membership Application

Here's an IAM application . . . don't forget to alert the CLIA-credentialed agency you're affiliated with that you'd like to apply before you shell out any dough!

(International Air Transport Association & International Airlines Travel Agent Network)

IATA is an abbreviation for "International Air Transport Association." IATAN is an abbreviation for "International Airlines Travel Agent Network." Their full names were so long I couldn't even fit it in a subheading. (Kind of like Daenerys' full title on Game of Thrones.)

Okay. I need to take a deep breath because IATA/IATAN is, quite frankly, the behemoth when it comes to accreditation options. I mean HUGE. They’re the Visa of the travel agency accreditation world, and their accreditation number (known as “the IATA Code”) is accepted globally.

When it comes to accreditation options, they’ve got a little something for everyone:

• IATAN Travel Service Intermediary (U.S.-based, no air-ticketing)
• IATAN A irline Appointed (U.S.-based with air-ticketing capabilities)
• IATA Accredited (International , with air-ticketing capabilities)
• IATA TIDS (International, no air-ticketing)

Wait, wait. Why the ‘N’ after IATA?!? IATAN is essentially a U.S.-branded version of IATA. When you see an ‘N’ in IATA, think U N ited States-based agencies. (It’s a stretch, I know.)

At the end of the day, IATAN comes wrapped up in a different package than IATA, but the contents are essentially the same. Same global recognition, same-looking accreditation numbers, same services. In fact, it's so similar that when it comes to travel agency accreditation numbers, many US agents will use IATA# and IATAN# interchangeably.

For this article, I won't go into as much depth on IATA because eligibility, fees and the application process is different for EVERY country. Yowzers. So if you have questions about an IATA application for a specific country, the best thing is to contact IATA directly.

Okay. Put on your SCUBA gear folks, we're going fathoms below.

IATAN Accreditation: A Comparison Chart

Below offers the barebones of IATAN accreditation options. Take a look to see which one might apply to your agency.

Here's are more details!

1. IATAN Non-Ticketing

IATAN non-ticketing is an accrediting option available to any U.S.-based travel agency—home-based, storefront, meeting-planner entity, or Corporate Travel Department—with 2+ years experience in the industry.

To apply you need:

• Proof of 2 years of experience
• Proof of Business License
• Proof of Business ownership
• Proof of Seller of Travel for agencies based in California, Florida, Hawaii, or Washington
• Proof of Bank Account
• Proof of E&O insurance : This requirement is waived for agents who can document they have 2 years of full-time experience within the last ten years in the travel industry.
• Two letters of recommendation from either:
• IATAN Accredited Agency (with IATA #)
• National or International travel industry supplier
• Certified Travel Associate/ Counselor (CTA or CTC), Certified Meeting Professional (CMP), Certification in Meeting Management (CMM), CSEP (Certified Special Event Professional)

🎧 You can learn more about IATAN directly from the source! 🎧

SAMPLE OF IATA'S Non-Ticketing Accreditation Application

Here's what to expect if/when you want to apply for IATAN's non-ticketing accreditation:

2. IATAN U.S.-Based Ticketing

IATAN's airline-appointed agency application has just a few additional requirements in addition to the ones listed in its non-ticketing application. The air-ticketing application is the same as the non-ticketing application .

But the big difference is that to apply for an IATAN air-ticketing you need to complete the application plus provide proof that you are ARC-accredited.

The moral of the story is, if you're already ARC-accredited, it's going to be smooth sailing. If you're not already ARC accredited, then check out ARC's requirements to book air .

IATA Accreditation Overview (for Agencies Outside the United States)

An IATA offers two accreditation options for agencies located outside the United States:

• IATA Accreditation (with Ticketing): An accreditation for any agency located outside the United States that would like to book air and receive global recognition from suppliers.
• IATA's TIDs : IATA's non-air ticketing option for agencies outside the United States.

The tricky thing about IATA is that the application processes, financial requirements, eligibility requirements, and fees vary from country to country. If you want to find more information on your specific location, go to this IATA source .

TRUE Accreditation

(Travel Retailer Universal Enumeration)

I first thought TRUE was the only travel agency accreditation that wasn't an acronym. Alas, I was wrong. TRUE stands for "Travel Retailer Universal Enumeration." (I feel like this knowledge may come in handy during Jeopardy, someday).

