Travel API Suppliers for Startups
Starting an online travel agency is not only about buying a travel website or booking engine. The most important part is supplier connectivity. New startups usually ask the same questions: Which hotel API should I use? How do I get flight inventory? Do I need a deposit? Can customers pay me directly? Do suppliers collect payment first? This guide explains the major travel suppliers, their categories, commercial models, signup process, and expected startup investment.
A travel booking website like PHPTRAVELS gives you the technology, booking flow, admin panel, B2B/B2C modules, markup control, payment gateway integration, and supplier API connectivity. However, supplier accounts, commercial approvals, deposits, credit limits, and merchant payment accounts are usually handled directly between your company and the supplier.
How Travel Supplier Commercial Models Work
Most travel suppliers follow one of these models.
Merchant model: The customer pays you on your website. You collect the money through your own payment gateway, then pay the supplier according to your agreement. This is better for startups that want control over markup, agent commissions, refunds, and cash flow.
Affiliate model: The customer is redirected to the supplier or supplier collects the payment. The supplier later pays you commission. This is easier to start, but you depend on the supplier’s payout cycle.
Credit or deposit model: Some B2B suppliers give you a wallet, deposit account, or credit line. You may need to preload funds or provide a bank guarantee before bookings can be confirmed. For example, TBO states that it supports payment methods including credit card, bank transfer, cash deposit, and also accepts bank guarantees or floating deposits to open credit lines subject to terms. (TBO Holidays)
Major Travel API Suppliers and Startup Requirements
| Company | Category | Best For | Public Pricing / Commercial Notes | Startup Investment Expectation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Expedia Partner Solutions | Hotels | Global hotel inventory | Partner approval required; commercial terms are usually not public | Approval-based |
| Hotelbeds | Hotels / Bedbank | B2B hotel rates | Offers Booking API, Cache API, Content API; production requires certification/go-live process | Approval-based, possible deposit/credit terms |
| Agoda | Hotels Affiliate | Hotel affiliate monetization | Agoda publicly shows an example of 5% commission on a $200 booking | Low startup cost |
| Booking.com Affiliate | Hotels Affiliate | Affiliate hotel revenue | Commission is based on Booking.com revenue share/tier | Low startup cost |
| TBO Holidays | Hotels / B2B | Travel agents and B2B hotels | Supports deposits, bank transfer, credit line subject to terms | Deposit or credit arrangement |
| RateHawk | Hotels / B2B | B2B hotel booking | Terms depend on agency approval | Approval-based |
| WebBeds | Hotels / Bedbank | Global accommodation distribution | Commercial terms depend on contract | Approval-based |
| Restel | Hotels / Bedbank | Europe and global hotels | Terms usually contract-based | Approval-based |
| DOTW | Hotels / B2B | Wholesale hotels | Terms usually contract-based | Approval-based |
| Amadeus | Flights / Hotels / GDS | Flight search and booking | Self-service APIs offer test access and free monthly quota; production has pricing rules | Low for testing, commercial for production |
| Sabre | Flights / GDS | Airlines, hotels, cars | Production API use requires commercial terms and conditions | Approval-based |
| Travelport | Flights / GDS | Air, hotel, car, NDC | API Suite offers trial access and sales onboarding | Approval-based |
| Duffel | Flights API | Modern flight booking API | Public pricing page states zero upfront costs and pay-as-you-go model | Low startup cost |
| Kiwi.com Tequila | Flights Affiliate/API | Flight search and affiliate model | Usually partner/affiliate-based; production needs approval | Low to approval-based |
| Travelfusion | Flights / LCC | Low-cost carrier content | Contract-based | Approval-based |
| Viator | Tours & Activities | Tours, excursions, experiences | Affiliate API pays commission; merchant model has no setup fee but deposit may be required before live bookings | Affiliate low cost; merchant deposit-based |
| Tiqets | Attractions | Museums and attraction tickets | Competitive commission model; affiliate networks may show 3.5%–8% | Low startup cost |
| GetYourGuide | Tours & Activities | Activities affiliate revenue | Creator/affiliate program says partners can earn up to 8% commission | Low startup cost |
