Travel Agent Chatter | Friday 15

This week for the Friday 15, Shayna co-hosts with Jackie Friedman of Nexion Travel Group! This week we’ve got a bunch of great questions to discuss this Friday at 12 pm CST. Join us! 

1. When looking for a host agency is it better to find one in your home state? or it doesn’t really matter? - Michelle
2. Hello! I'm an aspiring travel advisor and keen to better understand how to tackle social media. I have my own personal Instagram account that I've been using for years to share content from my own travels, so I'm wondering what the pros and cons would be of utilizing my existing account and community versus starting a brand-focused one from scratch. Do you have advice on how to set myself up for success? - Emily
3. I'm a new travel agent. What is the best host to work with which has great systems, great support and a fair commission split. How do I determine all this? - Debbie

RESOURCES:

➡️https://hostagencyreviews.com/blog/host-agency-map - we have a locator map if this is something that’s important to you

➡️Nexion actually hosted a full webinar with us last year on ‘Social Media Strategies for Travel Professionals’ - https://hostagencyreviews.com/travel-conferences-events/2024/social-media-strategies-for-travel-professionals-8cabaf2f-8c7e-4a6e-993b-c51de2566da1-d00de365-7592-4b30-b514-06aeed33c8f2

➡️We have an article that goes through finding the best host agency for you in 5 steps - https://hostagencyreviews.com/blog/tips-on-how-to-find-the-best-travel-host-agency

➡️Go check out our host directory and do comparisons, submit questions or reach out directly to the hosts for a meeting to learn more - https://hostagencyreviews.com/hosts

➡️Tech Week! Registration is open for HAR*Wired! | Host Agency Reviews: https://hostagencyreviews.com/page/tech-week

➡️Call for Host Week Speakers - https://hostagencyreviews.com/page/speakers 

This week for the Friday 15, Shayna co-hosts with Lori Speers of Levarte Travel! This week we’ve got a bunch of great questions to discuss this Friday at 12 pm CST. Join us! 

1. When I'm a vendor at festivals a few times a year advertising my travel agency, booth visitors repeatedly ask what tours are available besides the flyers I have on the table that show guided trips of a particular country with prices. I always have to stress to them that I can design a customized trip or a FIT and that we are travel advisors. At that point they have a confused look on their face and don't realize that we can do that besides booking a fully guided tour.  What would you recommend so that they understand more clearly my services to them as a travel advisor? Should I remove the flyers that show guided trips? Should I place a flyer plainly in sight with bullet points what I can do for them? - Marc

1. Now that I've been in business for over 5 years, I am buried in data! I was checking out your travel agency software recommendations but am quite overwhelmed. The type of travel booking I do is not for leisure, I actually book for disaster relief. We are a 24-7 travel management company and we book on very short notice as well as very high volume.
2. I need a software where I can store all of my bookings and can easily enter guests information quickly. I need to be able to track each specific event, room rate, savings, no shows, cancellations, etc. I would also like to be able to check inventory levels for multiple hotels. There I times I get requests for 20-100 rooms and I have to call each hotel to check availability. I'm not sure if GDS access allows me to view inventory on a wider scale.
3. I've been running my business day by day as work comes and now it's time to really get organized and spend on tools that will help me work smarter not harder.

1. I'm considering focusing on Luxury, Family, and Accessible Travel and I was thinking of positioning myself as: "Luxury & Accessible Travel for Families and Beyond.” Before I move forward with that, I wanted to get some feedback. Does that phrasing make sense, or does it feel like too much? I'm open to refining it.

To give a bit of background:

1. We work with Virtuoso which has opened the door to the world of luxury travel for me. I'm constantly inspired by the potential to create exceptional, once-in-a-lifetime experiences I absolutely love it!
2. I've always planned travel for my own family, which is what inspired me to join the industry.
3. I also have personal experience with accessibility needs my son has sensory sensitivities, and I have family members who use wheelchairs so accessible travel is a cause close to my heart.
4. Do you think it's okay to market myself across these three areas, or would it be better to focus on just one? - Cassie

RESOURCES:

➡️We have a great blog piece on ‘What do travel advisors do?’ which outline many advisor privileges that aren’t available to the public - this could be very helpful to you - https://hostagencyreviews.com/blog/what-do-travel-agents-do

➡️ Definitely worth going to check-out our Travel Technology Directories - https://hostagencyreviews.com/travel-agency-software

➡️ We have an article on Tips for Choosing your Travel Agency Name - https://hostagencyreviews.com/blog/travel-agency-names

➡️Tech Week! Registration is open for HAR*Wired! | Host Agency Reviews: https://hostagencyreviews.com/page/tech-week

➡️Call for Host Week Speakers - https://hostagencyreviews.com/page/speakers

This week for the Friday 15, Shayna co-hosts with Meredith Calloway of Gifted Travel Network!

