Most travel agencies in India don't have IATA accreditation, GDS terminals or hotel contracts, yet they sell flights, hotels and holidays every day. The tool that makes this possible is the B2B travel portal.
In one line: a B2B travel portal is a login for travel businesses where you book flights, hotels and other travel at net (wholesale) rates, add your own markup, and issue tickets and vouchers under your agency's name.
How a B2B travel portal works
- The portal aggregates inventory: airline fares from GDS and NDC connections, hotel rates from bedbanks and wholesalers, plus extras such as visas, insurance and transfers.
- You see net rates that the public can't, after logging in as a verified agency.
- You add markup: a fixed amount or a percentage per booking.
- You pay from a wallet or credit line topped up in advance.
- You issue the booking: e-ticket, hotel voucher or visa, branded with your agency details.
Why agencies use a portal instead of going direct
| Route | What you need | Good for |
|---|---|---|
| Direct with airlines (IATA + GDS) | IATA accreditation, bank guarantee, GDS contract, trained staff | Large agencies with high ticket volume |
| Flight consolidator | An account with the consolidator; booking often offline | Agencies selling mostly air tickets |
| B2B travel portal | GST registration and KYC; no IATA needed | Small and mid agencies wanting flights, hotels and more in one place |
For a 2–20 person agency, a portal removes the biggest costs of travel distribution: accreditation, guarantees and technology.
How agents make money on a portal
Worked example: a portal shows a Delhi–Dubai return at a net fare of ₹24,500. You add a ₹1,200 markup and sell at ₹25,700. Add a UAE visa with your own ₹800 markup and a 4-night hotel with ₹2,000 markup, and one client earns you ₹4,000 across three products. Bundling is where agencies earn: a ticket alone is thin; ticket + hotel + visa is a real margin.
GST basics agents must get right
- Air tickets carry 5% GST in economy and 18% in premium cabins (premium economy, business, first) since 22 September 2025.
- Hotel rooms up to ₹7,500 a night carry 5% GST without input tax credit; above that, 18% with credit.
- Your service fee or markup is taxed separately as your agency's service.
- For corporate clients, put their GSTIN on the booking so they can claim credit.
Tax treatment depends on how you invoice (pure agent vs principal). Confirm with your CA before setting up.
12 things to check before choosing a B2B travel portal
- Fare sources: GDS, NDC and low-cost carriers in one search
- Hotel depth in the cities your clients actually visit
- Clear net rates and markup controls per product
- Wallet top-up options and any credit line
- Cancellation and refund handling, and how fast refunds reach you
- Branded tickets and vouchers
- Sub-user logins for your staff
- Reports and GST-ready invoices
- Support hours, especially for late-night ticketing problems
- Visa processing in the same login
- APIs or white-label options for later growth
- Who your contract is with, and their track record
Where Krosz fits
Most Indian B2B portals stop at flights and hotels. Visas are where agents lose most time: document chasing, rejections and embassy changes. Krosz started with a B2B visa portal and is adding flights, hotels and extras so agents can book the trip and the visa in one login.
How Krosz for Business can help
Krosz is building one B2B platform where agencies and companies book travel and the visa in the same place. Here's what's ready today and what's in early access:
| Product | Who it's for | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Krosz Partners: B2B visa portal with your own markup, wallet and white-label branding | Travel agencies | Live: create a free partner account |
| Krosz Enterprise: business-visa panel with team logins and a status dashboard | Companies and travel desks | Live: talk to us |
| Krosz B2B travel portal: flights, hotels and visas in one login | Agencies, startups and companies | Early access: join the list |
Talk to the Krosz for Business team →
Last checked on 11 October 2026. Airline distribution rules, taxes and supplier terms change often; confirm current terms with your suppliers and tax adviser.