In this article, we explain the essential first steps for Online Travel Agents (OTAs) and Resellers to begin working with TourCMS as their chosen connectivity partner.
Whether you are looking to automate your booking process or gain direct access to global tour operators, this guide outlines our business model and the technical roadmap for your integration.
Understanding the TourCMS model
TourCMS operates strictly as a Channel Manager, providing a robust connectivity solution between operators and resellers. It is important to note that we are not an open marketplace; we provide the technology that facilitates your direct relationships.
Direct commercial partnerships
All collaborations between operators and resellers are direct. This means:
A direct commercial contract must be in place between your organisation and each individual supplier.
TourCMS does not participate in your commission structures or payment settlements.
Once your contract is finalised, the supplier will authorise your access to their specific channel within the TourCMS platform.
Why integrate via direct API?
Building a direct API connection with TourCMS offers significant commercial and operational advantages:
Full revenue retention: You retain 100% of your agreed commission, as our fees are managed solely on the supplier side.
Direct access to top inventory: Gain real-time access to high-demand tours and live availability.
Operational efficiency: Automation reduces manual booking processes, minimises human error, and accelerates your speed to market.
Seamless data synchronisation: Ensure your platform always displays the most accurate pricing, inventory, and product details.
Your integration roadmap
1. Register as an agent
The first step is to register here to create your account. Once registered, you will receive your unique Agent ID and API credentials.
🔒 Security Note: For your protection, please do not share your Private API Key over email. Our team will never ask you to send this sensitive information in plain text.
2. Review the technical documentation
Our API is designed for a smooth integration. Please review our core resources to understand the architecture:
2.1. Sourcing product information & pricing
To retrieve specific product data, use the "Show Tour" endpoint. This is essential for obtaining cancellation policies and required fields.
For displaying accurate pricing and availability, we recommend the following endpoints:
Show Tour Departures – Recommended for the most accurate pricing display.
2.2. The booking flow
When building your booking engine, please follow this specific logic:
Check availability: Verify the requested date and time.
Start new booking: Initialise the booking. If a pick-up is selected, you must include the pickup_key.
Commit new booking: Finalise and confirm the reservation.
2.3. Mandatory cancellation logic
Before you are permitted to connect to any live supplier account, you must implement the "Cancel Booking" endpoint. Cancellations must be processed via API as and when they occur to ensure synchronisation between platforms.
3. Request access to our test operator
To ensure your connection is robust, we provide a Test Operator Account (Channel 3930).
Once you are ready to begin development, please contact us here or reach out via your Connectivity Team contact. We will then grant your Agent ID access to the test channel so you can begin making calls.
Test account details: Please disregard the accuracy of locations, durations, or descriptions in these products. The purpose is to test product structure and API logic, not content. Key test products include:
You can use this environment to experiment with various product configurations, including:
ID 107: Freesale products
ID 108: Products with multiple departures
ID 48: Products featuring supplier notes
ID 75: Quantity-based pricing models
4. Integration completion & form submission
Submit the form: Once testing is complete, fill in the TourCMS Integration Form.
Live test booking: When you connect to a live account for the first time, always perform a test booking. TourCMS is connected to various subsystems (e.g., local reservation systems) on many accounts, and a live test ensures the end-to-end flow is seamless.
Connect with suppliers: You are now free to proceed with asking suppliers to connect your Agent ID to their accounts.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
➕ Where can I find my agent ID and API key?
Once you have registered and logged into your TourCMS account, you can find your credentials by navigating to: API Settings
On this page, your Agent ID and Private API Key will be clearly displayed. You will need both to authenticate your requests when building your integration.
➕ How can I monitor my API requests?
You can monitor and troubleshoot your integration in real-time by checking your API Access Logs. To view these, log into your agent backend and navigate to:
API Access Log This section provides a detailed history of your API calls, which is invaluable for debugging during the development phase.
➕ Who provides technical support during integration?
Our Connectivity & API Team is available to assist you here. To help us provide the fastest and most accurate assistance, please provide the full API request and response in text format (as a .txt file or within the email body) rather than sending screenshots. This allows our team to analyse the raw data and identify issues more efficiently.
➕ Do I need to pay TourCMS to use the API?
No. As a Marketplace Agent (OTA/Reseller), use of the TourCMS API is free. We operate a supplier-pay model, meaning fees are handled on the operator side.