The majority of TRUE agents sell cruises and traditional tours. A TRUE accreditation is an especially great option for those with a travel agent niche . Why? TRUE is open to working with smaller boutique tour operators that may not be on other accreditations' supplier lists. TRUE offers the flexibility for agents to work with suppliers using net rates in addition to more common commission structures ).

TRUE is open to working with smaller boutique tour operators that may not be on other accreditations' supplier lists.

As a bonus, TRUE also offers accreditation to agents outside the U.S. (see a list of included countries below) and seems committed to expanding its services globally. On the flip side, it's also important to note that Marriott does not recognize the TRUE number for agents and Disney does not offer a discount to TRUE agents. Way back in the day, TRUE announced they will be moving from an "on your honor system" to one where requirements are actively and continuously enforced. This is still true to this day in 2021.

TRUE offers two different levels of accreditation: travel agency accreditation (which covers up to 5 travel agents) or host agency accreditation (which covers up to 25 agents). You can check out all their eligibility requirements below! Here's the nitty-gritty:

True Accreditation Options: A Comparison Chart & Soundbite

The factor that will separate what TRUE accreditation to apply is the volume of ICs with your agency. See below:

Listen to what Margie Jordan, Vice President, TRUE Network, has to say about their accreditation options!

TRUE Accredited Travel Agency Membership

The majority of TRUE participants are leisure agents. It's a great option for agents/agencies that sell cruises, tours, packages, and more. TRUE is also a great option for specialized agents who want to work with suppliers that other accreditation organizations or hosts may not work with.

The travel agency accreditation level is for smaller outfits and covers agencies with up to 5 travel agents ICs or employees.

According to Margie Jordan, Vice President of Membership of CCRA's TRUE, many agents with a TRUE code also belong to a host agency. Jordan mentioned that the #1 reason agents utilize a TRUE code is to receive direct commission payments from suppliers. A bonus of TRUE is that it offers accreditation worldwide.

The travel agency accreditation level is for smaller outfits and covers agencies with up to 5 travel agents ICs or employees. To apply for a TRUE Accredited Travel Agency Membership, you must provide:

• 3 industry references
• Proof of 6 months selling travel (1099 is sufficient if you're having a difficult time wrangling suppliers)
• Proof of good standing with a business bank account
• If you're a Sole Proprietor, you need proof of DBA.

TRUE will ask you for these supporting documents after you complete and submit your application. If you have them all ready to go, the process will be very quick.

TRUE Accredited Travel Agency Sample Application

Here's the TRUE Accredited Travel Agency Application, below. After you fill out the application, TRUE will ask you for supporting documents to verify you meet their qualifications.

TRUE Accredited Host Agency Membership

Everything about the application process and guidelines is the same as above (the TRUE accredited travel agency membership). The only difference is the cost and number of agents covered under the membership.

A TRUE host agency accreditation covers up to 25 travel agent ICs or employees.

A TRUE host agency accreditation covers up to 25 travel agent ICs or employees. Applying for this level is the same process as a travel agency accreditation. Before you submit the application materials you need to be sure you already have your supporting documents to upload, including

• If you're a Sole Proprietor, you need proof of DBA

TRUE Host Agency Application PREVIEW

You'll likely experience a little deja vu with TRUE's host agency application.

Once you get all that good stuff together, you're ready to submit your TRUE application. While wait time is technically one month, you'll probably hear from the TRUE much sooner if you have everything ready to go.

Usually, host agencies are the star of the HAR show. And if you’re not sure what a host agency is, it’s worth knowing— this article will explain what a host agency is . Even though we’re highlighting accreditation organizations, we can’t overlook the route of getting your travel agency accreditation through a host agency.

A few points of note:

• Host’s Commission Rate: Since host agencies have a whole lot of independent agents under one travel agency accreditation number, agents using a host typically receive a higher commission level with most vendors than they would on their own ( more on travel agent commissions ). At the end of the day, that means more commissions for you.
• Supplier Recognition: The flip side is that because you all share the same accreditation number, you’re technically seen as one agency. In your dealings with vendors, the host acts as an intermediary between you and the vendor.

Host agencies are especially great options for new-to-industry agents ( see our host agency list ). Newer agents can work through a host as they build the experience needed to apply for an accreditation down the line if that tickles their fancy. Some agents also opt to go through a host and apply for their own travel agency accreditation number.

At the end of the day, there’s no right or wrong answer, it’s up to you!

