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Marriott Travel Agent Rates: Save 50% with Fam-tastic Rates!

What Travel Advisors need to know about Standard Travel Agent Rates vs. the deeply discounted Marriott Fam-tastic Rates.

What is the Marriott Fam-tastic Program?

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In this article, we dig into the Marriott travel agent familiarization program, called “Fam-tastic”, and review how to qualify for these deeply discounted rates vs. a standard Marriott Travel Agent rate. It’s more complicated than you might think.

Here is everything you need to know about Marriott Travel Agent Rates.

“Fam-Tastic” is Marriott’s rate familiarization program, which allows registered travel agents to book special rates at Marriott properties across the globe.   It’s a way to let travel agents see Marriott properties at discounted prices so they can promote them to their customers.

The Fam-tastic program is recognized as the industry’s premier travel agent familiarization rate program and is offered as an exclusive benefit to qualified travel consultants who have successfully completed the Hotel Excellence!  Core training and the current year’s annual Continuing Education are employed by a valid ARC/IATA/TIDS/CLIA agency.

The Fam-tastic rate is a discounted rate that varies by brand and is subject to availability based on Marriott’s Travel Agent Rate Ratio Policy .

Qualifying travel agents are eligible to book Fam-tastic stays (maximum four nights per stay, one visit per participating hotel per calendar year) at participating hotels.

Marriott Travel Agent Rates vs. Fam-tastic Rates:

It’s important to note that Marriott has two different types of discounted travel agent rates:

• The “Fam-tastic” Travel Agent Rate, and
• The Standard Travel Agent Rate.

Any registered travel agent can book a standard travel agent rate. However, If you want to book a “Fam-tastic” rate there are some additional steps you need to go through.

To qualify for Fam-Tastic discounted rates and benefits, travel agents have to do the following:

• Complete the Hotel Excellence! Core training.
• Complete the latest Continuing Education training.
• Ensure your profile has been updated.
• US advisors must also have a valid IATAN VER or CLIA EMBARC ID number added to their Hotel Excellence! profile.

“Fam-Tastic rates are for the exclusive use of active accredited travel agents who are graduates of Hotel Excellence! and have completed the current year’s continued education training (“Travel Agents”).  Fam-Tastic rates are designed to afford travel gents the ability to familiarize themselves with Marriott hotels and resorts. Fam-Tastic rates may not be used by anyone other than the travel agent. For clarity, Fam-Tastic rates may not be used by a travel agent’s family, friends, clients, or any other third party. As soon as a your Hotel Excellence! dashboard indicates that you are “Qualified” for Fam-Tastic, stays can be booked immediately.” Marriott

Fam-Tastic rate reservations must be made in advance and can only be made via marriott.com/travelagents .

You’ll need to Log in with your MI Partner Privileges credentials. If you meet the requirements to qualify for the Fam-Tastic rate, the booking page will appear, and you may continue to search and book your Fam-Tastic reservation.

Standard Travel Agent rates are much easy to book. You just need to go to the Marriott booking page and book a room with the Marriott travel agent rate code (“TVL”). 

• Enter code “TVL” in the “Corporate/Promotional Code” box under the “Special Rates” section of the Marriott booking page
• Then enter your travel destination, and dates and hit the “find hotels” button to reveal the results.  

The process is the same as when you book a room with a Marriott Corporate Code or a Marriott Employee Discount Rate . 

That said, you will still need to provide travel agent credentials when checking in, so this is not a rate code just anyone can use.

Here are the credential and ID requirements for using the Marriott travel agent rate code:

• At the time of hotel check-in, the travel advisor must provide appropriate credentials. For travel agents associated with a US agency: an IATAN photo ID Card or CLIA EMARC Photo ID Card is required. For travel agents associated with an agency outside the US or for advisors associated with a AAA location: a valid photo ID and a business card or employment verification letter on the letterhead of their agency are required.
• If the appropriate credentials are not presented at check-in, the hotel will charge the travel advisor the Travel Agent rate or the lowest rate available to the general public for each night of the stay.

