HANDLING DMC BOOKINGS

Created by Shahina Khan, Modified on Wed, 11 Jun at 4:44 PM by Shahina Khan

WHAT IS A DMC?

A DMC (Destination Management Company) is a travel agency that receives special rates for the activities and services we provide, including dining experiences at restaurants.

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DMC IDENTIFICATION & HANDLING

When interacting with travel agencies, it's important to identify whether the caller is a Destination Management Company (DMC).

There are two main types of DMCs:

Contracted DMCs
These are DMCs we have a formal agreement with. They benefit from special rates, and some may also have a credit facility with us, while others settle payments on a per-booking basis.
Non-contracted DMCs
These agencies do not have an agreement with us but may still request to book services at special rates. In such cases, bookings can be accepted as long as they follow our current rate and payment guidelines.

Examples of Common DMCs We Work With:

Highway Tourism
Connect World
Happy World
Golden Compass
Come Come Tour
Arabian Oryx
Rayna Tours
Elevate DMC

DMC BOOKING RATES

We offer special DMC rates for dinner (ONLY) at the following buffet restaurants, each known for their unique dining experience:

Saffron (Atlantis, The Palm)
South-East Asian buffet featuring a variety of seafood. Family-friendly with more than 220 dishes, 20 live cooking stations, and a spacious dining room. [Read more about the restaurant here.]
DMC Rate:
- AED 220 / Adult
- AED 110 / Child (4–11 years)
- Complimentary for children 3 years & below
Kaleidoscope (Atlantis, The Palm)
Authentic international buffet. Family-friendly. Located in front of the Ambassador Lagoon, which guests can enjoy before or after their dining experience. [Read more about the restaurant here.]
DMC Rate:
- AED 195 / Adult
- AED 97.5 / Child (4–11 years)
- Complimentary for children 3 years & below
Gastronomy (Atlantis The Royal)
Unique food market-style buffet with 17 live cooking stations and 4 bars. Vibrant atmosphere with a terrace overlooking The Palm and Marina. Dinner features seafood, sushi, meat, pasta, salads, and more. [Read more about the restaurant here.]
DMC Rate:
- AED 292 / Adult
- AED 146 / Child (4–11 years)

Prices may be subject to change without any prior notice. Blackout dates may also apply.

DMC BOOKING PROCESS

1. Acknowledge the request and collect the following details:

Requested Date, Time, and Number of Guests
This is essential to check availability upfront. Please specify the number of adults and children separately.
Company Name (DMC)
If the booking is made by a Destination Management Company (DMC), the reservation should be created under the company name to ensure proper tracking in their profile history.
Company Number and Mobile Number of the Person Calling
Collect the best contact number for the booking, usually the mobile number of the caller or the company’s main contact number.
Company Email
Email address associated with the company for confirmation and communication.
Guest Name
This will be noted on the reservation for identification purposes, while the booking remains under the company name.
Special Occasion
Allergies & Dietary Preferences
Special Requests
(e.g., Outdoor Seating, Highchair, etc.)

2. Reconfirm all guest and reservation details with the caller, and obtain their acknowledgment that all information is correct

3. Explain the payment details and process as follows:

For bookings of fewer than 15 guests, no pre-payment is generally required unless otherwise specified by the Restaurant Policy. However, most of the time, full payment in advance is preferred by the DMC.
For bookings of more than 15 guests at Saffron and Kaleidoscope, a 50% pre-payment is required.
For bookings of more than 8 guests at Gastronomy, a 50% pre-payment is required.
Promotion: Currently, there is a special promotion available only for preferred (selected) DMCs. They can benefit from a special rate for pre-paid group bookings with a minimum of 12 guests. For more information about this promotion, please refer to the attached Marketing Brief.
Payment time frame: Inform the client that the booking will only be confirmed once payment is received or the agreed payment procedure is followed. Payment requests are sent only when required by the Restaurant Policy, and payment is typically expected within 24 hours of the request.

4. Inform the caller about the Dress Code Policy and Table Holding Time.

5. Send the Confirmation Letter as per the following scenarios:

For bookings of fewer than 15 guests, send the confirmation letter once it’s clear that no pre-payment is required per the Restaurant Policy.
For bookings of more than 15 guests at Saffron and Kaleidoscope, send the confirmation letter only after the 50% pre-payment has been received.
For bookings of more than 8 guests at Gastronomy, send the confirmation letter only after the 50% pre-payment has been received.
For all other cases where pre-payment is required, send the confirmation letter once the pre-payment/payment is received.

DMC WITH LPOs

An LPO (Local Purchase Order) is an official document issued by a company (in this case, a DMC) to confirm a booking or purchase, with a commitment to pay based on agreed terms. It acts as a formal guarantee of payment and serves in place of immediate pre-payment.

In the context of DMC bookings:

The LPO is always sent via email first by the DMC as confirmation.
It must include all relevant booking details: number of guests, date, time, outlet, agreed rate, and total amount.
Once the LPO is received and verified, a reservation is created based on the LPO.
We then forward the DMC’s email along with the reservation details to the Finance Team.
The Finance Team will issue a PM (Posting Master) number, which must be noted in the reservation.
This PM number is used by the restaurant team to process the charge as per the LPO agreement.
Once the PM number is assigned and added to the booking, we send the official confirmation to the DMC.
The booking is considered confirmed only once the LPO is validated, and the PM number is in place.
Some DMCs operate under a credit facility, while others follow an LPO-only process—in both cases, the procedure remains the same.

DMC BOOKING FOR 100 GUESTS OR MORE

For bookings exceeding 100 guests, a Group Contract is sent to the DMC instead of a Confirmation Letter. This contract outlines the Terms and Conditions of the booking.

Steps to be followed:

Use the Group Contract Template and customize it with the details of the booking request.
Obtain signatures on the contract from the Call Centre Manager and the Food & Beverage Director.
Send the signed contract to the DMC for their signature, and request that they return the fully signed contract.
Once the fully signed contract is received from the DMC, forward it to the relevant Outlet as confirmation of the booking.

Attachments (1)

pdf

Sales Brief ....pdf
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