Wrapping Up & Major Thank Yous

Do you feel like your brain just ran a marathon? Well, if you've made it this far, it's safe to say that you're pretty fluent in TAAA. But if you have any questions, drop a line in the comments below

In case you were wondering, the people behind these travel agency accreditation organizations are a friendly bunch. And really really smart. I couldn't have learned any of this without their help—they are the brains behind this operation. So please let me express my endless appreciation to Perry Flint, Head of Corporate Communications for IATA; Charles Sylvia (VP of Membership and Trade Relations) and the esteemed CLIA crew (Danielle Haney, Stephani McDow, and Justin Wood; Margie Jordan (Vice President of Membership) of CCRA's TRUE; and Peter Abzug (Director, Corporate Communications) and Richard Gordon (Operations Manager) of ARC.

Thanks also to Bridget Lee who made the flowchart!

Editor's Note: This post was originally published in Nov. 2018. We update this article with the most current info on travel accreditation. The publish date above reflects the most recent updates.

• Source: ARC Sales Statistics ↩
• A manager qualifier is a full-time employee who exercises daily supervision of, and responsibility for, the operations of that CTD location and has the authority to make management decisions. ↩

About the Author

Mary Stein has been working as a writer and editor for Host Agency Reviews since 2016. She loves supporting travel advisors on their entrepreneurial journey and is inspired by their passion, tenacity, and creativity. Mary is also a mom, dog lover, fiction writer, hiker, and a Great British Bake Off superfan.

• Agent Tools
• Infographics
• Non-host Options
• Starting Up
• Travel Industry Basics

• Request a Demo
• Signup Free

• Travel Portals
• B2B Travel Booking Portal
• B2C Travel Booking Portal
• Airline Reservation System
• Cruise Booking System
• Hotel Extranet
• Travel Agency Software
• Arabic Travel Booking System
• Flight Reservation System
• Hotel Reservation System
• Car Rental Reservation System
• Cruise Reservation System
• Travel APIs
• Hotel + Flight API
• Excursion Management
• Financial Accounting
• Fleet Management
• Mice Solutions
• Online Reservation System
• Travel Booking Engine
• Flight Booking Engine
• Hotel Booking Engine
• Trade Shows
• Central Reservation System
• Amadeus GDS
• Galileo GDS

IATA Software

Iata software enhances the capability of communications between airlines and travel agents., clients and partners.

Trusted by 1000+ companies around the world

At Travelopro, we believe that Latest technology strengthens all successful, modern travel agencies. Traditional approach of people resources and quality does not work any longer. Travelopro is here to Digitally Transform your Business. Travel Agencies now increasingly expect technology to be the agent of change and expect us to devise strategies that are driven by ideas. Every one of our customer’s portal is built on a strong, dynamic and innovative technology stack ensuring that our clients receive excellent service around the clock.

TRUST IS EARNED

The First & Only Company to offer Worldwide Flight, Hotels, Car, Transfers, Tours APIs on a Single Platform. Don’t settle for the same thing everyone else is doing.

We’ll help you bring more vibrant Travel Products and colorful digital marketing. Hire Travelopro to Transform your Business to make Digital Real for your Customers .

Awarded #1 Travel Software for the Online Travel Industry

Our service never stops with the sales of our softwares or API Solutions. It goes on in the form of after-sales service since we understand that our products are designed to satisfy your requirements for many years to come.We’ve an established and efficient system in place to deal with all of your after sale support needs.

Exceptional Commitment to Customer Success

Every project we take on starts with the aim of being our 'best yet', so you can be assured that our attention to detail and high quality work is present in every job we craft. We want our customers to be as excited and proud of the end product as we are, and we strive towards that goal every day.

Cloud based Technology fueling for High Performance

Let us put the #1 managed cloud based travel technology solution work for you.

Whatever your Business requirement, Travelopro offers completely managed best fit travel technology solution.

Generate more bookings & delight travelers through a powerful mobile engagement platform

With travelopro’s online platform you can grow your revenues, streamline your operations and extend your digital reach.