I must admit that I was surprised at how little you actually can save with these rates.  There are a couple of issues:

• Many Marriott hotels don’t offer them, however, most of the resorts in vacation destinations do offer travel agent rates.
• The savings are not that big. I have seen anywhere from 10-40%, depending on location and time of year.

Don’t get me wrong, a 10-40% discount is still saving, but I would have expected the travel agent rates to be in the 50% or more discount range to motivate advisors to check out the properties and promote them to their customers.  Here are a couple of rate examples:

Example 1:  New York City

Example #2:  Hawaii

If you want to book a Marriott Fam-Tastic rate, you are going to need to familiarize yourself with Marriott’s travel agent training program.

Hotel Excellence! (HE!) is Marriott’s online library of training for travel advisors and is a key component of Marriott’s Preferred Travel Agency (PTA) program.

The training covers hotel industry knowledge, sales tips, Marriott International’s portfolio of brands, pricing and commission policies, and more.  Plus, qualified Marriott Hotel Sales Specialists gain access to Fam-Tastic rates, their lowest industry rates, so you can experience the brands for yourself.

• Exclusive access to Fam-Tastic rates at thousands of Marriott International Hotels worldwide .
• Receive dedicated eNewsletters on our latest news, openings, and more.
• CEUs for maintenance of The Travel Institute’s CTA/CTC certification, the Association of Canadian Travel Agencies certification, or CLIA credits.
• Access Tools and Resources to help you sell our brands.
• Receive enhanced commission as a Preferred Travel Agency (PTA).
• Provide award-winning training to your travel agents.
• View your agency’s status with Marriott from your dashboard once logged in.
• Easily complete annual requirements for the Preferred Travel Agency program.

What’s the difference between Standard Travel Agent Rates and Marriott Fam-Tastic Rates?

There are a couple of key differences between the two Marriott travel agent rates including:

• The discount is typically higher for the Fam-tastic rate.
• You can only book 1 room (4 nights maximum) at the given property with a Fam-Tastic Rate, but you can book 2 rooms with a standard travel agent rate and stay as long as you want.
• You can only book a Fam-Tastic rate at a participating Marriott International property one time per calendar year. Standard Travel Agent rates do not have this limit.
• You have to go through additional training to qualify for a Fam-Tastic rate, whereas any accredited travel agent can book a Travel Agent Rate.
• You can only book a Fam-Tastic rate through the Marriott Travel Agent portal, whereas you can book a standard Travel Agent Rate through the Marriott website.
• Reservations for the Fam-Tastic rate must be made upon logging into hotelexcellence.marriott.com .
• The rate is available at participating properties for a minimum of one (1) night and a maximum of four (4) nights per stay.
• Rates are subject to availability and black-out dates. Advance reservations are required.
• Travel agents may book a maximum of one (1) room per stay using the Fam-Tastic rate.
• There is no limit on the number of stays the travel advisor may book in a calendar year using the Fam-Tastic rate, provided that the travel advisor may only use the Fam-Tastic rate one (1) time per calendar year at each participating property.
• Rates will be shown in USD or local currency and do not include taxes, gratuities, resort or destination fees, or other mandatory fees.
• The rate applies to one standard guest room based on double occupancy.

More Travel Agent Content

How about some more content around travel agent deals?

An IATA number is an 8-digit identification code assigned to individuals or agencies that book travel by the International Air Transport Association .

Similar to IATA numbers, these are identifiers for other members of the travel industry. “ARC” is the Airline Reporting Corporation , “TIDS” is The Travel Industry Designator Service , and “CLIA” is the Cruise Lines International Association . Each group has a unique identification code for travel agents and sales intermediaries to use when booking travel

In order to be eligible for an IATA/IATAN card, you must work for an IATA-accredited travel agency . Eligible applicants can be an owner, manager, employee, or independent consultants involved in the administration, operations, or sale of travel.

A CTA is a Certified Travel Associate. You can obtain your certification through The Travel Institute .

No. Travel agents have to pay for their stays with Marriott properties, but they do get a discounted travel agent rate of up to 50% off rack rates.

