There’s no such thing as a silly question
Got a question? We might have answered it below. Take a look at our frequently asked questions.
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- Suppliers
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All
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What is TXGB?
Tourism Exchange Great Britain (TXGB) is a business-to-business digital platform, connecting tourism suppliers in the UK and Northern Ireland to distributors around the world.
In partnership with Visit England/Visit Britain, Visit Wales and Tourism Northern Ireland, it brings together tourism businesses to drive sales and boost productivity by connecting the market in a new and unique way, enabling distributors to tap into a huge range of UK and NI tourism products.
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What's a supplier?
Any tourism business within Great Britain, or any business in Great Britain that wants to sell its products or services through the global tourism distribution landscape. This includes accommodation, tours, attractions, experiences and transport (for example, Britrail tickets).
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What’s a distributor?
A distributor is an online booking site that allows consumers to find and book tourism products and services. These sites include Online Travel Agents such as Booking.com and Expedia. In the case of TXGB it can also include Destination Management Organisation (DMO) websites.
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How does TXGB work?
TXGB is a business-to-business digital marketplace that enables connectivity of tourism products to distribution opportunities in a central platform.
By connecting to booking technology, TXGB is able to share live availability, pricing and content of products to a businesses chosen sales channels through a simple opt-in process on the TXGB dashboard.
Where connected booking technology isn’t available, TXGB has features to allow manual loading of inventory and availability via the TXLoad tool.
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What makes TXGB different?
The key elements that make TXGB different are:
- Connectivity between supplier booking systems and multiple UK and global distributors
- One connection to TXGB gives suppliers access to multiple distributors without any extra admin or need to manage multiple systems
- Access to a wide range of analytical data
- The ability for distributors to run campaigns that pull together specific product groups
- Multiple distributors; from local UK businesses and destination websites to global OTAs (online travel agents)
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How is currency converted with TXGB?
TXGB doesn’t convert currency. All rates are loaded in GBP and suppliers are paid in GBP. Distributor systems may sell in foreign currency but this won’t affect the GBP payment received by the supplier.
If a supplier uses TXGB to create booking pages on their own website, we use a service called ‘currency layer’ to give an indicative conversion.
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Do I need certain software or a particular browser to use TXGB?
No, TXGB is compatible with the most commonly used browsers and operating systems.
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What advice and support is available?
Our helpdesk provides connection and dashboard advice and support by phone or email during business hours.
For support please contact support@txgb.co.uk or call 0330 223 5050.
For suppliers using TXLoad, you can also find tutorial guides on how to use and setup TXLoad on our website.
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Suppliers
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Why should I connect to TXGB, rather than working directly with distributors?
You always have the option to work directly with distributors and also with those available via TXGB.
TXGB allows you to:
- Access a network of domestic and global distributors in one place at the click of a button
- Choose how many of these you access
- Manage your availability, pricing, bookings and content across multiple distribution channels in real time
- Access a wide range of analytical data, which can save you time, resources and admin
For SMEs, getting distributed via some of the larger, or niche distributors can be a daunting task.
Managing distribution on multiple OTAs can mean managing multiple diaries, extra admin and the risk of double bookings.
TXGB takes away this extra work and the associated risk by doing the hard work for you – sharing live availability and pricing in real time and updating all of your chosen channels for you when you take a booking.
TXGB offers all the benefits as outlined above, in an accessible way for businesses of all sizes using a simple to use dashboard.
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How much does it cost to use?
TXGB operates on a simple commission model where you only pay when you take a booking.
There are no upfront fees or monthly subscription costs. Suppliers load gross rates and then pay a 2.5 percent plus VAT booking fee to TXGB for each TXGB originated online booking (including bookings that subsequently cancel), plus commission to distributors as agreed when you opt into their channels.
Distributor commission is clearly displayed prior to opt-in and the 2.5 percent plus VAT booking fee is only paid out when a TXGB originated online booking takes place, not before.
There’s no cost to register.
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What is the 2.5 percent plus VAT booking fee used for?