| Klook | Tours, transfers, activities | Asia/global activities | Affiliate program offers commission and performance bonuses | Low startup cost |
| TourRadar | Multi-day tours | Adventure and group tours | Partner program offers commission; some sources mention average cash earnings per booking | Low startup cost |
| Rentalcars.com | Car rentals | Car rental affiliate | Signup through Rentalcars Connect / Booking partnerships | Low startup cost |
| DiscoverCars | Car rentals | Car rental affiliate/API | Public affiliate page says no charge to join and offers commissions | Low startup cost |
| Stripe | Payment gateway | Credit/debit card payments | Pay-as-you-go pricing, no setup fee in many markets; pricing varies by country | Payment account required |
| PayPal | Payment gateway | Global wallet/card payments | US business fees show standard credit/debit card payments at 2.99% + fixed fee | Payment account required |
| PayTabs | Payment gateway | Middle East payment processing | Offers multiple payment methods and PCI DSS / 3D Secure support | Merchant approval required |
| Flutterwave | Payment gateway | Africa/global payments | Transaction fees vary by country and customer payment location | Merchant approval required |
| Xero | Accounting | Invoices, bank reconciliation, reporting | Public plans are subscription-based; Xero also promotes accounting software for travel agencies | Monthly subscription |
Hotel API Suppliers
1. Expedia Partner Solutions
Expedia Partner Solutions is one of the most recognized hotel inventory providers for online travel agencies, metasearch platforms, and travel startups. It is useful if you want access to global hotel content, competitive rates, and a trusted brand. Expedia API access is normally partner-only, and production credentials are given after approval and certification. (PHPTRAVELS)
Best for: Hotel booking websites, OTAs, B2C portals, and large-volume travel platforms.
Commercial terms: Not usually public. Approval and contract required.
Expected investment: Budget for business registration, website, supplier approval, and possible commercial commitments.
2. Hotelbeds
Hotelbeds is a major B2B bedbank used by travel agencies for hotel inventory, availability, pricing, content, and bookings. Their developer portal lists APIs such as Booking API, Cache API, and Content API, with a certification and go-live process. (Hotelbeds Developer)
Best for: B2B and B2C hotel booking engines.
Commercial terms: Depends on approval, region, and business model.
Expected investment: Often approval-based; startups should be ready for deposit, credit, or prepaid booking terms depending on their agreement.
3. Agoda Affiliate
Agoda is useful for startups that want hotel monetization without managing full merchant operations. Agoda’s partner page gives an example where a $200 booking at 5% commission earns $10. (Agoda Affiliate)
Best for: Affiliate hotel websites and content-driven travel portals.
Commercial terms: Commission-based.
Expected investment: Low; usually website traffic and affiliate approval are more important than deposit.
4. Booking.com Affiliate
Booking.com’s affiliate program allows websites to earn commission by promoting Booking.com travel offerings. Their support explains that affiliates receive a percentage of the revenue Booking.com earns from reservations made through affiliate links. (Booking.com)
Best for: Travel blogs, destination websites, hotel search pages, and affiliate startups.
Commercial terms: Revenue-share model.
Expected investment: Low; best suited for startups with SEO traffic.
5. TBO Holidays
TBO Holidays is a B2B travel portal for agents, with hotel inventory and real-time booking. TBO says agents can control markups and issue vouchers online; it also supports multiple payment options and credit line arrangements subject to terms. (TBO Holidays)
Best for: B2B agents, sub-agent networks, and wholesale hotel booking.
Commercial terms: Deposit, wallet, or credit line may apply.
Expected investment: Medium; prepare working capital for bookings.
Flight API and GDS Suppliers
6. Amadeus
Amadeus is one of the most important names in travel technology. Amadeus for Developers provides flight, hotel, destination, and travel APIs. The self-service environment gives developers test access and a free monthly request quota, while production use depends on pricing and commercial rules. (Amadeus IT Group SA)
Best for: Flight search, flight pricing, hotel search, and travel data.
Commercial terms: Free test quota; production pricing applies.
