Affiliate Promo Codes

Two ways affiliate promo codes are used:

1. Option for affiliates to book directly
   • Usually without a discount on the whole booking
   • Tagging an affiliate with a promo code (no discount)
   • Example: Hotel Concierge going to the Charter’s website, entering in the code, and receiving credit for the booking.
2. As an option for affiliates who want to promote guests to book with the affiliate getting credit for the booking
   • Usually with a discount on CT level
   • Tagging an affiliate with a promo code (discount)
   • Example: Local Travel Agent giving out paper flyers advertising Charters tours and activities and telling them to go to their website and book using XYZ affiliate promo code to receive credit for the booking.

Why is it good for FareHarbor?

• FareHarbor will receive more booking fees.

Why is it good for the operator?

• If they are answering phone calls or e-mails from partners for reservations, it saves them time.
• By making it easier & faster for hotels to book, they are more likely to get these reservations, which means more income for them.
• This can decrease errors and availability mistakes.
• Imagine if your partners could just look at your website to see what’s available and use a code to let you know they’re sending you customers.

Why is it good for the Affiliate?

• They don’t need to be logged into FareHarbor.
• They can give the code to guests, so that it can be used at a later time

Questions & pitches for talking with client:

• Where do your customers come from? Online? OTA? Partners?
• Do you work with any partners currently?
• Do you work with any hotel concierges? How do they book with you?
• How do you get those reservations? Phone? E-mail?
• Who is collecting the money? Are there differences in what you think they sell/pay?
• How do you keep track of bookings made by the reseller? With these promo codes, you can keep track of these bookings immediately.
• Do your partners always need to call you to check availabilities with you? With this, they can immediately check the spots available on your website and book at the same time, all while reducing errors.
• Do you offer any partners a discount? (optional)
• Even if you don’t work with hotels yet, this makes it very easy for you to grow your network of local resellers. Ask how people hear about you, if there are a lot of hotels in the area, if your competitors are already working with local resellers – then affiliate promo code could be a quick fix for expanding your distribution network.
• (If) Your competitors aren’t doing this yet, then hotels are going to love working with you this way because it saves them time and resources.
• One main advantage of this code is that affiliates will pay you directly and commission is tracked.
• No invoicing needed as everything is tracked via the system with live availability.
• Your branding/confirmation e-mails are kept with the customer and ensures you are able to follow up with more people for reviews or get in contact with guests for any changes.

• This should only be used for Referral Affiliate setups.
• Can be used if the Affiliate discounts the customer types at different rates
  • Example: Affiliate is selling the Adult CT for $5 less than the online rate and the Child CT for $3 less than the online rate.
• The best recommendation for affiliates who want to resell Charters without having to make the actual booking for the guest.
  • Example: Affiliate has brochures and in the brochure, it says “Book your fishing charter today with promo code XYZ to receive $5 off! Website: www.fishingcharters.com”.
• Before setting it up, make sure the charter is fully aware of all of their affiliate booking direct options
  • Often times charters might think using a promo code is the only way to adjust affiliate rates or the only way an affiliate can book.

• When it is a Billing Affiliate
• If the affiliate is selling the tour for a higher price than the online rate, because the code would add money onto the booking.
• If there is another booking direct option that might work better based on that company’s setup.

• What is the affiliate’s name?
• What is their commission?
• What code would you like the affiliate to use when making bookings on your website?
• Should the code discount the booking? If so, is it a % or dollar amount discount?
• Should the commission be calculated off of the normal rate or discounted rate?

1. Create Campaign

• The campaign name should be the affiliate’s name.
• Campaign code will be what the affiliate uses when making a booking.
• Click here to view an example of a promo code campaign.

2. Assign Affiliate to campaign!

• Select ‘Edit’ next to the campaign’s code > ‘Edit Code’ > Select the Advanced Dropdown > Enter the affiliate’s name.

3. Add Campaign to Promo Code Redemption Custom Field

• Click here to view a campaign added to a custom field.

4. Enter Promo Code Discount (if applicable)

Learn more here.

5. Adjust Invoice Sheet

• If the code is discounting the rates, should the commission be calculated off of the retail online rate or the new discounted rate?
• If the commission should be calculated off of the new discounted rates:
  • Open the custom field that the code is added to.
  • Open the affiliate’s invoice sheet.
  • Ensure that the commission is entered in the ‘Commission’ column.

If the commission should be calculated off of the Retail Rates:

• Open the custom field that the code is added to.
• Open the affiliate’s invoice sheet.
• Ensure that is ‘0 is entered in the invoice and commission column.

6. Manually Tag an Affiliate on the backend

You will want to make a test booking and enter the affiliate promo code. You will also need to manually tag the affiliate because the code won’t automatically tag them for you on the backend.

If needed, affiliate codes can also be added to a completed booking, but the affiliate will still have to be manually tagged on the booking since it’s on the backend.

7. Test Booking to Check Invoice Price

You will want to make a test booking with the affiliate tagged. Enter the affiliate promo code and make sure that the promo code is reducing the rate and the invoice rate correctly.

For example, without the affiliate promo code entered, the affiliate, CitizenM Amsterdam will receive 10% commission off $100 ($10 commission).

If the commission should be calculated off of the new discounted rates once the code is entered, the invoice price should be 10% of $90 ($9) vs 10% of $100 ($10).

If the commission should be calculated off of the retail rates once the code is entered, the booking total will decrease by 10% ($90), but the invoice price should remain the same (10% of $100 or $10).

Once the campaign code is created, make sure that:

• The campaign is added to the custom field.
• The custom field it’s added to is attached to all items.
• The affiliate is assigned to the campaign code.
• The campaign promo code is properly discounting (if applicable).
• The invoicing is adjusting correctly if the campaign code is discounting.