Direct Travel has expanded its proprietary Direct Lift platform to include hotel bookings for its network of travel advisors.
Originally launched in 2022, Direct Lift was developed to help advisors manage air transactions—including reservations, ticketing, changes, cancellations, and invoicing.
The latest upgrade now gives advisors 24/7 global access to hotel bookings through the same platform.
The system integrates access to the Virtuoso Hotel Program, the Direct Travel Global Hotel Program, and a range of Preferred Partner agreements with major luxury brands. These include Accor, Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group, Rosewood Hotels & Resorts, Belmond Hotels, Four Seasons Hotels & Resorts, and Dorchester Collection.
“Post pandemic, we are seeing a huge surge in the demand for FIT travel,” said Stephen Smith, Direct Travel’s Senior Vice President of Strategy & Marketing.
“Having access to exclusive rates and complimentary amenities and benefits, such as airport transfers, upgrades, daily breakfast, early check-in and late check-out makes using a Direct Travel advisor invaluable.”
Smith said Direct Lift was designed with ease of use in mind, especially for advisors unfamiliar with global distribution systems (GDS). “With a quick and intuitive search, our 900-plus leisure advisors can access the best pricing in a straightforward interface,” he said.
He also noted that Direct Travel’s involvement in corporate and incentive travel strengthens its overall buying power—benefiting hotel bookings as well.
"The new hotel booking interface is simple to use and clearly defines the various rate codes and their amenities,” Deanna Rigby-Sutherland, a travel advisor recognized with the GEM Trip award for top use of Direct Lift’s air booking features, said. “Ultimately, it allows me to spend more time focusing on my clients.”
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