Travel Agent Chatter | Friday 15

Host Agency Reviews
  • 4.8 (74)
  • ENTREPRENEURSHIP
  • UPDATED WEEKLY
Travel Agent Chatter | Friday 15

We’ve got two listening delights for you on this channel, folks! 😲 The first is Travel Agent Chatter (TAC), a spotlight interview of a wide variety of travel advisors that we publish every quarter. The second is our shorter, but more frequent Friday 15 series, where every Friday we answer your travel industry questions for — you guessed it — 15 minutes! Travel Agent Chatter -- a Host Agency Reviews audio series -- inspires you with in-depth interviews featuring successful travel agents. We dig into what they do that makes their agencies flourish and how they did it. Transcripts, videos and TAC show notes can be found at https://hostagencyreviews.com/TAC The Friday 15 comes out every Friday at 12pm CT. For 15 minutes over the lunch hour we answer your travel industry questions. Submit your questions at https://hostagencyreviews.com/friday15 Travel Agent Chatter and the Friday 15 are hosted by Steph Lee, the founder of the website Host Agency Reviews and travel industry veteran. She's insatiably curious. A lover of travel, writing, gardening & the stars. Most importantly, she ♥'s her dogs, Fennec and Orion!

  1. Wait for Host Week to Choose Host? When to Make a Website? Where Do I Find Suppliers?

    56 MIN. AGO

    Wait for Host Week to Choose Host? When to Make a Website? Where Do I Find Suppliers?

    In episode 179 Steph is co-hosting with David Meihoefer of TPI! Here’s a taste of the subjects they’ll tackle:  1. I'm still debating which host agency to choose, do you suggest I wait until host week to choose?  Also do you think I should have my website set up before choosing a host? -Thanks, Jenn 2. I am still just doing lots of reading, and trying to better understand the travel advisor landscape a bit better.  One question I am wondering if you can answer for me is the relationship between the host agency and the consortium.   When I talked to a host, it sounds like they select their suppliers directly. They have a team that does that. However, it also seems like their suppliers have to come from the consortium, or at least they have to maintain a certain ratio there. So if someone wanted to be a supplier to that host, would they also have to be a supplier to the consortium?  Just trying to understand who really maintains that relationship between the suppliers? Is it both, or more one than the other? —Anonymous RESOURCES: https://hostagencyreviews.com/friday15 (Submit questions, sign up for reminders for the F15, along with that week's questions we'll be covering!)  How to build a website in 7 minutes + videos (https://hostagencyreviews.com/blog/wix-tutorial) Register for the party of the year: Host Week (https://hostagencyreviews.com/page/host-week) Advice on how to find the best host agency + questions to ask. (https://hostagencyreviews.com/blog/tips-on-how-to-find-the-best-travel-host-agency)  All about preferred suppliers in the travel industry. (https://hostagencyreviews.com/blog/travel-preferred-supplier) What is a travel consortium? (https://hostagencyreviews.com/blog/what-is-travel-consortia-travel-coops) What is a host agency?  (https://hostagencyreviews.com/blog/what-is-a-host-agency) Signature Travel Network’s HAR profile (https://hostagencyreviews.com/consortia/signature-travel-network) Travel Planners International's profile with reviews and info (https://hostagencyreviews.com/hosts/travel-planners-international)

    24 min
  2. Head spinning with CRMs - Help! Tools to Track Expenses? Fall Foliage Tour Bookings.

    OCT 18

    Head spinning with CRMs - Help! Tools to Track Expenses? Fall Foliage Tour Bookings.

