independent travel agent market

Expanding Your Niche: Exploring New Travel Market Opportunities

The travel industry is a diverse and rapidly evolving landscape, with new market opportunities constantly emerging. For independent travel agents, identifying and capturing niche markets can be the key to standing out from competitors and achieving long-term success. Gateway Travel, a leading host agency, is dedicated to providing agents with the resources, tools, and support needed to explore and excel in new travel market opportunities.

Gateway Travel's unwavering commitment to offering comprehensive support—from advanced technology solutions and educational resources to marketing materials and guidance—allows agents to confidently venture into new niche markets and expand their client base. This article will delve into the benefits of discovering niche markets in the travel industry, effective strategies for entering these markets, and the ways in which Gateway Travel's support enables agents to thrive in specialized travel sectors.

By diversifying your travel offerings and leveraging the guidance of Gateway Travel, you can create a unique, competitive edge that appeals to niche market clients, ensuring continued growth and success in the ever-changing travel landscape. In a dynamic industry, embracing new market opportunities and continuously adapting to evolving client needs is vital for maintaining a strong business foundation and an exceptional reputation as a trusted travel expert.

Exploring new travel market opportunities and mastering niche sectors can play a pivotal role in the success of your independent travel agency. With the comprehensive support and resources provided by Gateway Travel, agents can confidently navigate emerging markets and capture the untapped potential of niche travel clients. Embrace a future of continuous growth and exploration by expanding your niche offerings with Gateway Travel's support, and position your travel agency for unparalleled success in the competitive travel industry.

Benefits of Discovering Niche Markets in the Travel Industry

Pursuing niche markets in the travel industry offers agents a multitude of advantages that contribute to long-term business growth:

1. Reduced Competition: Focusing on specialized travel markets enables you to distinguish yourself from competitors and capture clients seeking unique travel experiences.

2. Enhanced Expertise: Developing a deep understanding of niche markets allows you to offer specialized knowledge and tailored services to clients, establishing yourself as an expert in your chosen niche.

3. Targeted Marketing: Niche market specialization simplifies targeted marketing efforts, allowing you to hone in on your desired audiences more effectively.

4. Increased Client Loyalty: By offering customized services and experiences that cater directly to their passions or interests, niche market clients are more likely to develop loyalty and trust in your agency.

Effective Strategies for Entering Niche Markets

To confidently approach and excel in diverse niche markets, agents should implement the following strategies:

1. Research Emerging Trends: Keep a pulse on industry trends, consumer preferences, and new travel opportunities. Identify emerging niche markets with untapped potential to explore and capitalize on.

2. Assess Your Expertise and Passion: Evaluate your interests, skills, and experience to determine the ideal niche market for your unique talents. Aligning your passion and expertise with your target market creates a strong foundation for success.

3. Establish Vendor Relationships: Connect with tour operators and suppliers in your chosen niche market to access resources, promotions, and exclusive deals that will elevate your brand and client offerings.

4. Develop Targeted Marketing Efforts: Create compelling marketing materials tailored to reach your desired niche audience, showcasing your expertise and the specialized services your agency offers.

How Gateway Travel Supports Agents in Niche Market Success

Gateway Travel's commitment to education, technological solutions, and agent support ensures that their agents are well-equipped to navigate and excel in niche markets. Their offerings include:

1. Extensive Educational Resources: Agents access a wide variety of educational materials, covering niche market research, sales strategies, and industry best practices.

2. Advanced Reservation Systems: Gateway Travel's state-of-the-art reservation systems simplify bookings for niche-specific experiences and accommodations, streamlining the planning process for both agents and their clients.

3. Customizable Marketing Materials: With access to customizable marketing templates, agents can create targeted marketing materials that resonate with their specific niche audience and effectively promote their unique offerings.

4. Ongoing Support and Networking: Agents benefit from Gateway Travel's dedicated support and opportunities to network with other agents, enabling them to share learning experiences and best practices in niche market exploration.

Examples of Niche Markets to Explore

The travel industry is rife with potentially lucrative niche markets, enabling independent agents to expand their portfolios while addressing underserved travel needs. Consider exploring the following niche markets to grow your travel agency:

1. Adventure Travel: Cater to thrill-seeking travelers looking for experiences like skydiving, hiking, mountain biking, or ziplining trips.

2. Culinary Tourism: Serve food enthusiasts with customized tours and experiences focusing on regional cuisine, cooking classes, food festivals, or winery excursions.

3. Wellness Travel: Capitalize on the growing demand for wellness tourism by offering tailored retreats, holistic experiences, spa getaways, or mindfulness-focused trips.

4. Sustainable and Eco-tourism: Attract environmentally conscious travelers with eco-friendly travel options, including trips to conservation centers, wildlife sanctuaries, or sustainable accommodations.

Exploring new travel market opportunities and specializing in niche offerings can prove indispensable to an independent travel agent's long-term success. By identifying underserved markets, developing expertise, and leveraging resources provided by Gateway Travel, agents can diversify their portfolios and attract a host of loyal, niche clientele.

With the comprehensive support and tools offered by Gateway Travel, independent agents can confidently navigate and capture emerging niche markets, ensuring continued growth and success in the competitive travel industry. Embrace the potential of niche markets, and let Gateway Travel guide your journey to new heights of achievement. Contact us today to consult with an expert host agency travel agent !