Expected investment: Low for testing, higher for live booking and ticketing.
7. Sabre
Sabre is a global distribution system used for airline, hotel, car, and agency solutions. Sabre’s developer documentation states that production API use requires agreeing to commercial terms and conditions. (Sabre Developer Hub)
Best for: Serious flight booking platforms and travel agencies.
Commercial terms: Contract and approval required.
Expected investment: Medium to high depending on market, ticketing setup, and IATA/non-IATA model.
8. Travelport
Travelport provides API access for air, hotel, car, rail, NDC, and other travel content. Its API Suite page highlights trial access, sales onboarding, and multi-source content. (Travelport)
Best for: Flight booking engines, corporate travel, B2B/B2C portals.
Commercial terms: Approval and contract-based.
Expected investment: Medium to high for production.
9. Duffel
Duffel is a modern flights API designed for developers and startups. Its pricing page states “zero up-front costs” and a pay-as-you-go model, which makes it attractive for newer travel businesses. (Duffel)
Best for: Startups that want a faster flight API onboarding process.
Commercial terms: Pay-as-you-go and enterprise options.
Expected investment: Low upfront, but live bookings still require payment flow planning.
10. Kiwi.com Tequila
Kiwi.com Tequila is commonly used for flight search and affiliate/API-based flight products. Public information is limited, and production or commercial use normally needs partner approval. (Tequila)
Best for: Flight search, affiliate flight models, and startup testing.
Commercial terms: Approval-based.
Expected investment: Low to medium depending on usage.
Tours, Activities and Attractions
11. Viator
Viator is one of the strongest suppliers for tours and experiences. It offers both affiliate and merchant models. Viator’s affiliate API lets partners earn commission, while its merchant solution says there is no setup fee, but a deposit is required before live bookings, based on expected sales. (Viator Partner Resource Center)
Best for: Tours, excursions, attractions, and destination activities.
Commercial terms: Affiliate commission or merchant deposit model.
Expected investment: Low for affiliate; deposit required for merchant model.
12. Tiqets
Tiqets is popular for museums, attractions, and tickets. Its affiliate program offers a competitive commission model, and affiliate networks list commission ranges such as 3.5%–8%. (Tiqets)
Best for: Attractions and ticketing websites.
Commercial terms: Commission-based.
Expected investment: Low.
13. GetYourGuide
GetYourGuide is a global platform for tours and activities. Its partner resources state that creators can earn up to 8% commission through affiliate links. (GetYourGuide)
Best for: Travel bloggers, destination portals, and activity booking websites.
Commercial terms: Affiliate commission.
Expected investment: Low.
14. Klook
Klook is a strong supplier for tours, tickets, transfers, and activities, especially in Asia and global leisure travel. Its affiliate program promotes commission opportunities and performance-based bonuses. (Klook Travel)
Best for: Tours, transfers, attractions, and destination content.
Commercial terms: Affiliate commission.
Expected investment: Low.
15. TourRadar
TourRadar is useful for multi-day tours and adventure travel. Its partner pages mention commission opportunities for partners and ambassadors. (TourRadar)
Best for: Multi-day tours, adventure tours, group trips.
Commercial terms: Commission-based.
Expected investment: Low.
Car Rental Suppliers
16. Rentalcars.com
Rentalcars.com, part of Booking Holdings, is a strong car rental affiliate option. Rentalcars Connect allows partners to sign up and earn from car rental bookings. (Booking Partnerships)
Best for: Car rental affiliate websites and travel booking add-ons.
Commercial terms: Commission-based.
Expected investment: Low.
17. DiscoverCars
DiscoverCars offers a public affiliate program with no charge to join. Their affiliate page mentions long cookie duration, commission earning, and custom API solutions for partners. (Discover Cars)
Best for: Car rental comparison and affiliate revenue.
Commercial terms: Commission-based.
Expected investment: Low.
Payment Gateways for Travel Startups
18. Stripe
Stripe is one of the most popular payment gateways for online card payments. Its pricing page explains pay-as-you-go pricing and custom pricing options, while its payments page notes that standard pricing can start without setup fees in supported markets. (Stripe)
Best for: Credit card payments, wallets, online checkout.