A maximum of one room per stay may be booked at the Marriott Travel Agent “Fam-Tastic” rate.

All brands across Marriott’s portfolio except Design Hotels, Homes & Villas by Marriott International, and The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection participate in the Fam-Tastic program.

Yes. The Fam-Tastic rate is eligible for Marriott Bonvoy Points for stays arriving on or after May 2, 2022.

Tim is a business road warrior and avid leisure traveler who has flown over two million miles in the air and spent well over a thousand nights in hotels. He enjoys sharing tips, tricks, and hacks to help readers get the most out of their travel experience and learn how to “travel like a pro”!

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Raise your hand if you love to travel. Whether you’re often on the road or take a vacation just once a year, you’ve probably heard of travel agents. These folks help plan and book itineraries for you, eliminating a lot of the pain points when it comes to traveling.

These days many people skip out on a travel agent in lieu of booking their trip online, but if you’re a frequent traveler, you may want to become a travel agent yourself. Why? Because it can save you a lot of money — and may even earn you some in the process.

Let’s take a look at how to become a travel agent, why it’s something you may want to consider and the ways it can work for you.

Why become a travel agent?

Have you ever obsessively researched the best hotels in a city you’re planning to visit? How about checking seat maps on an airplane? If getting into the nitty-gritty of travel logistics is something you do in your spare time, you might also enjoy becoming a travel agent.

Not only do you get to plan trips for others, but you’ll also be able to take advantage of special discounts on many facets of travel.

This is true for your clients, but also for yourself. Travel agents have access to a variety of discounted rates on both airlines and hotels, even when booking travel for themselves.

» Learn more: How to get a refund from a travel agency

How to become a travel agent

Find a program.

Becoming a travel agent isn’t as simple as declaring yourself one. Typically, the first step is to sign up for a program that’ll teach you the basics of running your own travel business.

There are a variety of programs to choose from, depending on your interests and career goals. Most programs will teach you about the business side of being a travel agent as well as how to plan trips, so your courses in itinerary planning and travel insurance will be coupled with business ethics and customer service.

If you’re wondering how to become a travel agent from home, don’t worry. Many of these courses don’t have to be done in person; there are online programs that will teach you everything you need to know from the comfort of your living room.

Apply for certification

Once you’ve completed your coursework, you’ll want to apply for certification. Although there is no single standard that designates you a travel agent, there are a number of different identifiers that you can acquire. Some of the more common ones are:

International Air Transport Association, or IATA, which allows you to book travel on domestic and international airlines.

Travel Industry Designator Service, or TIDS, which allows agents to book trips with a variety of travel suppliers and receive commissions.

Cruise Lines International Association, or CLIA, which provides agents the ability to book trips on cruises around the world.

In order to access Marriott’s travel advisor rates, for example, you can use any three of these designations, along with a variety of others.

Each of these associations and identifiers have different implications for your business, so you’ll want to be sure you’ve fully researched them before applying for membership.

» Learn more: Do travel agents really save you money?

Save money as a travel agent

Once you’ve qualified as a travel agent, what comes next? If you travel frequently, becoming a travel agent can be a huge benefit to you, as it offers discounted rates and access to luxury travel options.

Discounted rates

Travel agents have access to negotiated rates that aren’t available to the general public. The exact amount will vary depending on the business. Hilton, for example, will give personal travel discounts of 50% off at newly-opened hotels and up to 25% off at the remainder of hotels within Hilton’s portfolio.

Hyatt, meanwhile, will give you a discount on personal travel of up to 50%, but only during select dates of the year. And although not all airlines give discounts to travel agents, many do.

Regardless, these are some pretty spectacular savings, and if you’re looking to save money on your vacations, being a travel agent can help.

Luxury programs

Becoming a travel agent isn’t only about saving money, however. It also grants you access to many hotel chains’ luxury travel programs.

If you’re big into elite status benefits, this is definitely something you’ll want to consider — especially since you don’t need any status at all to receive these perks, as long as you book through the hotel’s agent portal.

