This week’s Friday 15, Steph Lee is back! She’ll be cohosting with Andrea of Outside Agents! Let’s have some fun, plus some questions to discuss this Friday at 12 pm CST. Join us!

1. How does an agent who doesn’t travel in luxury themselves, break into the luxury market? I’m not understanding how I can visit the properties and know about them if I’ve never traveled there. —anonymous

2. I’m interested in hearing HAR’s and the co-host’s views on how to use AI as a travel advisor. Is there a certain area where AI should be used and another where it’s not? – Cindy

3. Thanks so much for taking my question. It’s less of a question and more I need some inspiration. Would love to hear an inspirational story of an advisor who made it and what they did to make that happen. — Kenya

RESOURCES:

• https://hostagencyreviews.com/blog/what-is-dmc-destination-management-company
• https://hostagencyreviews.com/blog/travel-agent-training-travel-agent-education
• https://hostagencyreviews.com/blog/find-a-travel-niche
• https://hostagencyreviews.com/blog/travel-agent-fam-trip
• https://hostagencyreviews.com/travel-conferences-events
• https://hostagencyreviews.com/har-wired
• https://hostagencyreviews.com/travelagentchatter

This week’s Friday 15, Steph Lee is back! She’ll be cohosting with Phil and Samantha Hammond of Jus Adventures! Let’s have some fun, plus some questions to discuss this Friday at 12 pm CST. Join us!

1. I watched some of HAR Wired last week, thank you. My question is what do you suggest should be the first technology investment I make once my agency is set up? —Anonymous
2. I’m a new travel agent and have found HAR invaluable as I try to learn. I’m thinking of taking ASTA’s Roadmap Course and HAR’s 7 Day Setup Accelerator. Do I need a host agency training if I complete those? If I do ask a host agency about their training, what should I ask? – Tanya D.
3. I’ve been selling travel since 2023. I’m getting to the point where I am thinking about leaving my full-time job but I am nervous about the income stability. What advice do you have for someone in my shoes to “Take the leap” so to speak? And how do people manage the money when it comes in so inconsistently. I’m used to my paycheck every two weeks! — Sara B.

RESOURCES:

• https://hostagencyreviews.com/har-wired
• https://hostagencyreviews.com/travel-agency-software
• https://har.news/roadmap
• https://hostagencyreviews.com/7-day-setup-accelerator
• https://hostagencyreviews.com/blog/travel-agent-training-travel-agent-education
• https://hostagencyreviews.com/travel-market-research-reports
• https://hostagencyreviews.com/blog/take-har-s-2026-travel-advisor-survey

This week’s Friday 15, we're welcoming Gina McGinnis from Uniglobe Travel Center! Let’s have some fun, plus some questions to discuss this Friday at 12 pm CST. Join us!

1. I understand some suppliers don't pay the host until after the travel date, but I've found some suppliers like FareBuzz, Celebrity Cruises, Virgin Voyages, and Allianz pay the month after the sale or after the final payment it's made. I also know some host agencies pay out to their agents weekly, bi-monthly, or monthly. I'm curious to know the industry standard for how soon after receipt of commission from the supplier would a host agency pay the independent agent. - Jen
2. I have an interest in working with boutique suppliers, especially accommodations such as boutique hotels and Bed and Breakfasts. I'm wondering how host agencies mix with boutique suppliers? Do they generally have these connections? Am I able to make these connections and book with these suppliers using my host agencies IATA number? - Laura
3. I'm a new advisor and the host agency's booking platform is soooo complicated! I'm still trying to make it through the training. Thinking about switching to another host. Are booking platforms so complicated in general? How can you find out? - Marsha

RESOURCES:

• https://hostagencyreviews.com/blog/travel-agent-commissions
• https://hostagencyreviews.com/blog/travel-preferred-supplier
• https://hostagencyreviews.com/blog/what-is-travel-consortia-travel-coops
• https://hostagencyreviews.com/travel-agency-software

It didn’t start with a niche, it started with a perspective. And in just a few short years, Karen has turned that perspective into a fast-growing travel business that’s on track to hit $1M in annual sales in 2026.

