In episode 184 Steph cohosts with David Meihoefer of TPI! Steph and Dave have some really substantive questions to dig into, so make sure you don’t miss it! Here are the questions: 

1. Hi Steph and Guest. Our host agency was just hit with fraud and they sent a notice that we’ll be responsible for any fraudulent bookings. Is this common? I’m new and I’m worried I will make a fraudulent booking and not know it. It would be helpful if we knew what to look out and how to avoid bad bookings. —Anonymous

2. I am curious about the industry practice regarding changing from one commission split level to another within a host agency. Is it customary to be paid on a booking based on what your split is when you entered the booking into your host’s commission tracking system? Rather than what your split is at the time of travel?

Thanks for any insight!

—Anonymous

3. Do you recommend new travel advisors have a marketing budget from Day 1? I know you need to spend money to make money. However, I’m unclear how much to spend and would appreciate guidance.

Thanks!

—Anonymous

RESOURCES:

Mark Pestronk on Preventing Fraud

https://www.travelweekly.com/Mark-Pestronk/How-to-prevent-IC-fraud-on-suppliers

ARC’s Fraud Prevention Tools 

https://www2.arccorp.com/support-training/fraud-prevention

How to Protect Your Travel Agency from Credit Card Fraud

https://hostagencyreviews.com/blog/protect-travel-agency-credit-card-fraud

Role Reversal: Thinking Like a Travel Agency Fraudster 2017

https://hostagencyreviews.com/blog/role-reversal-thinking-like-travel-agency-fraudster-2017

Explaining Travel Agent Commissions [Infographic + Charts]

https://hostagencyreviews.com/blog/travel-agent-commissions (All about travel agent commissions, including airline commissions.)

HAR’s $100 Travel Agency Marketing Plan  (https://hostagencyreviews.com/blog/the-100-travel-agency-marketing-plan)

https://hostagencyreviews.com/friday15 (Submit questions, sign up for reminders for the F15, along with that week's questions we'll be covering!)