Protect Group, a global specialist in booking protection and ancillary products, has announced a new partnership with MyTicketPro, a platform connecting the travel industry to live entertainment, sports, and attractions tickets worldwide.
The collaboration will see MyTicketPro integrate Refund Protect, a service from Protect Group, into its expanding distribution network. This integration will enable participating online travel agencies (OTAs), tour operators, and other travel businesses to offer customers the option of adding refund protection when purchasing eligible event tickets.
MyTicketPro provides travel businesses with secure access to authenticated live entertainment, sports, and attractions ticket inventory through both API and extranet connections. Its platform is designed to support real-time availability, instant confirmations, commissionable sales, and accommodate both individual and group reservations.
The partnership aims to add a crucial layer of confidence to bookings, particularly for international customers. MyTicketPro boasts strong international distribution, reaching customers across markets including the Asia-Pacific (APAC) region and Europe, connecting them with sought-after experiences in North America. For these international travellers, event tickets often form part of a wider travel itinerary that typically includes flights, accommodation, and other arrangements, making booking protection a significant factor.
Refund Protect is a service designed to allow customers to apply for a full refund if they are unable to attend their booking due to a qualifying unforeseen circumstance, as defined in its terms and conditions, provided they can supply the necessary evidence.
Jason Mastrine, Global Ticketing Lead at Protect Group, commented on the strategic significance of the partnership. He stated: “MyTicketPro sits at an exciting intersection between global travel distribution and live-event ticketing. Its platform gives travel businesses access to inventory and experiences that can otherwise be difficult to reach, particularly when serving international travellers.”
Mr Mastrine further emphasised the customer benefits, adding: “Adding Refund Protect means those customers can book with greater confidence, knowing they may be entitled to a refund when an unexpected circumstance prevents them from attending. The breadth of MyTicketPro’s distribution network and its potential to scale across new inventory sources make this a significant partnership for both businesses.”
Jonathan Zuk, President of MyTicketPro, highlighted the alignment of the partnership with his company’s core mission. Mr Zuk explained: “MyTicketPro was created to make live entertainment, sports and attractions inventory accessible to the global travel industry at competitive prices. Our travel partners want to provide memorable experiences, but they also recognise that customers need greater reassurance when committing to an event as part of an international trip.”
He added that MyTicketPro's technology facilitates the connection of travel sellers with inventory from major North American sports and entertainment organisations while ensuring an efficient and scalable booking experience. “Our partnership with Protect Group allows travel businesses using MyTicketPro to offer that added confidence without creating more administrative work for their teams,” Mr Zuk said. “It is a natural extension of our mission to make live events easier, safer and more rewarding for travel professionals and their customers.”
The partnership has been specifically designed to scale in tandem with MyTicketPro’s expanding provider integrations and global distribution footprint. As the platform incorporates more inventory, the Refund Protect service can be extended across a broader spectrum of eligible bookings. This expansion aims to provide increased flexibility for a greater number of travellers, while simultaneously creating new incremental revenue opportunities for participating travel businesses.
This initiative also reflects a growing trend in the tourism sector: the increasing convergence of travel and live entertainment. International travellers are increasingly seeking to incorporate major sporting events, concerts, theatre productions, and other cultural experiences into their travel itineraries. In this evolving landscape, access to trusted inventory and the assurance of booking confidence are becoming increasingly vital components of the overall customer journey.