Most major hotel chains have these programs, including Hyatt Privé, Hilton Impresario, Marriott STARS & Luminous, Four Seasons Preferred Partner, Belmond Bellini Club, Rosewood Elite, Mandarin Oriental Fan Club and Shangri-La Luxury Circle.

While benefits vary by brand, many of these offers include things like room upgrades, complimentary breakfast, early check-in or late checkout and credits for expenses like dining or spa services. General consumers aren’t eligible for these programs, but once you’ve become a registered travel agent, they become accessible to you; however, some programs — such as Hyatt Privé — are invitation only.

For the most part, booking rooms through these programs shouldn’t cost more than the standard rate you’d be paying anyway, so you have the potential to get big benefits without shelling out any additional money.

However, note that these numbers don’t take into account any other discounted rates for which you may be eligible, such as those offered to American Automobile Association members and veterans .

» Learn more: Uncommon tips for saving money on travel

Earn money as a travel agent

Of course, becoming a travel agent isn’t all about scoring discounts for yourself. If you’re looking to earn some money, being a travel agent can be a good way to do so.

Note that travel agents operate in a customer-facing role, so you’ll also need to be able to build client relationships and be comfortable with sales. Courses such as those mentioned above can help train you to do this and run a successful business.

If booking travel and organizing trips for others is something that appeals to you, there’s definitely money to be earned. Marriott, for example, gives agents a commission of between 8% and 10% for all eligible stays booked.

» Learn more: The pros and cons of booking through online travel agencies

If you’d like to become a travel agent

There are a few good reasons to become a travel agent, especially if you travel a lot. Although it takes time and effort to complete training and apply for accreditation, the benefits you’ll receive as a travel advisor can be significant. This is true whether you’re booking personal travel or have built yourself a client base. Either way, there’s money to be had — and saved.

How to maximize your rewards

You want a travel credit card that prioritizes what’s important to you. Here are our picks for the best travel credit cards of 2024 , including those best for:

Flexibility, point transfers and a large bonus: Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card

No annual fee: Bank of America® Travel Rewards credit card

Flat-rate travel rewards: Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card

Bonus travel rewards and high-end perks: Chase Sapphire Reserve®

Luxury perks: The Platinum Card® from American Express

Business travelers: Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card

on Chase's website

1x-5x 5x on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, 3x on dining, select streaming services and online groceries, 2x on all other travel purchases, 1x on all other purchases.

60,000 Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's $750 when you redeem through Chase Travel℠.

1.5%-6.5% Enjoy 6.5% cash back on travel purchased through Chase Travel; 4.5% cash back on drugstore purchases and dining at restaurants, including takeout and eligible delivery service, and 3% on all other purchases (on up to $20,000 spent in the first year). After your first year or $20,000 spent, enjoy 5% cash back on travel purchased through Chase Travel, 3% cash back on drugstore purchases and dining at restaurants, including takeout and eligible delivery service, and unlimited 1.5% cash back on all other purchases.

$300 Earn an additional 1.5% cash back on everything you buy (on up to $20,000 spent in the first year) - worth up to $300 cash back!

on Capital One's website

2x-5x Earn unlimited 2X miles on every purchase, every day. Earn 5X miles on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel, where you'll get Capital One's best prices on thousands of trip options.

75,000 Enjoy a one-time bonus of 75,000 miles once you spend $4,000 on purchases within 3 months from account opening, equal to $750 in travel.

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Does marriott offer travel insurance, information on marriott's collaboration with allianz travel insurance jan 1, 2024 • knowledge, information, click below image to view video.

Travel Insurance

• Trip Interruption Protection Provides reimbursement for the unused, non-refundable portions of your trip if it is interrupted due to a covered illness, injury, and more. This can also reimburse additional transportation expenses needed for your early return home or additional Hotel Nights if you and your party need to quarantine.
• Trip Cancellation Protection Provides reimbursement for prepaid, non-refundable Hotel Reservations, plane tickets and change fees, activity costs, and other travel expenses if you need to cancel your trip due to a covered illness, injury, and more.
• Emergency Medical and Dental Provides reimbursement for expenses related to covered emergency medical or dental care that are incurred on your trip, like if you break your ankle or throw out your back.
• Baggage and Personal Belongings Protection Provides reimbursement if your personal items are lost, stolen or damaged at any time during your trip. Reimbursable items may include suitcases, cell phones, purses and wallets, and more.
• 24-Hour Assistance Help is just a phone call away. A team of multilingual problem solvers is available to help you with medical and other travel-related emergencies. Services can include providing destination information, arranging roadside assistance, and making transportation arrangements.
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How do i purchase travel insurance, what if i have a pre-existing medical condition.