Since entering the industry in 2022, Karen has built her business around accessible travel, not as a checkbox, but as a core part of how she serves every single client. As a wheelchair user herself, she brings lived experience into every itinerary, helping travelers navigate a world that isn’t always designed with them in mind… and showing them what is possible.

Karen is a firm believer that accessible travel isn’t just for a small subset of clients, it’s something every advisor should be thinking about. From mobility needs to invisible disabilities to simply asking better questions, she shares how advisors can create more inclusive experiences without feeling overwhelmed or out of their depth.

In this episode, Karen walks us through how she’s built trust with her clients, the realities (and misconceptions) of accessible travel, and how focusing on this space has not only made her business more meaningful, but also incredibly successful.

Whether you’re just starting out or looking to better support your clients, this is a conversation that might just change the way you think about accessibility in travel.

This week’s Friday 15, we're welcoming Lori Speers from KHM Travel Group! Let’s have some fun, plus some questions to discuss this Friday at 12 pm CST. Join us!

1. Can you talk about the practice of DMCs presenting quotes in gross vs net commission, and is it preferred or acceptable to request one over the other? - Carrie
2. I am a travel agent (since 2012) and own my own agency (since 2016). I am thinking of bringing on another agent and need to fully understand the differences and implications to both me as well as to the agent between me having this agent as an (a) employee, (b) and independent contractor, or (c) a subagent - Karen
3. I am an IC with about 2 years in the business. I'm considering going out on my own because I'm not happy with my situation for many reasons. How do you know it's the right time to make this change? What do you see as the pros and cons of staying an IC and being independent?

RESOURCES:

• What is a DMC in travel? https://hostagencyreviews.com/blog/what-is-dmc-destination-management-company
• What is a sub agent and is it right for you https://hostagencyreviews.com/blog/travel-sub-agent
• https://hostagencyreviews.com/blog/travel-lawyers
• https://hostagencyreviews.com/blog/how-industry-collaboration-supports-travel-advisor-success-spotlight-on-path

Welcome to this week's Friday 15 podcast! This week Shayna's live on location at ASTA, with Carolyn Okon from Exodus Travels. And thanks to our sponsor Outside Agents for making this episode possible. Here's the questions:

1. I am an ICF certified Travel Coach, and when I pursued my certification I intended to building an online coaching practice to help women in major life transitions (career change, loss, divorce, etc.) find their inner bravery to face those transitions via adventure travel. As I’m coming along I’ve begun to learn I’d actually like to host my coaching via IRL experiences; group trips and retreats. My questions: ideally I am booking everything for my clients once they are on the ground, I’ve heard about FITs on the podcast, and wonder if this is what I’m trying to accomplish? If so, then what do I need to know about organizing only FIT travel in which I accompany my travelers? How do payments from the trip attendees work when I host a FIT under a host agency? How can I operate this legally and ethically, while being fair to the host agency? - Courtney
2. When changing Host agencies, is it possible to transfer clients and vendor information without doing it individually? As a courtesy, should I tell the agency that I am moving on to another agency? - Pamela
3. Do advisors typically split their planning fees with their host agencies? If so, does it follow the commission split? Thank you! (Anonymous, please)

RESOURCES:

• Guide to charging fees - https://hostagencyreviews.com/blog/travel-agents-guide-to-charging-fees
• What to think about when switching host agencies. (https://hostagencyreviews.com/blog/switching-host-agencies-5-things-to-consider)
• What does FIT in travel mean?
• https://hostagencyreviews.com/blog/fit-travel-meaning

This week’s Friday 15, we're welcoming Vanessa from Global Travel Collection! Let’s have some fun, plus some questions to discuss this Friday at 12 pm CST. Join us!

1. I am an IC with about 2 years in the business. I'm considering going out on my own because I'm not happy with my situation for many reasons. How do you know it's the right time to make this change? What do you see as the pros and cons of staying an IC and being independent?
2. I’m finding it can sometimes feel awkward or intimidating to confidently charge fees, upsell experiences, or position yourself as a premium service. What advice would you give to advisors who know they provide value but still struggle with the sales side of their business?
3. There’s so much pressure right now for us to constantly be posting on social media, building a brand, creating content, and trying to stay visible online. What marketing activities are actually moving the needle for advisors today versus what’s just creating noise and burnout?