I am in the process of forming an LLC for a travel agency based in California. However, I do not currently have a Seller of Travel (SOT) license. I was wondering if you host agencies allow independent agents (that are members of that host) to operate under their SOT license. - Zack

Can a TA niche focus on last-minute travel or should a TA focus on last minute travel? - Diana

What do you think is the most valuable certification. Travel Institute offers the CTA, CLIA has certifications as well as my Consortium offers Leisure Travel and Luxury travel certificates.

Follow-up: Are there any certifications you would recommend completing prior to seeking out being a part of a host agency?

Can an agency change your commission level without notifying you or sending you a new contract to sign? Shouldn't there be some kind of agreement or acknowledgement from the agent before that happens? Then what if a host changes to a monthly fee. Again, shouldn’t there be a new contract or the option to leave and take your business. My partner and I are experiencing this and could use some advice.

RESOURCES:

➡️We have a full article about SOT licenses and how they work and when/why you would need them - https://hostagencyreviews.com/blog/travel-agent-license-seller-of-travel-license

➡️ List of travel industry lawyers and contact information: https://hostagencyreviews.com/blog/travel-lawyers

➡️How to find a travel niche - https://hostagencyreviews.com/blog/find-a-travel-niche

➡️ https://www.giftedtravelnetwork.com/the-travel-business-unpacked-podcast

➡️We have an article that outlines the different certifications that are available, so you an compare based on the niche you’re looking at or the certifications that are a legal requirement for you to sell travel - https://hostagencyreviews.com/blog/travel-agent-certification

➡️At HAR we have our 7DS Course which really focuses on selling up your agency, so the first big step - how do you set-up your business - https://hostagencyreviews.com/7-day-setup-accelerator

➡️Tech Week! Registration is open for HAR*Wired! | Host Agency Reviews: https://hostagencyreviews.com/page/tech-week

➡️Call for Host Week Speakers - https://hostagencyreviews.com/page/speakers

This week for the Friday 15, Shayna co-hosts with Carolyn Orf of KHM Travel! This week we’ve got a bunch of great 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 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.
2. I would love continued conversations about how to execute charging fees when different trips take such a different amount of time. Some people know what they want - some don't. I've been experimenting and every person I've told an hourly fee (I've tested it at $75 and $100 and gave my estimated timeline, they've passed on my services.) So, I haven't gotten any fees in the 6 months I've been working on this. I've had some great success, but I have also wasted a ton of time with people shopping me and then taking my itinerary and booking it elsewhere to save $20. (especially on FIT trips) I've got to take control of my time and energy and make sure I'm spending time with the right people. But I have no idea how to actually implement fees and what a reasonable rate/package is. And I don't want to scare off people who could become great clients. 
3. What is the process of switching host agencies? I am unsure if my current one is a good fit, but I do have trips booked while using them, and am unsure if I can bring them to a new host.

RESOURCES:

➡️This article will be very helpful, it’s the full picture of ‘travel agent commissions explained - https://hostagencyreviews.com/blog/travel-agent-commissions

➡️We have a full article on commission plans and differences between using a host v not and different hosts - https://hostagencyreviews.com/blog/host-agency-commission-plan-comparison-calculator

➡️We have a full guide to charging fees - https://hostagencyreviews.com/blog/travel-agents-guide-to-charging-fees

➡️From our annual advisor report, last year 20% of a hosted advisor’s income was accounted for by fees, so not something to sleep on - https://hostagencyreviews.com/travel-market-research-reports

➡️We have an article on switching host agencies and the questions you should be asking your new potential host - https://hostagencyreviews.com/blog/gifted-q1-2020

➡️5 main things to consider when switching hosts - https://hostagencyreviews.com/blog/switching-host-agencies-5-things-to-consider

➡️Tech Week! Registration is open for HAR*Wired! | Host Agency Reviews: https://hostagencyreviews.com/page/tech-week

➡️Call for Host Week Speakers - https://hostagencyreviews.com/page/speakers 

This week for the Friday 15, Shayna co-hosts with April Swales of Uniglobe! This week we’ve got a bunch of great questions to discuss this Friday at 12 pm CST. Join us! 

