TXGB and How it Can Work for My Business

Be a key partner of Visit Maidstone. Be part of a sales channel that works for you. TXGB.

We’re driving local tourism recovery, by partnering with Tourism Exchange GB (TXGB).

This means the opportunity to move customers from “look” to “book” on Visit Maidstone. To drive sales for you, to be part of our marketing activity for the Maidstone area and to benefit from a distribution channel that offers no connection fee, and very low commission.

What is TXGB?

TXGB is a digital marketplace, developed in partnership with VisitEngland. It offers tourism businesses the opportunity to diversify their distribution, and gives distributors the ability to choose from a wide range of bookable tourism product, to add to their programmes.

What is meant by diversifying my distribution?

It means that you, as a tourism business, can choose from a selection of distribution channels, domestically and internationally, all in one place. These range from niche operators, to OTAs's (Online Tour Operators) and – most importantly here – destination websites like ours: www.visitmaidstone.com! It also allow you to make your own website bookable, if it isn’t already.

How is this helping local tourism recovery?

As businesses reopen post-Covid, we are investing in bringing visitors back to Maidstone. We want to make it as easy as possible to “know before you go”, by providing the latest visitor information on our website. We will be driving visitors to our website through our own activity, and that of VisitEngland. And we want it to be as easy as possible for visitors to look and then book. By selling your product on Visit Maidstone you’re front and centre stage of our recovery campaign.

Where can I find out more?

Visit TXGB.co.uk to find out more, and get started. Or call 0330 223 5050 to chat to one of the team about the benefits this partnership can bring to your business.

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So how does this bookability work and what will it cost me?

Each time your product is sold via the Visit Maidstone Website you’ll pay just 2.5%, plus 2.5% to TXGB as a booking fee and this is only paid if a booking takes place via Visit Maidstone and TXGB.  So no sale of a ticket, means no fee.  

We have booking on Visit Maidstone’s website but only for accommodation through OTA's. There was no booking engine available for attractions. TXGB now means that we have an enhanced functionality and an improved user experience, making it easier for consumers to look and book. The bonus is that you will be paying a lower commission on sales on our channels, through your TXBG connection than any other on-line ticket sales.

Consumers will be able to book your products via a “book” button on your dedicated product page.  We will be linking to your booking page on our website from our editorial, to help drive consumers from “look” to “book”.

Our TXGB connection will be integrated into our existing Polling Engine.  This means that your product will appear seamlessly as part of the existing booking area of the website.  Your TXGB connection allows consumers to book here rather than going to On-Line Travel Agents websites, meaning you benefit from lower commission payments on your bookings.

We are integrating to TXGB so your product can appear in our new availability search function.

We will be developing a specific campaign for all the products in our destination which have opted into our distribution channel.  Your business will be an important part of this campaign.

Options for linking up

TXGB will enable you to take online bookings on your website or if you don’t have a website, link to online booking pages from your social media channels or e-newsletters. The ticketing system is called TXLoad and will provide booking and ticketing system simply to you, so you know who is coming and when and you will have already received their money.  TXLoad is a free for you to use.

Connecting to TXGB gives you access to a wide choice of distribution options all available in one place.

It is free to connect to TXGB, and there are no on-going fees. You can see the booking data for all your TXGB distribution channels on the TXGB dashboard.

Getting set up

1. Go to www.TXGB.co.uk website and ‘Apply now’.
2. Select your booking system in the sign up wizard (this might be TX Load)
3. Sign up for or link an existing Stripe account so you can receive payments.  It’s easy and free to sign up for a Stripe account.  This is used to handle consumer payments securely.  www.stripe.com/gb

Getting Connected 

1.  From your ‘apply now’ you will receive login details to the TXGB Dashboard.
2. Set up your products in TX Load or connect your existing products from your booking system.  (The products are your tickets/tours/services).
3. Browse available channels, review commission rates and opt in terms. (These could be booking.com, Expedia, Trip Advisor, Visit Maidstone etc)
4. Opt into the channels that are right for you, and;
5. Add booking pages to your own website.

To take the bookings

1. Visit Maidstone will share your live availability and pricing on their website.
2. Receive bookings!
3. In most cases, receive payment up front and immediately.
4. TXGB will issue a monthly statement and invoice you monthly by direct debit for any commission/ booking fees owed.

HELP DESK

TXGB are available to help any tourism business get connected to TXGB, so if things get difficult or tricky then please contact them.  0330 223 5050 or support@txgb.co.uk

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