Education
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What every travel advisor should understand about support, commissions, and long-term fit.
Choosing a host agency is one of the most important decisions a travel advisor can make — and one of the most misunderstood.
On The Lounge by Travefy podcast, we explore what host agencies actually do, what they don’t do, and why long-term success has far more to do with fit, expectations, and how you build your business than commission splits alone. Drawing on insights shared by industry expert, Shayna Zand at Host Agency Reviews, this article breaks down what every advisor should understand before joining a host.
If you’re evaluating host agencies, or reconsidering whether your current host is the right fit, this guide will help you make a smarter, more confident decision.
At its simplest, a host agency is a business partner that provides travel advisors with the infrastructure needed to legally sell travel and grow their business.
A helpful way to think about a host agency is like joining a professional club. You pay a membership fee, and in return, you gain access to tools, resources, and support that would be difficult (or impossible) to access on your own.
Most host agencies provide:
A host agency supports your business — but it is not your employer.
Understanding what a host agency does not do is just as important as understanding what it does.
A host agency:
Hosts provide tools, training, and support, but advisors must use those resources to see results. Your success still depends on how you show up and run your business.
Most host agencies charge a monthly or annual fee. These fees fund:
For most advisors, host fees are modest compared to the value and time savings they provide.
Many advisors hesitate to charge service fees, fearing they’ll lose clients. However, industry data consistently shows that advisors who charge fees:
On average, advisor fees account for roughly 20% of total income — making them a meaningful revenue stream.
Commission splits often get the most attention, but they’re frequently misunderstood.
While hosts typically take a percentage of commission (commonly starting around a 70/30 split), advisors often earn more overall because:
Looking only at the split percentage misses the bigger financial picture.
Two advisors can join the same host agency and have completely different experiences.
Advisors who thrive tend to:
Advisors who struggle often expect the host to do the work for them instead of with them — or discover too late that the host isn’t the right fit for their goals.
Not all host agencies are the same.
Hosts differ in:
With more than 85% of advisors operating within a niche, alignment matters. A host that supports your niche, whether luxury, adventure, cruises, or group travel, can dramatically impact your success.
The best host agency is not universal. It’s the one that aligns with your business stage, goals, and vision.
Instead of asking, “What’s my commission split?” start by asking:
“How will this host help me grow my business?”
Then:
Most host agencies want to speak with you before you join — not only to answer your questions, but to ensure the partnership is a good fit on both sides.
Choosing a host agency isn’t about chasing the highest percentage or the lowest fee. It’s about finding the right partner to support how you want to build your travel business.
When expectations, tools, education, and goals align, a host agency becomes one of the most powerful assets an advisor can have.
Listen to this episode of The Lounge featuring Shayna Zand from Host Agency Reviews for deeper insights and real-world examples from across the industry.
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