• Configure credit limit and deposits
• Multilingual travel websites
• Add offline travel bookings
• Distribute white labels
• Dynamic fare caching
• Commissions and markup control
• Advanced Reports
• Manage multiple branches
• Sub Agents can create and manage multiple branches and users
• Optional cross selling platform
• SMS gateway
• Multi currency transactions for agents and suppliers
• Business intelligence reports
• Online travel booking engine
• Multiple sales channels - B2B, B2B2B, B2B2C
• Centralised mid-office
• Ability to connect multiple GDS, LCC, and third party APIs
• Complete Reservation Management
• Travel Agent Management
• Transactional Accounting
• Accounting System Integration
• Comprehensive system to manage rates, discounts and allocation
• Payment Gateway Integration
• Multiple Supplier APIs
• Add direct contracts
• Redistribution API

IATA Software - Complete Software for IATA Agents and Travel AgenciesTravelopro integrates IATA approved Global Distribution System for travel agents that allow them to sell the tickets directly online through their B2B, B2C, B2B2B and B2B2C agents.

Travelopro integrates iata approved global distribution system for travel agents that allow them to sell the tickets directly online through their b2b, b2c, b2b2b and b2b2c agents..

What Is IATA Software ?

Travelopro integrates IATA approved Global Distribution System for travel agents that allow them to sell the tickets directly online through their B2B, B2C, B2B2B, and B2B2C agents.

We grow IATA software for travel agencies, tour operators, travel aggregators , and hospitality companies. We also recommend ticket booking software for Non-IATA travel agents.

An organized & functional online booking system is necessary to survive in the growing travel & tourism market . Travelopro offers best in class ticket booking system with seamless user experience.

IATA (International Air Transport Association) software is the global trade association bringing together approximately 270 airlines, including the world’s largest. UFTAA, (Universal Federation of Travel Agent’s Associations) is the giant world body representing travel agents.

IATA ATDI (Aviation Training and Development Institute) directs the IATA / UFTAA International Travel and Tourism Training Programme. IATA accreditation is a seal of acceptance recognized worldwide.

We are executed to working with all travel agencies to improve customer service and choice. The International Air Transport Association (IATA) is the trade alliance for the world’s airlines, representing some 290 airlines or 82% of total air traffic.

We support many areas of aviation project and help formulate industry policy on critical aviation issues. Travelopro develops and operates booking technology for the tourism industry that aggregates flight data from different third-party systems .

These solutions were primarily progressed for online travel agencies, business travel agencies, and tour operators with their own IATA license.

Working as an independent travel software company for many years, Travelopro has been developing software solutions for airlines, consolidators, online portals (OTAs), travel agencies, tour operators and travel management companies .

With many years of experience in the tourism industry and various international projects, we have built solutions for the entire chain of the airfare management and ticketing process as well as robust internet booking solutions (IBEs) for all types of flights and touristic services. 

Why Does Online Booking Software Is Needed By IATA Software ?

Travelopro is a preferred travel companion to book flights, hotel accommodation , holiday packages, car hire, and other travel products. Find awesome last-minute flight deals and your required hotel deals.

We have a team of travel experts presenting the best travel solutions for your getaways. On our website, you can browse through a wide range of airlines offering flights to your desired destination.

Perfect tailor-made travel deals, we focus on giving you more value for your money and help you experience the freedom to plan a travel itinerary as per your requirement.

With the help of an innovative search engine , you can get the best airfares for your travel. For budget hotel deals and cheap flights, you can visit our Flight and Hotel web page to find great deals.

IATA software (International Air Transport Association) is the prime body of the aviation industry. IATA now constitutes 265 member airlines and over 80,000 travel agents in over 120 countries.

The international scheduled air transport industry has developed manifold since inception. Keeping up with the dynamic growth standards of the industry, IATA is now handling over 95 percent of the world’s scheduled air traffic.

IATA is a trade association of airline companies which operates international services and establishes standard practices. IATA accredits travel agents throughout the world.

This certification includes the issuance of an ID-code, termed an IATA number. IATA numbers are used as the travel agent identifier in reservations to permit suppliers, including hotels, to pay their commissions. 

Travelopro is rated as one of the best travel technology company  across the globe which provides hotel affiliate white-label and IATA software to travelers.

Travelopro equips travel companies with required software tools enabling them to gain a competitive edge and increase revenue. It helps travel companies to go online bonding with business partners (B2B Agents), retail customers (B2C) & suppliers within one platform.

IATA software plays an important role in the formation of crucial training and validation materials for airlines and travel agencies, for the safe-keeping, processing, and management of revenue distribution, dangerous goods transport training, and air security for both the industry and passengers.

The benefits of being an IATA Accredited Agents are the approach to approximately 250 IATA airline members using a single standard Sales Agency Agreement.

Authorization to sell international and domestic tickets on behalf of the airlines. Global travel industry recognition through an IATA Numeric Code that gives a unique identifier for the agent.

