Your colleague insists that calling the hotel directly is necessary to earn the full commission. Is this true?

The assertion that entering the IATA number in the Global Distribution System (GDS) automatically associates it with the reservation is accurate. This process allows travel agents and other booking professionals to ensure that their commission is tracked and credited correctly without the need for a direct phone call to the hotel. The integration of the IATA number in the GDS streamlines the reservation process, making it simpler for agents to manage bookings and ensuring that commissions are handled efficiently.

Calling the hotel directly may be required in some specific scenarios – for example, if there are special arrangements or details that need to be discussed, or if the reservation system is unable to handle a unique request through GDS. However, for the typical booking process where the IATA number is used, a direct call is generally unnecessary for commission purposes. Therefore, reliance on GDS technology facilitates this transaction effectively, allowing agencies to operate more efficiently while ensuring the correct commission is allocated.