When margins are tight and competition is high, it can be easy to dismiss distributing through Inbound Tour Operators (ITOs) and Online Travel Agencies (OTAs) like Booking.com, Expedia, and Airbnb. However, by not listing your experience on these global platforms, you may be limiting your audience reach and missing out on valuable marketing opportunities.
For businesses large and small, ITOs and OTAs are an increasingly important sales driver, with benefits including:
- Exposure to millions of potential guests, both domestically and across the world
- Access to high-intent travellers already in ‘booking mode’
- The halo of brand trust with customers often drawn to the safety of familiar platforms and booking agents
- Integration in interstate and international itineraries, including exposure to niche market segments and group bookings that would otherwise be difficult to reach through traditional consumer marketing
- Increased automation and access to sales data
- Potential for exclusive deals and packaging which may provide a competitive advantage
If you are looking to refine your existing distribution strategy, we have an exciting new opportunity for you.
Tourism Midwest Victoria is proud to launch a new mentoring program for 2025, led by distribution experts Bookable Tourism.
This 1:1 mentoring program explores:
- Trade-readiness and product refinement
- Commissionable pricing and rate sheet development
- Booking system connectivity and mapping
- Distribution partner set up (OTA, ITO, Wholesale)
- Internal processes to manage ongoing distribution
We have limited places in the program, so get in quick. Expressions of interest close Sunday 7 September 2025.
Whether you’re just starting out or already have some familiarity with tourism distribution, this program will set your business up to grow your reach and bookings through the right channels.