FAQs
If you don't find an answer to your questions here please contact us and a customer service representative will be happy to assist you.
General Information / ARC MarketPlace ID / Commission Payments
All Travel Professionals may make purchases and earn commission on ARC MarketPlace.
- ARC-accredited agents simply enter their valid ARC Number at the time of sale (with the exception of Greyhound Bus Tickets which are processed on an MCO in a GDS.)
- All other travel professionals must register online for an ARC MarketPlace ID. Once you have registered for a MarketPlace ID, you are ready to begin purchasing and earning commission. During the check out process when prompted to enter an ARC Number, in lieu of an ARC Number, enter your MarketPlace ID to ensure you get paid commission for the sale.
- Click here for more information on the MarketPlace ID
- Click here to register for a MarketPlace ID
No, there is no cost to use ARC MarketPlace.
- Contact Us
- Phone: Call the ARC Customer Care Center at (703) 816-8003, option 1, to speak to a customer care representative
Commission
Commissions will be paid through ARC Memo Manager unless you tell us you would rather be paid by direct deposit into your IAR bank account. If you would like to continue to receive your commission payments via a credit memo in ARC Memo Manager do nothing - you are all set.
If however, you would like to request that we pay your ARC MarketPlace commissions by direct deposit, send an email to arcmppo@arccorp.com including the following:
- Request that you want to receive your ARC MarketPlace commission payments via direct deposit
- ARC Number
- Agency Name
- Agent Name
- Phone Number
- Email Address that you want your commission payment monthly reports to be sent to
- Notes: If you do opt to receive your ARC MarketPlace commission payments by direct deposit, any unclaimed credit memos that your agency currently may have in ARC Memo Manger will be included with the first direct deposit.
- Any decision made about receiving commission payments will apply to all ARC MarketPlace products
- Greyhound sales are excluded as they are processed on an MCO and commission is paid into IAR
Purchasing
For purchasing activities, rental cars, and passport & visa expediting services select product(s) from the ARC MarketPlace Web site that you wish to purchase and proceed to check out. During the check out process when prompted to enter an ARC Number, in lieu of an ARC Number, enter your MarketPlace ID to ensure you get paid commission for the sale. Print any receipts and vouchers at the time of sale from your computer/printer.
For Greyhound bus tickets, follow the instructions on the ARC MarketPlace Web site to issue an automated MCO. The Exchange Coupon of the MCO is redeemed by your client for a Greyhound ticket at a Greyhound terminal. Commission is paid in your IAR report. Note: Only ARC-accredited agents and Corporate Travel Departments can earn commission selling Greyhound tickets.
Yes, only Greyhound bus tickets require an MCO. Instructions on how to issue MCOs for Greyhound bus tickets are located on the ARC MarketPlace Web site.
ARC MarketPlace ID
An ARC MarketPlace ID is the number ARC uses to track your purchases and credit your company in order to pay you commissions for purchases made on the ARC MarketPlace Web site and through the ARC MarketPlace Affiliate Program.
- Choose your MarketPlace ID or have the system assign one to you
- ARC MarketPlace ID is limited to 12 alpha-numeric characters
- You must type in leading zeros if you want them to be part of your MarketPlace ID and use them when you book if they are part of your MarketPlace ID (e.g., 00123456)
- MarketPlace IDs are not case sensitive
- Do not use spaces or special characters in your MarketPlace ID
- Choose something that your co-workers will remember easily
- When booking through ARC MarketPlace, use the exact MarketPlace ID you registered for
Suggestions for MarketPlace IDs:
- Association membership number (CLIA, IATA, etc)
- Company name
Click here to register for an ARC MarketPlace ID.
Note: Once you register for a MarketPlace ID on the ARC MarketPlace Web site, if you haven't already done so, in order to get paid commissions, print and fill out the ARC MarketPlace: Commission Payment Financial Information Form and fax to 703-816-8195.
If you do not have an ARC Number and are a travel professional who would like to get paid commission for purchasing on ARC MarketPlace, then you can sign up to get a MarketPlace ID.
