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TRIP Travel Agent Identification Card
TRIP has a feature-rich, secure Travel Agent ID Card. The card portrays the agent's photograph, agency identification number, agent's personal ID number, agency name and location, and a hologram to guard against counterfeiting. The reverse side of the card has additional security features including bar-coding. The TRIP Travel Agent ID Card has proprietary and unique business processes* associated with the card including security components, card numbering plans, and card-related databases. The card allows the agent to indicate affiliation with a recognized travel agency trade association and up to two recognized agency marketing, consortium, or franchise relationships.
Cardholder Personnel Classifications
Eligible cardholders are classifed into various personnel categories:
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Owner and Full Time Employee (owns at least 20% of agency and works at least 35 hours per week)
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Owner and Part Time Employee (owns at least 20% of agency and works less than 35 hours per week)
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Full Time Employee (works at least 35 hours per week)
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Part Time Employee (works less than 35 hours per week)
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Owner and Outside Sales/Contractor (owns at least 20% of agency but does not work in agency; does outside sales or is independent contractor)
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Contract Personnel (Not employed. Outside sales or independent contractor only)
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Owner (owns at least 20% of agency but does not work in agency or sell travel in any way)
Agency Requirements to Sponsor An Eligible TRIP Travel Agent ID Card Applicant
- If the agent is employed by or contracted with a single ARC, BSP or ATR agency (his own or another's) and does business in that agency's name, that agency may submit a TRIP Travel Agent ID Card application for the eligible agent. Agents affiliated only with agencies which are solely TSI, VTC, TIDS, or CLIA accredited (or a combination thereof) are not eligible for the TRIP Travel Agent ID Card.
- If the agent is employed by or contracted with multiple ARC, BSP or ATR agencies (his own and another's) and does business in multiple agency names, the agent must choose a single agency to submit a TRIP Travel Agent ID Card application for the eligible agent. An agent may only have one agency associated with his TRIP Travel Agent ID Card. Agents affiliated only with agencies which are solely TSI, VTC, TIDS, or CLIA accredited (or a combination thereof) are not eligible for the TRIP Travel Agent ID Card.
- If the agent is an independent contractor doing business under his own name, the agent must first apply for ARC, BSP or ATR accreditation and then the agency may submit a TRIP Travel Agent ID Card application for the eligible agent. An agent must be associated with and conduct business under the auspices of an accredited travel agency business, either ARC, BSP, or ATR. Agents affiliated only with agencies which are solely TSI, VTC, TIDS, or CLIA accredited (or a combination thereof) are not eligible for the TRIP Travel Agent ID Card.
Agent Requirements for Eligibility for the TRIP Travel Agent ID Card
- Initial and ongoing annual educational credentials, such credentials to be determined by the TRIP board of directors.
- Annual travel sales revenue and proof of travel sales revenue documentation, such levels and documentation of travel sales revenue to be determined by the TRIP board of directors.
- An Existing Agent (at least one year in the business) would be required to provide remuneration proof. He or she would be entitled to apply for a one or two year card. Upon card expiration and renewal, he or she would be required to provide remuneration proof from the previous year.
- A New Agent (less than one year in business) would initially apply with no remuneration proof required. He or she would only be entitled to apply for a one year card. Upon card expiration and renewal, he or she would be required to provide remuneration proof from the previous year and then would be eligible for a one or two-year card.
TRIP Travel Agent ID Card Controls
- Any agency sponsor where an established percentage of new agents (less than one year) do not qualify in the second year with proper remuneration and other requirements including education standards or where the agents are no longer affiliated with the agency sponsor, that agency would risk its standing with TRIP, effectively putting all its agents and itself at risk for future TRIP Travel Agent ID Cards. If the agency sponsor were an ATR, any challenge to standing may cause the ATR to lose its designation. For this purpose, the applicable percentage will be determined by the TRIP board of directors.
- Any agency sponsor where an established percentage of existing agents (at least one year) do not qualify at card renewal with proper remuneration and other requirements including education standards or where the agents are no longer affiliated with the agency sponsor, that agency would risk its standing with TRIP, effectively putting all its agents and itself at risk for future TRIP Travel Agent ID Cards. If the agency sponsor were an ATR, any challenge to standing may cause the ATR to lose its designation. For this purpose, the applicable percentage will be determined by the TRIP board of directors.
Applications for the TRIP Travel Agent ID Card will be accepted commencing in December 2009. Competitve fees for the TRIP Travel Agent ID Card will be determined by the TRIP Board of Directors in the Spring 2009.
*Patent Pending