KLflyerRalph

callmedtop

They just get commission, no other fees. Hotel processes the payment, not the TA. Nothing to fear.

paterwdb

I have an agent at Classic. At first, the service was good - any time I had a stay with special requests, or was booking for several nights, there was always a welcome amenity and an advance email verifying everything. In addition, I would often just book 1-2 night stays online without contacting the agent, and with no special requests. I always figured this threw her a little extra commission without requiring anything of her.

But in the last year I have booked 4-5 rooms for 4-5 nights for trips and there has been no follow up, no welcome, no special requests honored. I think we've gotten to the point where many of the Classic agents are just waiting for the autobookings that forward them a commission without requiring anything of them.

I love Classic for last minute bookings, but I'll likely look for a new Virtuoso agent soon.

DavidO

You can use the Virtuoso booking tool for simple, last minute Virtuoso bookings.

You'll have to sign up for a Virtuoso agent on Virtuoso.com. You should be able to choose any of the Virtuoso TA's on this forum. I can say that Ourisman Travel follows up every V.com booking with our standard VIP process, but most of the FlyerTalk Virtuoso TA's do the same.

Sohan

Just booked last minute with them at the Peninsula Manila. The rate was good compared to FHR, but the experience was totally different.

No follow up from the website and the hotel didn't mention any of the benefits etc. With Amex the whole process was smoother (3rd night free also) but the benefits this time were better with Virtuoso.

fangtl

Not seeing a field to enter in my loyalty number on classictravel.com, do I have to manually add it when I reach the hotel?

DavidO

Email Classic Travel and ask the agent to add your loyalty number to the Sabre booking.

BTW, if you book a hotel on the Virtuoso.com booking engine, there's a field to enter your frequent guest number.

m0hamed

IME, Virtuoso doesn’t successfully import my address, phone number, email or loyalty number with StR reservations.

I have to manually search them on Mariott’s website but it has the suburb of my agent but no other details.

I’m unsure about other programs.

ABG

A GDS booking would never send across to Marriott your address, phone or email. It should pull your Bonvoy account without an issue and at that point Marriott's system may be able to attach some personal info you have shared with Marriott.

m0hamed

It definitely doesn't pull the loyalty number so everything else isn't sourced by Mariott, either.

ABG

I don't use the tool, i'm just advising how it is suppose to work. The tool (and a GDS booking) would never import your address, phone number + email.

m0hamed

My point is that the Virtuoso website doesn't import your Mariott number.

Virtuoso has always been seriously behind on IT so it doesn't surprise me.

BA_Jfan

I found Classic offering a 4th night free promotion on a Virtuoso rate but spoke with 2 other Virtuoso agents who weren't able to see the 4th night free for that property. Anyone know why this could be? Did Classic negotiate that bilaterally or is it simply an old promotion that's still in their system as current?

DavidO

It's not a bilateral deal. If your TA can't see it, just have them phone the resort. Not everything gets loaded into the GDS or the hotel booking engine.

BESVISOR

I love the idea of Virtuoso allowing direct bookings but honestly and in practice, I just prefer to ask my clients reach out to me directly and I'll take care of rest.
Avoid any confusion or anything to fall through the cracks. But I'm a bit Type A