TRUE (Travel Retailer Universal Enumeration) System's sole purpose is to help provide sellers of travel with the assignment of travel industry numeric codes that are recognized by the travel supplier community, including cruise lines, tour operators, hoteliers, and car rental companies.

The recognition of this universal numeric code by travel suppliers will allow the travel agent or agency the privilege of booking travel products and services directly with thousands of travel industry suppliers. This numeric identification code eliminates the need to establish multiple pseudo ID numbers with individual suppliers and Global Distribution System (GDS) providers.

There are NO specific SALES requirements that are necessary to acquire a TRUE ID code, but agents must meet their state laws if they are doing business from a state that has travel promoter laws. The TRUE ID code can be utilized as the “stepping stone” to acquiring your IATA “TSI” endorsement.

For more information about the TRUE ID code, go to http://www.ossn.com/true_registration.asp

This globally recognized numeric code is issued and maintained by IATA (International Air Transport Association.) through their cooperation with the Outside Sales Support Network (OSSN) and the Association of Retail Travel Agents (ARTA). TRUE is a wholly owned subsidiary of the Outside Sales Support Network and the Association of Retail Travel Agents. TRUE is a not-for profit organization.

An IATAN TSI ( Travel Service Intermediary) is defined as a business entity (proprietorship, partnership, or corporation) that is engaged in the sale and/or brokerage of travel and travel related services such as cruises, tours, hotels, car rental, bus and rail transportation and meeting planning. TSIs range from individual home-based businesses to large corporations and are located in the United States or Possessions.

The TSI (Travel Service Intermediary) appointment does require that the Agency MUST have been in business for one year AND has met a specific sales quota of $200,000.00 in gross travel sales to qualify and must also carry valid Errors and Ommissions General Liability Insurance policy. Agencies must also meet all state laws that are pertinent to the sale of retail travel in their perspective states if these laws are in force.

For more qualifications regarding the TSI IATAN appointment, go to:  http://www.iatan.org/pdf/503.pdf
Once you have met the qualifications for a TSI appointment, ( which hundreds of agents are able to do by FIRST acquiring a TRUE ID Code to build their sales volume in the travel industry), then you will also qualify to have your own IATA list and IATA card.

IATAN, a wholly owned subsidiary of the International Air Transport Association (IATA), is a not-for-profit organization. IATAN administers two distinctive endorsement programs, one for: Airline Appointed Agencies, and one for Travel Sales Intermediary (TSI) Agencies that includes all other categories of travel agencies.

TRUE and TSI help a seller of travel to become recognized by the supplier community as professional selling agents. Both issue codes only to business entities and not individual agents.

TRUE is a great stepping stone to IATAN’s TSI program. The TSI endorsement incorporates the IATAN Travel Agent ID card which is highly recognized by supplier’s world wide. If your agency meets certain IATAN sales and insurance requirements then your agency can become part of the TSI family of endorsed agencies.

Both programs can be validated by suppliers at IATA’s website www.checkacode.com