The booking fee is paid directly to TXGB and used for the ongoing running, maintenance and development of the platform.
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What size business is TXGB designed for?
TXGB has been designed to support every tourism business, from the tiniest holiday letting or single event or experience, up to the UK’s largest attractions.
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What if I don’t have my own website?
You don’t need a website to connect to TXGB. And if you don’t have your own booking system, you can create booking pages via TXLoad (our inventory loading tool).
These can be used on your social media profiles to drive direct bookings and also in email communications.
You can then use the TXGB platform to opt into your chosen distribution channels – from your local destination website to a global online travel agent.
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What if I don’t have a booking system?
If you don’t have your own booking system, we can still get you up and running on the TXGB inventory loading software, TXLoad. This allows you to load up your availability and prices manually, then drive bookings on your own website and social media profiles alongside your chosen distribution channels.
We recommend that you sign up for a booking system further down the line – but if you don’t have one yet, then TXLoad is a good starting point to become bookable online for the first time.
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I have a booking system but it’s not showing as connected to TXGB – what should I do?
If your booking system hasn’t been connected to TXGB yet, you can use TXLoad to get connected in order to drive bookings from distribution channels and be part of regional and national campaigns. As soon as your booking system is connected you’ll be able to switch over to the connected booking system connection.
We recommend contacting your booking system provider to ask whether a connection to TXGB is on their product roadmap, as this enables them to understand the demand and can also help in speeding up the connection build to TXGB.
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What is TXLoad?
TXLoad is a basic inventory loading tool part of TXGB, designed for suppliers who don’t have a booking system. It allows you to enter your prices, availability and content. If you also take offline bookings for your tourism product, you just need to remember to update the inventory on TXLoad, as this change wouldn’t be automatically recorded in the system.
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How do I get payment for bookings through TXGB?
For bookings made via a ‘direct payment’ distribution channel where the payment is taken directly by you from the customer, the money goes straight into your Stripe account at time of booking.
For bookings through online travel agent (OTA) websites, which use ‘on account’ payment, you’ll receive your money according to their individual processes. TXGB will send you an email reminding you of the booking and the need to collect payment from the OTA or agent.
For more information, see the pricing information on our website.
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What information do I need to connect to TXGB?
Rates and availability for products will be automatically loaded to TXGB from your connected booking system once your account is active. Depending on your booking system, some content may also flow through automatically. Any other content can be loaded through the dashboard, such as business description, product description, photographs, geocode information, booking terms and conditions of use.
If you don’t have a booking system, or your booking system isn’t yet connected to TXGB then this information will need to be loaded manually into TXLoad, our free inventory loading software.
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Can I set up different levels of access for different users within my business?
Yes. You have the choice of ‘Manager’, ‘User’ or ‘Reporter’ and this can be determined when you add new users to your TXGB dashboard.
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Some of the distribution channels are already available via my own booking system - what now?
You can continue with your existing distributor via your booking system and only opt into any additional, unique distributor channels via TXGB.
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The system links into live allocation – at what point does that cut off?
Yes it’s possible to enable restrictions or limitations on what can be booked, for example, preventing bookings within 24 hours of arrival.
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What documentation/confirmation is provided? For example, vouchers, reservation numbers. How do I know what to accept?
The booking will be entered into your connected booking system, which will be the main record.
In most cases, the booking system will then issue its own booking confirmation email, but depending on the distributor channel, TXGB may also send a booking notification to the consumer and to you.
For OTA distributor bookings (for example, Booking.com), the consumer will receive their normal confirmation from the distributor.
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Who sets the cancellation policy?
You set your own cancellation policy within the booking terms entered via your dashboard or booking system, which are applied to all direct payment bookings. The consumer must agree to these terms before being able to confirm the booking.
For ‘on Account’ distributor bookings, the cancellation policy may be set as part of the registration/setup with the specific distributor channel and you should refer to their specific Terms & Conditions.
Any refund would need to be processed directly by you or the Distributor in line with the applicable cancellation policy.
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Distributors
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I’d like to discuss becoming a distributor with TXGB - what should I do?