• Travel insurance is purchased within 14 days of booking your Stay.
• You are a U.S. resident when the insurance is purchased
• You are medically able to travel when the insurance was purchased

How do I contact Allianz Global Assistance for 24/7 help?

• Within the United States, Canada, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands, call toll free at 1 (888) 897-2661
• Outside the United States, you may incur charges when calling from a mobile phone. To avoid incurring charges from your carrier, you may call collect from a landline telephone by dialing 0170 and giving the international operator the number 1 (804) 281-5700 to be connected to Allianz Global Assistance

How can I file a claim?

Have more questions, allianz global assistance contact information, would you like to provide feedback about this article.

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Marriott offers consolidated facilitation of commission payments for over 8,000 hotels globally and provides you with an online commission portal and centralized support

You must have a verified MI Partner Privileges account to access Marriott’s Commission Portal. Sign In or Register now to experience all of the benefits available to you.

Commission Portal Features

Marriott continues to invest in enhancements to our dedicated Travel Agents’ website to better serve you. New features are now available on our Commission Portal , designed to make doing business with Marriott easier:

• Enhanced commissions research with new online inquiry submission tools : Search for specific commissions and submit individual commission inquiries online. If you have >50 inquiries, you can upload a spreadsheet to simplify the inquiry process.
• New “My Inquiries” page : View and track the status of your online inquiry submissions at your convenience, plus receive email alerts of status updates.
• New Online “Commissions Reporting” : New self-service access to generate commission payment reports at either Summary or Detail level view for a specific date range.
• View and download commission statements: Securely access and easily download your commission statements of any size.
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The next time you book a trip, opting for travel insurance may offer some peace of mind. (Photo: Getty Images)

Travel Insurance 101: How Travel Insurance Works

Maybe you’ve never used travel insurance before. Or maybe you’ve just purchased travel insurance and now you’re scrolling through your policy documents, wondering what it all means.

This guide explains the basics: how travel insurance works, how to choose a plan and how to get the most out of your coverage.

What Is Travel Insurance?

Travel insurance is a plan you purchase that protects you from certain financial risks and losses that can occur while traveling. These losses can be minor, like a delayed suitcase, or significant, like a last-minute trip cancellation or a medical emergency overseas.

In addition to financial protection, the other huge benefit of travel insurance is access to assistance services , wherever you are in the world. Allianz Global Assistance’s elite team of travel and medical experts can arrange medical treatment in an emergency, monitor your care, serve as interpreters, help you replace lost passports and so much more. Sometimes, they even save travelers’ lives .

A few things you should know about travel insurance:

• Benefits vary by plan. It’s important to choose a plan that fits your needs, your budget and your travel plans. Here are definitions of all available travel insurance benefits .
• Travel insurance can’t cover every possible situation. Allianz Global Assistance offers named perils travel insurance, which means it covers only the specific situations, events and losses included in your plan documents, and only under the conditions Allianz describes.
• Travel insurance is designed to cover unforeseeable events — not things you could easily see coming or things within your control. If, for example, you wait to buy insurance for your beach trip until after a named hurricane is hustling toward your destination, your losses won’t be covered.

How Does Travel Insurance Work?

In most scenarios, travel insurance reimburses you for your covered financial losses after you file a claim and the claim is approved. Filing a claim means submitting proof of your loss to Allianz Global Assistance so that they can verify what happened and reimburse you for your covered losses. You can file a claim online or do it on your phone with Allianz’s free TravelSmart app .