1. I am wondering how it works if I book flights and hotel stays separately for myself? I typically travel for work within Canada and also to San Diego for pleasure to see family. How does commission work for that type of travel? 
2. Hi, I just passed my tap certification. I'm interested in helping people with accessible travel .I'm disabled myself. Where's a good place to start. for example, host agencies etc
3. I keep noticing offers from my host agency/consortia/vendors that would provide perks for my clients and bonus commissions for me.. after it is too late to claim them. How do other agents manage the flood of consumer and agent incentives so they can make recommendations that are good for their clients and good for them?

RESOURCES:

➡️I would recommend checking out this wonderful company called ‘Wheel the World’ to learn more about what they do and how they do it with regards to Accessible Travel as that’s their focus - https://wheeltheworld.com/

➡️We also had a wonderful guest named Becky Kirby on our other Podcast, travel Agent Chatter where she goes into detail about accessible travel and some great links depending on what you’re specifically looking for - https://hostagencyreviews.com/travelagentchatter/becky-kirby-the-greater-go#sts=Accessible%20Travel%20Tips

➡️Tech Week! Registration is open for HAR*Wired! | Host Agency Reviews: https://hostagencyreviews.com/page/tech-week

➡️Call for Host Week Speakers - https://hostagencyreviews.com/page/speakers 

➡️https://hostagencyreviews.com/blog/travel-agent-rates

This week for the Friday 15, Shayna co-hosts with Jennifer Dugan of Dugan’s Travels! This week we’ve got a bunch of great questions to discuss this Friday at 12 pm CST, and you know it’s gonna be good. Join us! 

1. I don’t want to go out on my own and get an IATA and all that comes with that. But I also don’t want my host agency’s name on things like the client’s cruise documents, final travel documents, etc. I’m building my own brand that my clients know and trust, so seeing a different travel agency name at the top of their paperwork is too confusing for the clients and undermines my branding efforts. Is there a workaround for this? 
2. If you sign with some hosts and there is no non-compete... can you also sign with another host agency in order to maintain Virtuoso benefits? I am switching from a home based agency and am curious if it’s possible to have two hosts at once. I don't want to lose my Virtuoso benefits, but a lot of the Virtuoso agencies are not a full fit for me.
3. I am looking for a host agency and I have never had one before. I have compared a tonne on your site and I am feeling overwhelmed. What are the main things I should be looking for in a good host agency?

RESOURCES:

➡️What is an IATA or IATAN, in case anyone in our audience is interested - https://hostagencyreviews.com/blog/iata-number

➡️ We have an article about belonging to more than one host - https://hostagencyreviews.com/blog/belonging-to-more-than-one-host-agency

➡️Tech Week! Registration is open for HAR*Wired! | Host Agency Reviews: https://hostagencyreviews.com/page/tech-week

➡️I am going to link to our ‘getting started’ where we outline a couple videos and articles if you’re just getting started to find the perfect host for you and travel advisor basics - https://hostagencyreviews.com/resources#articles

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

➡️Consortia directories - https://hostagencyreviews.com/consortia

This week for the Friday 15, Shayna co-hosts with April Swales of Uniglobe Travel Center! This week we’ve got a bunch of great questions to discuss this Friday at 12 pm CST, and you know it’s gonna be good. Join us! 

-What is the best host agency for cruises? - Susan

-I recently joined a host agency and I do a ton of research but somehow I feel more lost every day. I feel a little overwhelmed with so much information and access out there that my brain is freezing. I don't know where to start off so I am doing all at the same time and freaking out. Do you have a "step list" of what to do first that you would recommend? - Build a website, contracts, forms, services guide, social media, trainings (do I prioritize supplier trainings or destinations?) I have a business and social media account set up and going but I am a mess behind it all. - Camila

-Not a question but a request... PLEASE discuss agent etiquette on FAMs.  From the unwritten rules of don't sit on the bed or use a toilet to the obvious ones of show up on time, don't solicit guests, etc.  There seems to be a lack of awareness and understanding lately. - Becky

RESOURCES:

➡️Travel Agent Chatter episode: Rocky Dimico, Flights and Fables

https://hostagencyreviews.com/travelagentchatter/rocky-dimico-flights-and-fables

➡️ listing of our host profiles https://hostagencyreviews.com/hosts

➡️Tech Week! Registration is open for HAR*Wired! | Host Agency Reviews: https://hostagencyreviews.com/page/tech-week

➡️https://hostagencyreviews.com/blog/travel-lawyers#sts=List%20of%20Travel%20Industry%20Attorneys

➡️What are FAM’s and how to find them - https://hostagencyreviews.com/blog/travel-agent-fam-trip#sts=How%20much%20do%20travel%20agent%20FAMs%20cost?

