FAQ

Frequently asked questions.

Verification, licensing, states, payments, and support. If your question isn't here, email contact@travelvaulthq.com.

Applying and verification

Who can apply?

US travel businesses: agencies with agents, solo and home-based agencies, and independent contractors operating as a business. We don't serve consumers, developers, or businesses outside the United States.

What counts as proof that I'm a travel business?

Any one of the following usually settles it:

  • An IATA, CLIA, or ARC number
  • A seller-of-travel registration number from your state
  • A business registration (LLC, corporation, or DBA) plus a working business website or listing that shows you sell travel
  • A host-agency affiliation we can confirm

If none of these apply to you yet, apply anyway and tell us how you operate. We'll say what we'd need.

How long does verification take?

We review applications within one business day, and usually the same day. If we need something from you, we'll email you once with the full list rather than going back and forth.

Do I need IATA or CLIA?

No. An accreditation number speeds up verification because it's easy to check, but it isn't required. Plenty of legitimate agencies operate without one.

How long from approval to live?

Within 24 hours of approval you have credentials, your branded booking site, and (for agent-network accounts) your first agent accounts. Connecting your own domain depends on how quickly you can update DNS; we'll send you the exact records.

Licensing and seller-of-travel registration

Do I need a seller-of-travel registration?

That depends on where you are and where your clients are. Four states run seller-of-travel programs that can apply to agencies selling to their residents: California, Florida, Washington, and Hawaii. Registration is the agency's obligation, not ours, and we don't register on your behalf. Each state's page explains who must register and the exemptions:

Other states may have consumer-protection rules that touch travel sales. If you're not sure, ask a lawyer licensed in your state.

Do my agents need their own registration or accreditation?

Agent accounts sit under your agency, so they don't need their own accreditation to use the platform. Whether an independent contractor working under you needs their own state registration depends on the state and how they're engaged; that's between you, your agents, and your state.

Payments, rates, and merchant of record

Who is the merchant of record?

Bookings are processed by our supply partner. You see net rates and set your markup. How you charge your client is up to you and is between you and your client; TravelVault does not process consumer payments.

How do I pay for bookings?

From your account, before the deadline shown on the booking. Non-refundable rates are paid at booking. Refundable rates can be held and paid any time before the last free-cancellation date; see book now, pay later. Qualified resellers with insurance can settle on terms after 60 days active; see the credit line requirements.

Are the rates net or commissionable?

Net. You see the wholesale rate and add your own markup. There's no commission to wait for.

Where does the inventory come from?

From our supply partners, including a major bedbank, which is where the 2.3M+ hotel count and real-time availability come from. Flights are GDS-connected where available. We don't publish supplier names.

Are there any fees on top of the net rate?

No. Our margin is inside the net rate. There is no setup fee, no monthly platform fee, no per-booking fee, and no charge for agent accounts. See pricing.

Cancellations and refunds

What happens when a client cancels?

The supplier's rate terms apply, and they're shown before you confirm. A refundable rate cancelled before its free-cancellation deadline is cancelled at no charge; if it was held and never paid, nothing was charged in the first place. A non-refundable rate follows the penalty stated on the rate. Refunds for paid refundable bookings go back to the account that paid.

Can the free-cancellation deadline be extended?

No. The deadline is set by the supplier for that rate and shown in the hotel's local time. If a client needs more time, cancel and rebook a rate with a later deadline, if one is available.

What if there's a problem at the hotel?

Email or chat with support with the confirmation number. For in-stay issues we work with the supplier on your behalf; the outcome depends on the supplier and the property. We'll tell you what we know as we know it.

Support

How do I reach support, and when?

Email contact@travelvaulthq.com or use chat inside the platform. We reply within one business day, and faster for anything affecting a live booking. Agent-network accounts also get a 20-minute setup call. See agent support.

Is there an API?

Yes, on request. API access is available for agencies that want to connect inventory to their own tools, but the platform is built to be used through the booking site and that's where the day-to-day work happens. If you need the API, mention it in your application and we'll go through the details with you.

Data and privacy

What do you do with the information in the access request form?

We use it to verify your business, decide on the application, and contact you about it. It goes to our team by email and into a spreadsheet we use to track applications. We don't sell it or share it for marketing. Details are in the privacy policy.

Who sees my clients' data?

Traveler names and stay details entered for a booking are passed to the supplier and the hotel to fulfill it, which is unavoidable for any hotel booking. Your client list is not shared with other agencies on the platform and is not used by us for marketing.

Still have a question?

Email contact@travelvaulthq.com, or apply and ask it in the form. We answer either way.

Request access