Hotels by Tern is turned on per agency. During the Tern User Conference, Tern is turning it on for agency owners and the advisors under them who are attending. Every other advisor at an onboarded agency gets access shortly after the user conference.
Who can use Hotels by Tern?
You can use Hotels by Tern if your credential holder agency has been onboarded. Your credential holder is the agency at the top of your hierarchy, such as your host agency. If your credential holder is not onboarded, you cannot book hotels through Hotels by Tern. You can still book hotels manually.
How does an agency get set up for Hotels by Tern?
Your agency completes onboarding once. You'll need your agency's IATA or CLIA number, a W9, the bank account where you want commission paid, and an email address for commission statements. Start from the Hotels by Tern banner on the Back Office Suppliers page or Dashboard, or from the Hotels by Tern email. See "Hotels by Tern: Agency Onboarding" for each step.
After the terms are signed, Tern checks that your IATA or CLIA number matches the business name on your W9 and belongs to the highest agency in your hierarchy. If they don't match, setup pauses until it's fixed. Tell us in chat if you have questions.
Do advisors and sub-agencies need to set anything up?
No. Once your credential holder is onboarded, sub-agencies and advisors under that credential get access automatically, with nothing to set up. During the user conference, only agency owners and attending advisors are turned on. Everyone else gets access shortly after the user conference. If a sub-agency has its own credential, that sub-agency onboards separately with the same onboarding link, using its own IATA or CLIA number.
How do accreditations work with Hotels by Tern?
Tern turns on Hotels by Tern for your agency and verifies each IATA or CLIA number separately. You can only book under an accreditation marked Verified.
The accreditation is set in Booking & Pricing > Accreditation on the hotel item.
It defaults to the accreditation of the agency at the top of your hierarchy, such as your host agency. Check it before your client pays.
Once your client authorizes payment, the accreditation is locked and can't be changed.
Commission goes to the agency that owns the accreditation selected on the booking.
What if my accreditation isn't verified?
The hotel shows as not ready to book, and a banner gives you two options. Choose a verified accreditation in Booking & Pricing > Accreditation, or convert the hotel to a custom activity and book it manually. Accreditations you can't use are marked "(not approved for Tern booking)." A converted item can't be switched back to a Hotels by Tern booking.
What happens to existing bookings if Hotels by Tern is turned off for our agency?
Nothing. Existing bookings still charge, cancel, and get support as usual.