Please drop us an email at hello@txgb.co.uk or send us a message via our website by clicking here.
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Can any supplier connect, or is there some quality control?
Any supplier with product in the UK can sign-up to TXGB. All suppliers who sign up agree that their product complies with all relevant laws, regulations and legally required standards, and all regulatory guidelines and Industry Codes of Conduct in relation to the promotion and sale of tourism products.
Any supplier who has signed up can opt in to your distribution channel by agreeing to your terms and conditions. The system works off live data so all information is accurate and there’s an option for you to approve suppliers before they go live in your system. If required, you can also block a supplier that doesn’t meet your criteria.
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What’s the difference between joining with an API or using TXGB’s white label tools?
It’s free to use TXGB’s white label tools. Key features of connecting using these white label tools include:
- Minimal development work required.
- Fixed user experience.
- Direct payment only.
The key features of connecting with TXGB through an API are:
- Build your own user experience.
- Work with ‘on request’ suppliers.
- Supplier direct or ‘on account’ payment. There will be some development costs to set up the API and these are dependent on requirements.
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What is TXGB’s eXchange API?
It’s the name for the TXGB toolkit of APIs made available to distributors to connect their systems to supplier booking systems.
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I already have some of these products for sale on my own website – how do I avoid duplication?
Only one connection can be made between a supplier and a distributor. This is controlled via the supplier’s connected booking system/ channel manager or via the TXGB dashboard. For a direct distributor, the distributor can block a supplier via their dashboard if required, and/or liaise with the supplier to choose their connection type according to the distributor’s own policies and procedures.
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What’s a campaign and how does it work?
By creating campaigns within the distributor dashboard, distributors can define and manage the products offered to consumers for use in marketing initiatives. These campaigns are typically developed to promote tourism/bookings within the distributor’s destination. Distributors can create a marketing campaign that includes a ‘landing page’ where chosen suppliers can be presented in a dynamic list to consumers. The distributor can define which suppliers can participate and/or the exact requirements they need to meet to qualify. The landing page then links to a booking page URL where consumers can place online bookings.
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How can I use the platform to distribute my products as a supplier?
If you have a booking system that acts as an aggregator to the market and would like to distribute your products through TXGB please contact us for more details.
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Destinations
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How does TXGB work for Destination Management Organisations?
Selling the destination is a key success factor in selling products, so destinations can use TXGB to become a distributor. This will allow you to market all of the products within your destination and benefit from the analytical data and campaign tools that TXGB provides. However, this needs to be done in line with Package Travel Regulations (PTR), which is currently at your own risk.
But before any sales can take place, we need to ensure the product is available on the platform. We’ll be working closely with suppliers to get their products registered, so please encourage your local businesses to get involved. Details on the benefits to suppliers are listed in the ‘suppliers’ section of the website.
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How does this work with the Package Travel Regulations?
At present, DMOs/LVEPs who connect to TXGB as a distributor selling multiple products will need to ensure they’re PTR compliant and have the appropriate bond and legal cover in place.
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Do we need to charge a commission?
No. You don’t need to, but you can if you want, to help support your marketing activity. Alternatively you may want to use TXGB as a method for showcasing bookable products in your destination with no commission taken but enabling an improved consumer journey.
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How can campaigns work for me?
If you’re PTR compliant, you’ll be able to run campaigns through TXGB. For example, for your destination, you could group all garden products together and apply a price discount, or just use as promotional grouping. Similarly, if you were promoting a touring route, TXGB allows you to pull together all product within a set distance of that route for example, two miles either side of a certain plotted path. There are lots of exciting possibilities to really bring your destination to life.
For other questions please browse the distributor FAQ section.
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Technology businesses
For all technical queries, including further information and documentation, please contact tech@txgb.co.uk or send us a message via our website by clicking here.
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Help & training.
We have a range of guides and videos to help you get started.
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Learn more
Got a question? you can chat online, or call us 0330 223 5050 – we’re open 9AM-5PM, Monday to Friday (Closed Sat-Sun).