    In episode 178 Steph is co-hosting with Jennifer Dugan of Dugan’s Travels! Here are the questions for this week!  1. I loved the HAR CRM and Itinerary article. My head is spinning: I've looked at so many, Planiteasy, Travefy, Traveljoy, Unmapped, Axus, Tess, Tern. Which one can I either forward the email confirmation from hotels/air/car and it will input all the details not just the confirmation, dates... like prices, room type and cancel policies, or do they all make you enter this again to create the client itinerary once finished booking the reservation? Which let you import confirmations directly from suppliers and help create itineraries? So yes I want a unicorn, a central repository for all my client's profiles and their bookings, plus the ability to create and send itineraries...that are of course beautiful.   Haha. -Janette  2. Does anyone have a place that they can recommend to track expenses?  I'm using an excel spreadsheet and honestly I'm not a fan of it. -Dina 3. Hi there! I have a client wanting to go on a fall foliage tour back east this year. I already quoted her a land tour, but now she’s asking about a train tour. Walking a lot would be a problem for my client. How should I balance all of these requests and find the right suppliers? Thank you for all your feedback. -Anonymous RESOURCES: Find itinerary builders, read over 90 advisor reviews + more in HAR’s new travel agency software list! (https://hostagencyreviews.com/travel-agency-software) Freshbooks. https://www.freshbooks.com/ Xero. https://www.xero.com/ Quickbooks. https://quickbooks.intuit.com/ Expensify. https://www.expensify.com/ What travel expenses can you (and can’t you) write off? https://hostagencyreviews.com/blog/travel-expenses Travel agents, here’s how to qualify clients. (Tutorials + real-life examples) https://hostagencyreviews.com/blog/how-to-qualify-clients-travel-agent Host Week EduSpot: Shifting Identities - Making Travel More Accessible. https://www.youtube.com/live/tT7cHbr_y-g?feature=shared&t=19139  Host Week EduSpot: Growing Your Business Through Accessible Travel. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g0cSwYJxyOU&t=15922s Dugan's Travels’ profile with reviews and info (https://hostagencyreviews.com/hosts/dugans-travels) https://www.facebook.com/duganstravels/

    23 min
  3. GDS vs. Other Air Booking Tech? Booking Air for Clients? How to Get Clients to Respond Back to Supplier Options?

    OCT 11

    GDS vs. Other Air Booking Tech? Booking Air for Clients? How to Get Clients to Respond Back to Supplier Options?

    In episode 177 Steph is co-hosting with Stephanie Pickles of Pickles Travel! They’ve got a ton to discuss, including the following:  1. I hope to be a beginner agent one day soon and as I am sorting out how to break into this industry I have settled on going through a host agency, in large part thanks to your wonderful website and podcasts which I have been absorbing rapidly.  However, as I review your Host Agency profiles I see GDS (which I understand and cannot use), as well as Ticketing for non-GDS agents and Air Programs listed under Corporate tools. What is the difference between a Ticketing for non-GDS agents program and an Air Program that is a corporate tool? Many thanks!  —Kerrin M. 2. I guess you can now call me an 'older newbie', but I think I am losing some clients when they ask, "Do you do flights." As I know most TAs don't do airfare I have been giving them the same response.  However, I have lost some clients by saying that. I have learned recently that Centrav is now offering training on how to purchase airfare for clients. What's the best way to handle such a question or should I go ahead and make their flights if asked given the problems that could arise?  —Marc C. 3. Recently I had a client ask me to help him book a trip to Sicily.  I found two packaged deals that would fit his interests. The problem is that he asked me to send him the links I was looking at so that he could see the suppliers I am working with plus the hotels so he can make a choice. Not knowing how to handle such a response, I sent him the links. So far in two days, I haven't heard from him. What's the best way to handle such a situation from a client?  —Marc C. RESOURCES: Options for booking air without the GDS system + what the heck the GDS is. (https://hostagencyreviews.com/blog/what-is-gds) https://hostagencyreviews.com/page/travel-advisor-research-reports/ (Travel agent survey data on fee charging practices: what they charge for, how much, fee structures and more.) Find itinerary builders + more in HAR’s new travel agency software list! (https://hostagencyreviews.com/travel-agency-software) Pickles Travel Network’s profile with reviews and info (https://hostagencyreviews.com/hosts/pickles-travel-network)

    20 min
  4. How to Make the Most of a Personal Cruise as an Advisor? Just Starting Out – Part-Time or Full-Time?

    OCT 4

    How to Make the Most of a Personal Cruise as an Advisor? Just Starting Out – Part-Time or Full-Time?