How does this work in real life? Let’s say you purchase the OneTrip Prime plan, which includes trip cancellation benefits, to protect your upcoming cruise to Cozumel. Two days before departure, you experience a high fever and chest pain. Your doctor diagnoses bacterial pneumonia and advises you to cancel the trip. When you notify the cruise line, they tell you it’s too late to receive a refund.

Without travel insurance, you’d lose the money you spent on your vacation. Fortunately, a serious, disabling illness can be considered a covered reason for trip cancellation , which means you can be reimbursed for your prepaid, nonrefundable trip costs.

Once you’re feeling better, you gather the required documents — such as your airfare and cruise line receipts and information about any refunds you did or did not receive — and you file a claim . You can even choose to receive your reimbursement via direct deposit, a deposit to your debit card or a check by mail.

Sometimes, this process works a little differently. Travel insurance may pay your expenses up front if you require emergency medical treatment or emergency transportation while traveling overseas. Or, with the OneTrip Premier plan, you may be eligible to receive a fixed payment of $100 per day for a covered travel delay or $100 for a covered baggage delay . No receipts for purchases are required; all you need is proof of your covered delay.

Many travelers are wondering: Can COVID-19 be considered a covered reason for trip cancellation? And can travel insurance help if you become seriously ill with COVID-19 while traveling? Some of Allianz’s most popular travel insurance plans include epidemic-related covered reasons (benefits vary by plan and are not available in all jurisdictions).

The Epidemic Coverage Endorsement adds covered reasons to select benefits for certain losses related to COVID-19 and any future epidemic. To see if your plan includes this endorsement and what it covers, please look for “Epidemic Coverage Endorsement” on your Declarations of Coverage or Letter of Confirmation. Terms, conditions and exclusions apply. Benefits may not cover the full cost of your loss. All benefits are subject to maximum limits of liability, which may in some cases be subject to sublimits and daily maximums.

How to Choose a Travel Insurance Plan

Allianz Global Assistance offers a range of travel insurance plans that include different benefits and benefit limits. So how do you know which is best for you? To begin, get a quote for your upcoming trip. When you enter your age, trip costs and trip dates, Allianz can recommend a few plans for you. Then you can compare the costs and benefits of each.

If you’re a budget-conscious traveler who’s traveling in the U.S., you may like the OneTrip Cancellation Plus plan. It includes trip cancellation, trip interruption and trip delay benefits .

If you want protection in case of medical emergencies overseas but you have few prepaid trip expenses, you may consider the OneTrip Emergency Medical Plan . This affordable plan includes emergency medical and emergency transportation benefits, as well as other post-departure benefits, but not trip cancellation/interruption.

If you want the reassurance of carrying substantial travel insurance benefits, the best fit may be the OneTrip Prime plan. This plan also covers kids 17 and under for free when traveling with a parent or grandparent.

If you’re planning several trips in the next 12 months, consider annual travel insurance — like the AllTrips Prime plan. It gives you affordable protection for a full year of travel, including benefits for trip cancellation and interruption, emergency medical care, lost/stolen or delayed baggage, and rental car theft and damage protection (available to residents of most states).

How to Get the Most from Your Travel Insurance Plan

Don’t wait too long to buy travel insurance. The best time to buy travel insurance is immediately after you’ve completed your travel arrangements. The earlier you buy insurance, the bigger your coverage window. Also, you must buy your plan within 14 days of making your initial trip deposit in order to be eligible for the preexisting medical condition benefit (not available on all plans).

Read your plan documents before you leave. If you’re not completely satisfied with your plan, you have 15 days (or more, depending on your state of residence) to request a refund, provided you haven’t started your trip or initiated a claim. Premiums are nonrefundable after this period.

This article originally appeared on the Allianz Travel website.

Terms, conditions, and exclusions apply. Benefits/Coverage may vary by state, and sublimits may apply. Please see your plan for full details. Plan(s) underwritten by BCS Insurance Company or Jefferson Insurance Company. AGA Service Company is the licensed producer and administrator of these plans. Plans include insurance benefits and assistance services. Contact AGA Service Company at 800-284-8300 or 9950 Mayland Drive, Richmond, VA 23233 or [email protected] .

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