Click here to register for an ARC MarketPlace ID.
Note: Once you register for a MarketPlace ID on the ARC MarketPlace Web site, if you haven't already done so, in order to get paid commissions, print and fill out the ARC MarketPlace: Commission Payment Financial Information Form and fax to 703-816-8195.
If you are a non-ARC travel agent, this form is required in order to ensure you receive commissions earned through ARC MarketPlace and the ARC MarketPlace Affiliate Program.
If you haven't already done so, in order to get paid commissions, print and fill out the ARC MarketPlace: Commission Payment Financial Information Form and fax to 703-816-8195.
Activities and Tours
For each activity/tour product there is a brochure page on the ARC MarketPlace Web site that lists a great deal of specific information about the product. If your question is not answered there, please email the ARC Customer Care Center using the
Contact Us form on the ARC MarketPlace Web site and they will help research your question. For faster service, be sure to include the following with your question: product name, product code, your ARC Number or ARC MarketPlace ID, your contact information, and as much detail about your question as you can provide.
Tour departure information can be found on the voucher. If there is no time listed, you will be required to call the travel service provider at least 24 hours prior to the departure date to reconfirm the tour meeting point and departure time. This supplier contact information is also found on the voucher.
Reconfirming 24 hours in advance is mandatory with some travel products and recommended for others. Please refer to the instructions on the voucher for details. If your clients will not be arriving at their destination in time to reconfirm within 24 hours, please reconfirm with the tour operator prior to this time as departure times and locations may vary slightly. It is highly recommended your client receive this up to date confirmation directly from the tour operator prior to departure. All relevant details and contact numbers can be found on the voucher under the heading Important.
Most day tours and sightseeing tours do not offer airport pick ups. Most city airports are located well away from the city centre and tour operators cannot offer a pick up service from these areas. If a tour does offer airport pick ups, this information will be listed on the brochure page under the heading Additional Info or Airport Transfers. If there is no information listed, the tour does not pick up from the airport. You will need to choose a pick up hotel your clients can get to, or alternatively, your clients will need to make their way to the main departure point listed on the brochure page.
Activities - Purchasing
For destination tours and activities, simply select product(s) from the Web site that you wish to purchase and proceed to check out. Input your ARC Number or MarketPlace ID in the field that indicates ARC Number when prompted at time of sale. Print any receipts and vouchers at the time of sale from your computer/printer.
Yes, if the travelers are exactly the same for each of the different products being purchased. To add additional activities/attractions onto a transaction, click on "Continue Shopping" at the top of the page under the Shopping Cart.
This information can be found on the voucher. The voucher acts as the ticket. Simply present this at the stated destination on the voucher, together with valid photo ID for verification.
Only discounts and specials that are stated on the product description page under the heading "Pricing Information" are available. Further discounting for groups such as Travel Agents, Military Personnel, AAA, NRMA etc. is not offered at this time.
Visa, MasterCard and American Express
No, the lead traveler and name on the credit card do not have to match.
Yes. During the booking process you will be asked to enter the names and ages of the travelers included in the purchase. If you do not include them, the system will use the default age of 30 for all travelers included on that transaction/purchase.
The booking process is completely automated and all credit card transactions are secure. If you are receiving an error, here are some potential reasons why:
- Address entered does not match the billing address stored on record by the issuing credit card company- they must match exactly
- Information may be missing such as zip code, state, telephone number, etc.
- Insufficient funds to cover the transaction being booked
Please check the entered details on the booking form and try again. If still unsuccessful, please contact Customer Service.
Errors can sometimes occur as pages can be "cached". We recommend you "refresh" or "reload" your pages and try again. If you are still experiencing difficulty, please contact Customer Service with the details, including the exact error message you are receiving as well as the page you are on. Please note that information can be cached for as long as 10 minutes. You may need to close your browser for 10 minutes and then go back into the site.
