Viator's Updated Operator Agreement Formalizes a Power Shift in Experiences Pricing: Scoop

Skift Take

Is Airbnb's partnership with Tripadvisor merely an expansion of Airbnb's partnership with Tripadvisor's res-tech unit Bokun? So far some Airbnb employees aren't seeing signs of a broad, new Viator inventory partnership in the works.

Viator rolled out an updated global supplier agreement for tour operators this month that gives "channel partners" — such as OTAs, airlines, vacation packagers, and banks — the right to set the retail rate of experiences.

"The new terms clarify Viator and its partners have autonomy over the final Retail Price displayed to consumers," a summary of the agreement says.

Viator, which didn't publicly announce the updated agreement, posted it on a resource site for operators.

"They likely did it for transparency," said a source close to both Tripadvisor and Airbnb. "I think they are gearing up for big partners discounting or using tours as a loss leader."

Channel partners include Booking.com, Expedia, Costco, and Airbnb, which recently became a Tripadvisor experiences partner. Viator is a Tripadvisor brand.

Updates also include changes in insurance, fee transparency and more, and could benefit partners such as Airbnb by establishin

Reporting originally appeared via Skift Travel News. Read the full source for additional context.