Global consumer confidence due to IATA Travel Agents meeting industry standards identifiable by the IATA logo and branding displayed on Travel Agent's premises and websites gives standard procedures which guarantee fair and uniform standards in all trading’s with the airlines To find more about the criteria to become an IATA accredited agent in your country and the application forms , consult the material in our Accreditation web pages.

With the growing trend of OTA, online travel agency , demand for flight suppliers have also been the trend. IATA and non-IATA travel agents, all are looking for flight supplier to integrate the web services in their web portals. While IATA is seeking the GDS systems like Amadeus, sabre, Non-IATA is looking for third party flight APIs .

IATA accreditation considerably simplifies the business relationship between travel agents and airlines. Some 60,000 IATA travel agents worldwide currently satisfy from IATA accreditation, selling US$220 billion worth of airline tickets with a unique identification number on behalf of some 260 IATA airline members.

IATA permits the sale of international and domestic tickets. BSP, IATA's billing and settlement plan is an efficient way for payment and settlement.

Travelopro is a dominant travel technology company offering travel technology software to companies engaged in the travel sector. Our products help travel businesses in delivering effortless services to their clients.

Through API/XML integration of GDS such as Amadeus, travel website and sabre we help in upgrading end-user experience by providing them updated information as per their need. Travelopro delivers travel technology software for hotel, Flight booking Engine, car rental, hotel APIS, etc.

We have deployed our work toward enhancing the planning of B2B travel booking system, B2C and B2B2B corporates universally. we connect local GDS APIs in the B2B platform that will help the B2C Online Travel Portal owner execute the local market dynamics and avail the GDS benefits.

B2B Online Travel Portal Development Solution is designed in such a way that the IATA agents can use their own inventory of GDS and non-IATA agents also can use their preferred IATA agent Inventories.

IATA Codes are an integral part of the travel industry and essential for the identification of an airline, its destinations and its traffic documents. They are also fundamental to the smooth running of hundreds of electronic applications which have been built around these coding systems for passenger and cargo traffic purposes.

IATA, the International Air Transport Association and is the official trade organization for the world’s airlines (more than 85 participating nations). For air carriers, IATA provides a polled resource for scheduling, traffic, and routes, standardizing services and the creation of a worldwide public service for the air industry.

For consumers, IATA sets the international standard for services and business practices between member airlines. As an example, the three-digit airport codes used internationally are an IATA convention.  If you're searching for a list of IATA codes for travel agencies, it's highly unlikely you'll find something like that since IATA codes aren't publicly provided.

As the name indicates, non-IATA/independent travel agents are agents who are not accredited by the International Air Transport Association (IATA). IATA software is considered to be one of the most basic schemes for a travel agent because most airline bookings are done through the IATA portal.

IATA has, in the past, been known as an airline cartel.  Each agency would have to validate their financial standing to every airline they want to issue tickets for and the airline would need to carry out financial and security checks for each agency.

IATA gives a one-stop-shop - the agency applies to IATA, IATA checks the security of agency premises and validates their financial standing and, if approved, the agency is off and running. The airlines still retain control over whom they will do business with.

Some airlines concentrate their sales through a small number of agencies but most seem to take the view that they need a good spread in each country.

The fact remains that IATA software takes a lot of work off airlines in the approvals process. Like the approval process if IATA didn't manage BSPs in each country every airline and agency would need a one to one relationship. By using BSP the agency reports all their sales to just one place and that BSP then redistributes all the sales data to the airline.

• Car Reservation System
• B2B and B2C online travel agency
• Sightseeing and Attractions Booking System
• Transfer Booking System
• Cruise Booking System.

Get your travel business online

If there is one thing you do today, get your travel business online. everyone are talking of going online. provide yourself and your agents with their own b2b/b2c booking engine. travelopro platform consist of many components assembled to get your one stop travel software and travel technology, to automate travel business process and configured in many ways to meet your business goals. here's what you'll get (its affordable, easy and profitable)..

Destination

Fetaures of Online Reservation System:

• Fast and Flexible booking engine
• Secure, scalable and robust reservation architecture
• Fully customized booking engine
• Cost-effective solutions
• User friendly interface
• Integrated Payment Gateway
• Multi-language support

Travel Technology Platform You can trust

Powered by our Industry Leading Travel Technology – Including complete inventory and Global Fares – Travelopro gives you the highest quality travel technology solution to power your brand.