Activities - Low-Price Guarantee
Book destination activities and tours on ARC MarketPlace (content provided by Viator only - rental cars, passport & visa expediting services, and Greyhound excluded) and secure the lowest prices and guaranteed reservations worldwide! Pricing is updated constantly to ensure you and your clients get the lowest price available.
The guarantee on the destination activities protects you and your clients two ways. If you or your clients find a lower price for the same exact tour or activity offered by the same operator (priced in the same currency) within 48 hours of booking, send us the details and we'll work with Viator to help you get the refund of the price difference. In other words, it has to be apples to apples.
Included in the Low-Price Guarantee is protection against arriving at a destination and finding the same exact tour or activity offered at a lower price from the operator. If you or your clients do happen to find a lower price direct from the operator, simply send us the details...and the price difference will be refunded. It's that easy.
Requesting a refund is easy! Remember to make a copy, print out or screen shot of the lower rate, in case the customer service representative has questions.
Other things you should know about the low-price guarantee on destination activities, and how to claim your refund:
- The Low-Price Guarantee on destination activities (content provided by Viator only - rental cars and Greyhound excluded) is available to anyone who makes a qualifying purchase through the ARC MarketPlace Web site.
- Qualifying purchase must include a minimum purchase of US $20 (or equivalent). Important Note: Theater, show, and event tickets do not qualify.
- If you or your clients find a lower retail or prepaid rate for the same exact tour or activity - offered by Viator's contracted operator on the same date and priced in the same currency as your original purchase - on any other Web site within 48 hours following your confirmed reservation from Viator, send us the details and we'll work with Viator to help you get the refund of the price difference.
- Upon arrival in your destination, if you or your client find a lower retail price offered by Viator's contracted operator for the same tour or activity-offered on the same date- send us the details and we'll work with Viator to help you get the refund of the price difference.
To submit a refund request, send an email to ARC MarketPlace with your name, Viator Booking Number or Itinerary Reference Number and the traveler's home address, plus proof (receipt, price list, flyer, web address or web screen shot, etc.) of the lower price.
Viator reserves the right to verify details of the lower price where possible. All refund decisions will be made at the sole discretion of Viator. Refunds of the price difference will be processed to the credit card used for the original booking.
Activities - Groups
You can include up to 9 people on a voucher / in one transaction. That transaction may contain multiple products as long as all the people on the voucher are purchasing the same products.
If the group is 18 or fewer, purchase online, dividing the group into two transactions of up to 9 people per voucher. For a group of 19 or greater, send an email via
Contact Us and our Customer Care Center representatives will assist you with your group booking.
Activities - Reservations
Some products that we offer are sold with an instant confirmation, and others, on request bookings, require confirmation from the tour operator prior to us confirming them to you. Generally on request bookings can be confirmed within 48 hours, however we are bound by the response times of our tour operators and occasionally the turnaround time can take a little longer.
Confirmations sometimes take a little longer than 48 hours, especially over weekends and holidays. Everything possible is being done to secure a confirmation. Please note that your credit card will not be charged until your booking is confirmed.
Activities - Vouchers
Upon completion of your transaction you will be prompted to print your voucher. You will also receive a confirmation email containing a link that you can click on to print your voucher.
No. Vouchers are printed in black and white on any printer on regular 8.5 by 11 paper.
You may click on the link for your voucher and print it up until the travel date on the voucher.
You may forward them the confirmation email with the link to their voucher so that they may print the voucher themselves or you can print the voucher and deliver it in person, via fax or by mail.
Yes, the travel supplier who is providing the service requires valid photo ID such as a passport, driver's license or any other form of identification displaying a current photo of the lead traveler in the booking that is on the voucher. This is required to protect your purchase.
Activities - Confirmation Emails
If you use Yahoo, Hotmail or AOL for email, you need to add
support@viator.com to your email address book contacts. This will prevent your confirmation email from being mistaken for spam. If this does not reveal your confirmation email, contact the ARC Customer Care Center for assistance.