    In episode 176 Steph is co-hosting with Lori Speers of Levarte Travel! Here’s an introduction to the questions they’ll discuss.  1.Hi Stephanie and Guest du jour! I’m a very new advisor and would like to know how best to make the most of an upcoming trip.  My husband and I are cruising the Caribbean in February with our adult children. To be clear, this trip was planned a year ago, long before I decided to plan travel professionally. We will be cruising out of San Juan, stopping in St Kitts, St Lucia, Aruba, Punta Cana, and Curaçao. Most of the stops are for 8 hours or so. We will be spending a week in Puerto Rico post-cruise.  This is most definitely a vacation, but I definitely want to leverage my time and opportunity in these places. I am planning to reach out to our BDM for the cruise line to see if I can request a ship tour.  How long do site inspections take? Would it be feasible to hit up a resort while in port and do an inspection while I’m in town? Or are there other, or better ways to mix business with pleasure? Obviously I am planning on taking tons of photos, and posting all about our trip and all the fun we’ll be having in the sun!  Thank you so much for your response, and for all that you do for the travel community! —-Rachel M 2. Hi HAR Friday 15! I'm checking Friday 15 and TAC episodes off with every commute to work and love it!  I'm retiring from a fabulous 20 year career as an art educator in a public school this year.  I am committed to making it the best school year ever, but am so excited to begin a career I've always dreamed of in the travel industry.  I will retire in May and I would love your input on what would benefit my path to this new career while I'm still teaching full time.  I'm ready to commit to 2 or 3 hours 3 to 5 days a week. I'm really enjoying doing some of the upfront work: finding a niche, developing a name/brand, reading up on the travel industry, reading ASTA articles, HAR articles and so on.  My questions are:Should I jump in and do the 7 Day Agency Set Up?  Or would that be a mistake? Is it possible to start with a host agency part time? Or would it be best to wait until I can dedicate my full brain and time to this new career? While I'm young at heart (being a traveler does that to you!) I would be starting this new career later than some(at 58) are there other aspects of the travel industry that I could consider that might be better for a late start? I feel like it is such an awesome thing to have the time to do this before I become officially in the biz...I appreciate and enjoy all of the information that you put out there for people like me, so thanks! Hi to the dogs in charge, – Another Stephanie RESOURCES: What travel expenses can you (and can’t you) write off? https://hostagencyreviews.com/blog/travel-expenses Travel Agent FAM Trips: What They Are + How to Find Them + Etiquette (https://hostagencyreviews.com/blog/travel-agent-fam-trip) How Travel Advisors Can Make the Most of a Cruise Ship Inspection (https://hostagencyreviews.com/blog/how-travel-agents-can-make-the-most-of-a-cruise-ship-inspection) a...

    28 min
  5. Host Agency for My Niche? Listing Fees? HAs and Boutique Suppliers?

    SEP 27

    Host Agency for My Niche? Listing Fees? HAs and Boutique Suppliers?

    In episode 175 Steph is co-hosting with Kendra Tainsh of Travel Edge! Here are the questions they cover in this variety-filled episode!  1. I am not in Canada -- is this still pertinent? I would, however love to speak to someone about how to narrow down the overwhelming selection of host agencies to find one that fits my niche. I am just starting out. My niche is environmental based trips in nature featuring hiking, snorkeling, scuba and just relaxing for those who want to.  --Robin R.  2. Hey, Long time listener first time caller, LOL. I am getting a new website and I want to list my advisor fee. Where do you recommend I list out the information of my advisor fee on my website.Thanks, –Quincy in Houston   3. 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 agency’s IATA number? I heard from a friend that smaller, boutique suppliers don't like working with host agencies? Any truth to that? Looking forward to hearing your take. Thank you HAR team!   --Laura RESOURCES: Software 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)  https://hostagencyreviews.com/page/travel-advisor-research-reports/ (Travel agent survey data on fee charging practices: what they charge for, how much, fee structures and more.) https://bookitboxtravel.com/services https://www.travel-bash.com/faqs  https://www.memoriesonthemovetravel.com/personalized-travel-planning-services All about preferred suppliers in the travel industry. (https://hostagencyreviews.com/blog/travel-preferred-supplier) What is a DMC and what do they do? (https://hostagencyreviews.com/blog/what-is-dmc-destination-management-company)

    28 min
  6. What is a FAM? Why is GDS avoided by HAs + Which Ones Offer Access? Training Courses After HAR’s?