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

This week for the Friday 15, Steph co-hosts with Jenn Lee of Vacation Planners and TPI fame! This week we’ve got a bunch of great questions to discuss this Friday at 12 pm CST, and you know it’s gonna be good. Join us! 

1. I understand this podcast typically focuses on questions from advisors, but as a global OTA, we’re working to completely revamp our program for travel advisors in the US this year. While we already have several advisors from different host agencies using our services, our goal is to establish preferred partnerships with these agencies.

I’ve been engaging with various host agencies to communicate the benefits of leveraging a world experience marketplace, but I’m not confident that I’m fully addressing what they truly value or need.

What are the key elements or messaging strategies you’d suggest to resonate with host agencies and demonstrate the unique value of a preferred partnership with us? —Angelo Z. (Get Your Guide)

2. Suggestions for a host agency with least amount of fees and great training program with marketing. –Shelly P.

3. Tell us about the move to have you take a dual role of president and CMO of dual brands. What does this mean for the companies and your advisors?  –Steph Lee!

RESOURCES:

➡️Travel Agent Chatter episode: Rocky Dimico, Flights and Fables

https://hostagencyreviews.com/travelagentchatter/rocky-dimico-flights-and-fables

➡️Tech Week! Registration is open for HAR*Wired! | Host Agency Reviews: https://hostagencyreviews.com/page/tech-week

➡️Webinar: Growing Pains Got You Down? Let's Figure Out What's Next for Your Travel Business: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zstBlfxWabc

➡️All about preferred suppliers in the travel industry. (https://hostagencyreviews.com/blog/travel-preferred-supplier)

➡️Advice on how to find the best host agency. (https://hostagencyreviews.com/blog/tips-on-how-to-find-the-best-travel-host-agency) 

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

This week for the Friday 15, Shayna and Steph are thrilled to join forces with the Arch Roamright team. They'll take on a slew of questions about travel insurance this Friday at 12 pm CST, so don't miss this one! 

• Sometimes clients say they’re already covered through their credit card. How do I explain the differences without sounding sales-y?
• I often get questions about ‘cancel for any reason’ coverage , when is it truly worth recommending, and how do I explain the limitations?
• Are there any new trends in travel insurance we should know about, things like adventure travel, cruises, or luxury trips. Where or how is coverage evolving? 

RESOURCES:

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

➡️ We have a great Travel Agent Chatter Podcast where Karen talks about how she sells Cancel for Any Reason and how to use it as a sales tool. I will like the podcast in the comments for you all - https://hostagencyreviews.com/travelagentchatter/travel-agent-chatter-vol-5-karen-hurlbut-hurlbut-travel

➡️ Another way to find out more about HAR*Wired (Tech Week)- https://hostagencyreviews.com/page/tech-week

➡️ We have another Podcast, more longform called Travel Agent Chatter where we interview actual advisors and we often talk about travel insurance - https://hostagencyreviews.com/travelagentchatter

 ****** Transcript, Images + Show Notes: https://har.news/vol33 ******

What happens when you combine a Lord of the Rings obsession, a dragon-themed jeep, and a charismatic entrepreneur? You get Rocky Dimico, the owner of Flights and Fables - one of the most uniquely branded travel agencies we've ever featured! 

Rocky went full-time from day one after a life-changing trip to New Zealand sparked his "aha" moment. But this isn't just another niche story - it's a masterclass in building a brand that people can't ignore. We're talking dragon logos on Jeeps, black tents with gold dragons at vendor events complete with a travel advisor dressed as a wizard, and a business name that came from surveying his Dungeons & Dragons community.

You'll hear how Rocky's gone from zero to hero in just 20 months, selling 6 Lord of the Rings themed trips to New Zealand , expanding into anime/Japan travel, and booking his first groups. His vendor event strategy alone has generated multiple five-figure bookings from $35 investments.

But here's what makes this episode special: Rocky's approach to partnerships, networking, and community building that every entrepreneur can steal. From his Chamber of Commerce connections that led to 4 media articles, to his creative partnerships with map makers and IV therapy businesses, to finding a mentor advisor as his agency grew.

Whether you're looking for inspiration on niche development, want to see what fearless branding looks like, or need ideas for finding clients through in-person events, this episode will knock your socks off.

Plus, stick around to hear about Rocky's big dreams for brick-and-mortar fantasy travel shops in downtown areas across the country and how he successfully found a travel advisor mentor.