Commercial terms: Transaction fee per payment.
Expected investment: Low setup cost, but merchant approval and payout rules apply.
19. PayPal
PayPal is widely used for global online payments. PayPal’s US business fee page lists standard credit and debit card payments at 2.99% plus a fixed fee, while PayPal Checkout has its own fee structure. (PayPal)
Best for: International customers and wallet payments.
Commercial terms: Transaction fee per payment.
Expected investment: Low to start, subject to account approval and holds.
20. PayTabs
PayTabs is popular in the Middle East and supports multiple payment methods, currencies, PCI DSS, and 3D Secure features. (PayTabs)
Best for: GCC and Middle East travel businesses.
Commercial terms: Merchant approval and gateway pricing.
Expected investment: Depends on country and merchant package.
21. Flutterwave
Flutterwave supports online payments across several regions and payment methods. Its help center states that receiving-payment pricing depends on country/region and whether the customer payment is local or international. (Flutterwave)
Best for: African travel startups and cross-border payments.
Commercial terms: Country-based transaction fees.
Expected investment: Low to medium depending on merchant approval.
Accounting and Business Tools
22. Xero
Xero is accounting software useful for travel agencies that need invoices, expenses, bank reconciliation, and reporting. Xero has a dedicated page for travel agency accounting, and its pricing is subscription-based with plans varying by region. (Xero)
Best for: Accounting, invoices, reconciliation, financial reporting.
Commercial terms: Monthly subscription.
Expected investment: Low monthly software cost.
Other Suppliers to Consider
Startups can also research RateHawk, WebBeds, Restel, DOTW, JacTravel, Smyrooms, Welcomebeds, Travelfusion, Mystifly, and local DMC suppliers depending on target market. These companies usually work through direct commercial approval, regional sales teams, and B2B contracts. Their pricing, wallet, credit, and API access terms are normally not fully public, so startups should prepare a company profile, website, business registration, expected monthly booking volume, and target market before applying.
How Much Should a Travel Startup Invest?
A realistic startup budget depends on the business model.
Affiliate model: You can start with a lower budget because the supplier collects payment and pays commission later. This is best for SEO websites, blogs, and startups without merchant accounts.
Merchant model: You need a payment gateway, refund process, customer support, and supplier payment arrangement. This model gives more control but requires more working capital.
B2B supplier model: You may need a wallet deposit, credit line, bank guarantee, or prepaid balance. This is common for hotel bedbanks and B2B agent portals.
As a basic rule, new startups should prepare funds for website setup, supplier applications, payment gateway approval, API integration, testing, marketing, and booking float. The exact deposit is not universal because each supplier approves accounts based on country, business profile, expected sales volume, and risk.
Final Recommendation for New Travel Startups
For beginners, the best path is to start with affiliate-friendly suppliers such as Agoda, Booking.com, Viator affiliate, Tiqets, GetYourGuide, Klook, Rentalcars.com, and DiscoverCars. These suppliers are easier to understand and usually require less upfront capital.
For serious travel agencies, the next step is to apply for Hotelbeds, TBO, Expedia Partner Solutions, Amadeus, Sabre, Travelport, or Duffel depending on whether the main focus is hotels or flights.
PHPTRAVELS can help you connect your travel website with hotel APIs, flight APIs, tour APIs, car rental modules, payment gateways, B2B/B2C features, markup tools, wallets, invoices, and admin dashboard reporting. The technology can be ready, but supplier approval and commercial agreements must be completed directly with each supplier.
In 2026, it is imperative for startups in the travel industry to carefully evaluate their options when selecting API suppliers. Focusing on established providers such as Hotelbeds, TBO, and Expedia Partner Solutions can facilitate access to a wide range of services tailored to their specific needs. Additionally, PHPTRAVELS offers a comprehensive suite of integration solutions that enhance operational efficiency and improve user experience. Startups should remain vigilant regarding fluctuations in supplier pricing and terms, ensuring that they verify all agreements prior to finalizing any business relationships.