    SEP 20

    What is a FAM? Why is GDS avoided by HAs + Which Ones Offer Access? Training Courses After HAR’s?

    In episode 174 Steph is co-hosting with Heather Kindred of Nexion! Check it out below – a record-breaking four questions that they’ll cover! Tune in this Friday at 12 pm CST.  1. What is defined as a FAM? Would I be able to describe it as a business trip on my tax filing? Do I have to have any official reports, etc.? –Anonymous 2. Why are host agencies apprehensive about advisors having access to the GDS systems? Or they say it "takes years" to master? And with some hosts you have to have 2 or more years experience to qualify in order to have access. I used Sabre years ago and it only took a few months to learn and with Sabre Red 360 it seems easier than ever. Reentering the travel industry I have a corporate background and I will be temporarily booking air only until I learn leisure efficiently and using Sabre would be so much easier than using a CRM all I would need is a refresher in Sabre. Please help. Thank you.  –Robin B. 3. Do you have a list of host agencies that have GDS access? —Anonymous 4. Has anyone purchased any additional training courses beyond HAR's? HAR's has been great for getting me started. I would be lost without it! However, now, after being in business for about six months, I want to learn more, especially about marketing and growing my business. I want something that offers some certification along with a mentorship. In my research, I have found a wide range of costs. Do you have advice on picking a program to leap to next or any programs you love and have found helpful?  —Anonymous RESOURCES: What travel expenses you can (and can’t) write off. https://hostagencyreviews.com/blog/travel-expenses Travel Agent FAM Trips: What They Are + How to Find Them + Etiquette (https://hostagencyreviews.com/blog/travel-agent-fam-trip) Over 200+ travel agent rates and info on how to access them How Travel Advisors Can Make the Most of a Cruise Ship Inspection (https://hostagencyreviews.com/blog/how-travel-agents-can-make-the-most-of-a-cruise-ship-inspection) The Definitive Site Inspection Checklist (https://hostagencyreviews.com/blog/definitive-site-inspection-checklist) Stephanie Cannon–CPA turned travel advisor–financial resources for advisors (https://withstephaniecannon.com/resources) In-depth information on what the GDS (global distribution system) is and which travel advisors use it. https://hostagencyreviews.com/blog/what-is-gds Tips on how to become a corporate...

    24 min
  7. Starting Out as An Advisor – in Canada! Tips for Starting a Host Agency? How to Join a Preferred-Agency Program?

    SEP 13

    Starting Out as An Advisor – in Canada! Tips for Starting a Host Agency? How to Join a Preferred-Agency Program?

    In episode 173 Steph and Lindsay Taylor answer a bunch of excellent questions submitted by you, our faithful viewers and listeners. If you have a question, by the way, send it our way at https://hostagencyreviews.com/friday15!  1. Hello Friday 15 team! I live in Ontario Canada & my question is, how do I get into the travel industry as an advisor with no experience but have the schooling as well as TICO Certified? Thank you kindly for all you do!  –Chrystal M.2. I’ve decided to expand my agency and diversify income. I plan to open my host agency division soon. Do you have any tips for someone starting a host agency from scratch? —Anonymous 3. Hi, I am wondering how to join 'preferred agency program' (e.g. Marriott Luminous, Hyatt Prive etc.). All the program says they are invitation-only but I am wondering what the general criteria is. Does joining a consortium help to become eligible? –Anonymous RESOURCES: HAR’s travel jobs board. Subscribe to weekly jobs email of new postings! (https://hostagencyreviews.com/travel-jobs) ASTA’s Roadmap to Becoming a Travel Advisor is a fantastic course for those looking to have a strong foundation before starting in the industry! Steph partnered with ASTA on it and they have a track for employees, independent contractors (ICs), and corporate travel agents. (https://har.news/roadmap) ARC fraud protection resources (https://www2.arccorp.com/support-training/fraud-prevention) Veriff identity verification (https://www.veriff.com/) Older HAR blogs with some resources on credit card fraud and thinking like a frauster. A little dated, but still good content to read through. PATH: Professional Association of Travel Hosts (need to be 50 ICs or more to join) All about preferred suppliers in the travel industry. (https://hostagencyreviews.com/blog/travel-preferred-supplier)

    20 min
  8. HAs Welcoming Partner Travel Advisors? Best CRMs To Track Payments? Trademark Pitfalls With Agency Names?

