In a reverse of sorts for Expedia and other US online travel agencies, executives have brought a successful business model from elsewhere around the world back home to the mothership.

The Travel Agent Affiliate Program (TAAP), which launched officially in the US this week, allows participants to tap into the Expedia portfolio of flights, hotels and other products in exchange for a traditional agent commission.

Expedia is dangling an additional carrot in front of agents in the US with the promise of a fee waiver if they sign up before the end of June.

The US scheme follows the steady progress of a similar one rolled out across Europe over the past two years and later extended to Canada, Australia and New Zealand.

Expedia says TAAP currently has 8,000 members worldwide.

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