Guide to charging fees - https://hostagencyreviews.com/blog/travel-agents-guide-to-charging-fees

This week’s Friday 15, we're welcoming Samantha from Jus Adventures! Let’s have some fun, plus some questions to discuss this Friday at 12 pm CST. Join us!

1. Hi!! I am a new agent (8 months) working on planning my first group trip and I want to build a girls trip to New Orleans and offer a package price and then clients can sign up to go. I have checked with Traveljoy and it appears that I am able to take payment through Traveljoy, for them to hold and then I can pay each supplier with a virtual card instead of charging the client 10 different transactions. Traveljoy would then the merchant of record and I feel this is safe. I tried getting a quote from a DMC and it's just not working out how I want and I feel like I don't have much control, so I really would rather piece it together myself since it's domestic anyway. I just feel like this would be so much more seamless for the client. Is this okay to do? Any tips or advice would be very much appreciated. (Feel free to cut/paraphrase if you decide to air this!) Thanks so much! -Tiffany
2. I feel like I always have a question for you but you are the best at answering them. Here is my latest question. I have a new client that is a pretty big spender. I booked her on three cruises for February 2027. She is interested in booking a pre-hotel stay and possibly insurance but I have not heard back from her in a few weeks, she said should would take care of all of that later. I don't want to annoy her because she said she usually books a few cruises a year and I really want to keep her as a client. How often do you suggest I just check in with her without sounding like I am reaching out to add on to her sale? Thanks again!! Travel Dad Matt
3. I'm wondering about the economics of creating a trip for a client using a DMC or tour operator rather than piecing it together on your own? How do the commissions compare? Has anyone seen a good resource comparing the revenue of both routes? I focus on luxury FITs and land/sea itineraries primarily in Europe, East Asia and South American. I get that using a DMC to have a local person available for emergencies is helpful, perhaps even essential, but if I just book my clients through a DMC or tour operator am I limiting my income potential? And what does my client need me for if the DMC is doing all the work? - Laurie

RESOURCES:

• What is a DMC? https://hostagencyreviews.com/blog/what-is-dmc-destination-management-company
• Booking Groups - https://hostagencyreviews.com/blog/supplier-want-you-know-booking-groups

This week’s Friday 15, we're welcoming Katy from Explore Worldwide! Let’s have some fun, plus some questions to discuss this Friday at 12 pm CST. Join us!

1. A lot of us hear ‘tour operator’ and ‘DMC’ used interchangeably, and it can be hard to know who to go to for what. From your perspective, how should advisors think about working with an adventure tour operator versus going direct to a DMC?
2. For advisors who are trying to grow their business, what are some of the biggest opportunities you see when it comes to selling adventure travel? Are there simple ways newer advisors can start incorporating it without overhauling their entire business?
3. Adventure travel can mean a lot of different things, from soft adventure to more physically demanding trips. How can advisors make sure they’re matching the right client to the right trip, especially when they’re still learning how to qualify clients properly?

RESOURCES:

• What is a DMC? https://hostagencyreviews.com/blog/what-is-dmc-destination-management-company
• What is a Tour Operator - https://hostagencyreviews.com/blog/what-is-tour-operator

This week’s Friday 15, we're welcoming Bill from KHM Travel! Let’s have some fun, plus some questions to discuss this Friday at 12 pm CST. Join us!

1. I'm a new-ish agent, under 3 years experience, and I have been entertaining the idea of venturing out on my own. I am currently with a host agency. I am curious about how this would work with suppliers and if this is a good idea.
2. Do agents typically manage their workflow with their host agency provided CRM program only, or are there other project management platforms that are popular with travel agents?
3. I keep hearing everyone talk about FIT. So what is it and how does someone specialize in it?

RESOURCES:

• https://hostagencyreviews.com/blog/travel-preferred-supplier
• https://hostagencyreviews.com/travel-agency-software
• https://hostagencyreviews.com/blog/fit-travel-meaning