How to automate supplier chases and track travel commissions

The administrative bottleneck in boutique travel advising

Independent travel advisors spend too many hours on administrative chores. Sorting through inbox threads, chasing safari camps for confirmations, and logging commission details manually eats up time that should go toward selling travel. Most agency CRMs require constant data entry to remain accurate. When busy booking season arrives, those records quickly fall behind.

Holidr approaches this problem differently. Instead of asking advisors to maintain a separate database, it hooks into your existing Google inbox and builds trip timelines automatically. This guide walks through setting up the system, automating supplier follow-ups, conducting property research, and auditing your commission revenue.

Step 1: Connect your inbox and generate trip timelines

The setup starts by connecting your Google inbox. Holidr reads incoming email threads and parses them directly into structured trip records. You do not need to import old databases or manually type in client itineraries.

When a new inquiry arrives, Holidr creates a trip record populated with traveler names, dates, bookings, and calculated commission expectations. Subsequent emails—such as a DMC confirmation or a villa manager invoice—attach themselves to the existing timeline automatically. The system reads attached PDFs to extract due dates, balance totals, and booking references without requiring you to open the files.

If an email attaches to the wrong record, click the reassign button once. Correcting a misfiled email teaches the parser how to categorize future messages from that contact or supplier.

Unconfirmed bookings and late invoices slow down itinerary completion. Holidr replaces manual tracking spreadsheets with a daily list of pre-written follow-up emails generated each morning.

The platform flags overdue supplier responses, such as a hold that needs confirming or a pending villa voucher. It drafts a nudge in your brand's voice, citing the exact context and dates from the trip timeline. Because the platform operates in draft-only mode by default, no message leaves your inbox without review.

Review the drafted message. Make any minor phrasing edits if needed, then approve it. The email sends directly from your Google account under your standard email address and branding. Suppliers and clients see only your communication, keeping white-label branding intact across every touchpoint.

Step 3: Conduct property research across live sources

Pulling property options for multi-stop trips usually requires opening several browser tabs, copying pricing details, downloading images, and pasting them into client emails. You can execute this research directly within the trip record.

Specify the property types and destination you need. Holidr searches live inventory across sources including Airbnb, Booking, Expedia, and verified villa partners. It returns options complete with current pricing, property photos, and direct links pinned to the trip record.

Select the listings that fit your traveler's brief. Holidr then drafts a client proposal email around those specific choices, styled using your agency's branding templates. You retain complete control to refine the commentary before sending.

Step 4: Audit commissions and flag short remittances

Unpaid and underpaid commissions are a quiet drain on agency revenue. Tracking what host agencies or suppliers owe across hundreds of bookings often falls through the cracks during peak booking periods.

When a booking confirmation lands in your inbox, Holidr records the expected commission payout on the trip ledger. As remittance statements arrive, the platform compares incoming payouts against the original calculated expectation.

If a commission statement is missing or comes up short, Holidr generates an alert and drafts a claim email to the supplier or host agency. This ensures every earned dollar is accounted for without requiring manual spreadsheet audits at month-end.

Step 5: Manage autonomy dials and auto-send settings

Control over client communications is essential for independent agencies. Holidr uses a tiered autonomy model designed to build trust gradually.

On day one, the software operates strictly in draft-only mode. Every draft waits for your explicit review and approval. Your edits quietly train the platform on your tone, vocabulary, and communication preferences.

Once you approve ten clean drafts within a specific routine category, such as routine supplier check-ins, you unlock the option to enable earned auto-send. When auto-send is active, messages trigger automatically but enter a two-minute undo window. During those two minutes, you can halt or edit the outgoing email.

Hardcoded boundaries on sensitive messages

Not every message type can be automated. Outbound client proposals, live pricing updates, and booking cancellations remain hardcoded in draft-only mode forever. The system will never automatically send a price change or cancel a reservation without direct manual authorization.

Pricing and trial availability

Holidr costs $99 per month, or $79 per month when billed annually. Both plans include unlimited trip drafting and deal tracking. The company offers a 90-day free trial for its founding cohort of the first 100 advisors, with no credit card required to sign up.