Scott Austin had been with his host agency for only six months when things started to go wrong. A former hospital CFO, he signed up with Pinnacle Travel in 2022, and immediately immersed himself in learning about the industry first-hand. He traveled extensively with Pinnacle owner Annaliza Proctor to places like Puerto Vallarta and Cancun, and quickly came to consider her a “very, very good friend.”

When his first commission check failed to appear, he let it be. The second time, though, he called the supplier—and was told they had sent the money to Pinnacle 45 days earlier Read the rest of this entry »

Host Agency Reviews has released its 70+ page report on trends in the world of host agencies: The Hosted Travel Advisor Research Report Summary, 2023.

The recently released report aims to inform advisors, suppliers, agency allies, and host agencies about the current state of affairs in the industry—according to the 1,700+ hosted advisors polled.

Of those, only 23% of hosted advisors have reported sales below pre-pandemic levels. This lends thought to the optimism Read the rest of this entry »

OutsideAgents.com announced on August 15^th the launch of their new program to help advisors on their platform with workflow, starting at the ring of a phone. So Your Phone Rang (SYPR) is the name they chose, a fitting one for the question ever present on the advisor’s mind: “How do I run my business?”

Chad Burt, Co-Owner at OutsideAgents.com, stated in a press release that “we wanted to create something that felt conversational and direct.” Read the rest of this entry »

As discussed in the last Point-to-Point column, travel advisor independent contractors (ICs) are renters rather than owners that can become affiliated with as many host agencies as they wish. While few ICs will want to do business with more than two or three host agencies, there is a strong business case for not limiting yourself to one.

Also as discussed in the earlier article, you may want to do this to take advantage of a second host agency’s strengths; or it may be to avoid what you see as glaring weaknesses of your present choice. On a more obvious level, a second (or third) host agency may improve your bargaining position regarding commission rates and FAM trips. Read the rest of this entry »

Chad is fortunate to be a natural born entrepreneur as he’s been a terrible employee historically. Starting his first business in 4th grade, Chad had been a serial entrepreneur until finding a true home with his cousin when they founded OutsideAgents.com. Chad is now thrilled to share his passion and insights for small travel agencies with big dreams. Chad also loves playing with his kids, spending time with his wife, and racing anything with a motor. In his spare time, he does a little juggling and standup comedy.

Important: MBA, 30 years in C-level Marketing, IT, and Business Development. Notoriously curious. Disdain for the inauthentic. Recent activities: Fraud Prevention Program, Marketing Engine for Travel Agents (powered in part by TRO), Integrated AI, Prosper Circle Small Group Agent Incubator, and a Parent/Sub agent program to connect small agency owners and their staff with industry experts. Read the rest of this entry »

Travel Agent ICs (Independent Contractors) are like month-to-month renters:

• ICs don’t own their host agencies.
• ICs can move with as little as 30 days’ notice.
• Host agencies can end the relationship with as little as 30 days’ notice.
• ICs can rent as many “homes” as they wish.

Some host agency executives treat signing with several agencies or dropping one in favor of another as an indication of Read the rest of this entry »

Like many agents out there, after the pandemic I’m busier than ever with new and repeat business. It has doubled year after year and, 2023 is shaping up to double again. As a solo owner/operator, it took some trial and error to find my groove. I can’t point to one thing that moved the needle—it has been a combined approach from multiple angles. Here are some things that have helped me accelerate my multi-million-dollar business growth. Read the rest of this entry »

If you’re a travel advisor or know someone who is, then you may have heard of HAR’s Travel Advisor Survey. For those who are unfamiliar, this survey is the only one of its kind that profiles different advisor segments, including income, fees, business operations, demographics, and career satisfaction. Read the rest of this entry »

For hosted advisors, knowing all the facts about different host agencies is a must. Yet, sometimes the facts found on the host company’s website aren’t the whole story. That’s where Host Agency Reviews will come to the rescue, in specific Host Week 2023. Now in its third year, registration is open for this virtual event featuring notable keynote speakers, offers, and information for advisors of all levels.

Anita has been in the travel industry for over 28 years. She founded the host agency Ticket to Travel in 1993, which was merged into KHM Travel Group in 2020. Her voice has been one of inspiring the at-home advisor with books such as “How I Made a Small Fortune as a Home-Based Travel Agent”, and “From Home-Based to POWERHOUSE! – Marketing Strategies to take your Travel Passion to Profit”. Anita is currently the Vice President of CCTO (California Coalition of Travel Organizations), and the Vice President of Industry Relations at KHM Travel Group. Read the rest of this entry »