    SEP 6

    HAs Welcoming Partner Travel Advisors? Best CRMs To Track Payments? Trademark Pitfalls With Agency Names?

    In episode 172 Steph welcomes Carolyn Orf of KHM Travel as a co-host! They will cover a ton of helpful topics, including the following:  1. My friend and I are interested in launching an agency together. We each bring slightly different skill sets to the table and have already worked together and been students together (and have been close for decades).  When evaluating host agencies we see that only Travel Quest / WorldVia host agency seems to have a membership option geared towards a two person agency.  Do other host agencies have a way to structure things so that two advisors are working together under the same hosted agency, sharing their clients and working together towards revenue goals and tiers of membership? From the outside looking in it appears that if we went with an agency like Fora we'd each have to independently reach revenue goals to unlock certain perks and access. —Shannon A. 2. What merchant account service should you use to take payments for bookings and what is the difference between Travefy, TravelJoy and Tern? Thank you!  –Robin B. 3.  Hi Stephanie! I've been loving your podcast and all the content you provide. Thank you for all you do! I'm working through the 7 Day Setup Lite and am brainstorming a name for my agency. I came up with one I keep coming back to. I Googled it as you recommend and there is not much competition. Then I searched the trademark database and there are 3 trademarks similar to my name but they are all dead. Should I be concerned about using this name if all similar trademarks are dead? Don't want to give up this name unnecessarily but also don't want to set myself up for trouble down the road. How would you advise? Thanks so much for sharing your expertise! -Anonymous RESOURCES: Host Agency List of over 235 hosts with reviews from their travel advisor members.  Travel Agent FAM Trips: What They Are + How to Find Them + Etiquette (https://hostagencyreviews.com/blog/travel-agent-fam-trip) Friday 15 with Tern on things to think about before going into a business partnership.  Over 200+ travel agent rates and info on how to access them More on Travefy (https://www.hostagencyreviews.com/travel-agency-software/travefy) More on Tern (https://www.hostagencyreviews.com/travel-agency-software/tern) More on TravelJoy (https://www.hostagencyreviews.com/travel-agency-software/traveljoy)  How Seller of Travel Laws Affect Service...

    32 min
See All (284)

4.8
out of 5
74 Ratings

About

We’ve got two listening delights for you on this channel, folks! 😲 The first is Travel Agent Chatter (TAC), a spotlight interview of a wide variety of travel advisors that we publish every quarter. The second is our shorter, but more frequent Friday 15 series, where every Friday we answer your travel industry questions for — you guessed it — 15 minutes! Travel Agent Chatter -- a Host Agency Reviews audio series -- inspires you with in-depth interviews featuring successful travel agents. We dig into what they do that makes their agencies flourish and how they did it. Transcripts, videos and TAC show notes can be found at https://hostagencyreviews.com/TAC The Friday 15 comes out every Friday at 12pm CT. For 15 minutes over the lunch hour we answer your travel industry questions. Submit your questions at https://hostagencyreviews.com/friday15 Travel Agent Chatter and the Friday 15 are hosted by Steph Lee, the founder of the website Host Agency Reviews and travel industry veteran. She's insatiably curious. A lover of travel, writing, gardening & the stars. Most importantly, she ♥'s her dogs, Fennec and Orion!

Information

You Might Also Like

To listen to explicit episodes, sign in.

Stay up to date with this show

Sign in or sign up to follow shows, save episodes, and get the latest updates.
Select a country or region

Africa, Middle East, and India

Asia Pacific

Europe

Latin America and the Caribbean

The United States and Canada