When you have completed your client's booking, it is essential that the travel voucher is printed and included with all of their other travel documentation. This voucher is unique to the booking and is the proof of purchase. It must be presented together with valid photo ID upon commencement of the selected activity/tour, or used to redeem for a ticket. There may be separate instructions on the voucher, so please read these in advance of the travel service. It is suggested that you attach the brochure page to the travel voucher so that your clients have all the information at their fingertips upon arriving at the destination.
The travel voucher acts as the ticket. It is essential that the voucher is printed and included with your client's travel documentation. This voucher is unique to your client's booking and is your client's proof of purchase. The travel voucher is simply presented upon commencement of service, together with valid photo ID for purchase verification.
Activities - Cancellations/Refunds/Changes
The policies vary by product. It is very important to read all the cancellation, refund and change policies associated with each specific product prior to completing a purchase as they are binding.
Affiliate Program
The Affiliate Program is a great way to have your company Web site work for you to generate ancillary revenue. You earn commission for every purchase your clients make on your Web site through an Affiliate Program banner or link that you post on your Web site.
Yes! You only need to register once and then you can return to the Affiliate Program page of ARC MarketPlace and get HTML code containing your ARC Number or MarketPlace ID for as many banners/links as you would like to place on your site.
Register on the ARC MarketPlace Web site at
http://www.arcmarketplace.com/affiliate.jsp. Choose from a variety of banner styles and sizes and then you are ready to post your Affiliate Program banner on your Web site. There are easy to follow directions for you or your webmaster.
Clients can easily browse, plan, shop, and purchase travel-related products that will enhance all of their travel experiences on our one-stop shop platforms. You earn the same commission for each purchase your clients make for themselves through the Affiliate Program that you would have if you booked it for them.
You earn the same commission for each purchase your clients make for themselves through the Affiliate Program that you would have if you booked it for them.
Click here for specific commission rates for each product type.
Commission payments vary by product type.
Click here for specific details.
You can change the banner or link as often as you like to fit your business needs. Simply return to the banner selection page of the Affiliate Program registration area of ARC MarketPlace and select a different style or size. The link to this page is also included in the confirmation email you will receive when you register.
Contact the ARC Customer Care center at 703-816-8003, option 1, or send an email via the
Contact Us page on the ARC MarketPlace Web site.
Cars
Travel Professionals earn 5% on the total base rate of the car booking.
Yes, car rental reservations are 100% refundable up to 24 hours before pick up time of the reservation. However, cancelations made within 24 hours of the reservation pick up time are not refundable.
No, commissions are only paid on picked up car rentals.
Visa and MasterCard
Passport & Visa Expediting Services
Certainly, you can enter your clients' orders yourself on the ARC MarketPlace Web site - just click on the Passports & Visas tab at the top of the ARC MarketPlace homepage. You may also put a link on your company Web site through the ARC MarketPlace Affiliate Program, and your clients can order the expedited documents for themselves. Either way you can check on the documents' status and receive a full commission directly from ARC.
Yes. Travel Professionals that are not ARC participants can obtain an
ARC MarketPlace ID to facilitate the commission payment program and there is no cost to sign up or participate.
You are able to track your client's order online and the transactions will be listed in the commission details statement you receive from ARC along with your commission payments.
Yes, the documents are returned directly to the client via FedEx.
Same-day service is available, if needed, but less expensive options are available if it is not required. Some countries do not have same-day service for visas.
Click here for expediting options.
Commission is 10% of the fee charged by A Briggs Passport & Visa Expeditors for the expediting service you order. Commission is paid based on the ship date of the expedited documents. Commission is the same whether you order the documents for your clients on ARC MarketPlace or they order them for themselves through an Affiliate Program link on your company Web site.
Greyhound Bus Tickets
Purchase Greyhound bus tickets for your clients anywhere Greyhound offers service by issuing an automated MCO and processing the sale through ARC. Your client redeems the Exchange Coupon of the MCO for a hard Greyhound ticket at a Greyhound terminal prior to travel. Commission is paid in your agency's IAR report. For more information,
click here.
Step by step instructions are located on the
Greyhound area of the ARC MarketPlace Web site.
Attention