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Travel Agent Training

Your Solo Voyage: How to Become an Independent Travel Agent Without a Host Agency

Ready to chart your course as an independent travel agent? Without the safety net of a host agency, you’ll have the freedom to build your brand, but also face the challenges of going solo. In this article, you’ll find a straightforward guide on how to become an independent travel agent without a host agency, laying out the essentials from legal requirements to marketing know-how—everything to get your own travel business off the ground.

• Becoming an independent travel agent grants the freedom to create a personal brand, establish unique connections, and gain control over work schedule and income, yet it requires addressing a steep learning curve and legal obligations.
• Foundational training plays a critical role in an independent travel agent’s success, supplemented by online courses and certifications that enhance industry knowledge, customer trust, and service quality.
• Efficiently marketing your travel agency via an engaging online presence, mobile-friendly newsletters, and strategic collaborations with travel suppliers can significantly amplify your brand visibility and business growth.

Embarking on the Independent Path: Understanding the Role of a Host Agency

Picture a host travel agency as a supportive co-pilot, offering resources, support, and a network to help travel agents navigate their journey. For independent travel agents, associating with a host agency can open doors to preferred programs with top travel brands, providing clients with exclusive perks and upgrades. However, not all host agencies offer the same level of support and resources. Additionally, host agencies also facilitate formal training, helping agents understand industry lingo, booking basics, and stay updated with the latest travel trends.

But what happens when you yearn for the excitement of flying solo? As an independent travel agent, you get the freedom to:

• Create your own brand
• Establish a unique network
• Carve out your niche
• Set your own hours
• Determine your income potential

It’s true that this path comes with its own challenges, such as a steep learning curve and irregular work schedules. However, the support and advice from your host agency community will ensure you’re never alone on this journey, even when navigating unfamiliar destinations.

Crafting Your Travel Business Foundation

Establishing a strong foundation for your travel agency business involves:

• Understanding crucial laws and licenses, such as ATOL and ABTA
• Choosing the right legal business entity for your agency (incorporating, becoming an LLC, or being a sole proprietor)
• Registering your company with the state to legally operate
• Opening a business bank account and completing other legal requirements

Moreover, obtaining an FEIN is recommended for business identification and tax purposes, helping to separate your business and personal finances.

Developing a Comprehensive Business Plan

Consider your business plan as your navigational compass, endorsing meticulous planning in various aspects of your business, guiding you towards a strategic route. It should include:

• An executive summary that outlines your business idea, mission, costs, expected ROI, and company details
• A market analysis
• A description of services
• Operational and financial plans
• A risk assessment

This comprehensive roadmap will help you navigate the exciting journey of starting your own travel business and becoming a successful travel agency.

The financial section of your business plan must include:

• Projected income
• Projected expenses
• Capital needs
• Break-even analysis

Aim for a business plan that optimally ranges from 15 to 30 pages for clarity and detailed information. As the travel industry and economic circumstances change, regular business plan reviews and updates are critical to adapt and stay on course.

Navigating Legal and Financial Set-Up

Deciding on your business structure is a pivotal point on your journey to becoming an independent travel agent. Understanding the nature of being a sole proprietor, for example, can influence your decision-making process. Options for structuring a new travel agency include:

• Sole proprietorship
• Partnership
• LLC (Limited Liability Company)

An LLC structure offers personal liability protection, shielding your personal assets from the business’s liabilities – a safety net for turbulent times. As you navigate the legal and financial set-up of your travel agency, you must comply with a range of legal and regulatory requirements, such as obtaining necessary licenses and joining trade associations.

These steps not only ensure your agency’s credibility but also provide consumer protection, establishing trust with clients.

Acquiring Industry Knowledge and Skills

Much like a pilot requires flying lessons, it is highly beneficial for independent travel agents to undergo formal training, even though it’s not a stringent necessity. Certifications can play a crucial role in compliance and competence in the travel agency field, even if formal training isn’t always mandatory.

From business planning to destination overviews, travel agent training programs offer a wealth of knowledge. Keeping up with travel industry trends through ongoing education is essential to provide exceptional service to clients. Plus, self-paced training programs allow for flexible learning alongside other commitments, offering rich and comprehensive content.

Tapping into Online Learning and Certifications

In the digital age, the world is your classroom. Online learning platforms like Udemy, Coursera, and EdApp offer courses with certifications that allow you to learn at your own pace. These platforms cater to home-based travel agents and cover various aspects of the travel industry, from travel safety to creating travel packages. Furthermore, free training resources are available to help you master managing guest experiences and delivering consistent customer service.

By securing certifications and employing technology, you can boost your credibility and foster customer trust, thereby accelerating your business growth. Just as a pilot’s license gives passengers confidence in their competency, these certifications can reassure your clients that they’re in good hands.

Building Exceptional Customer Service Skills

As an independent travel agent, you’re not just selling travel packages; you’re selling experiences. Building trust and credibility with clients is foundational to exceptional customer service. This requires professional communication skills, understanding your clients’ needs, and providing timely and accurate information.

Imagine a client who’s anxious about their first solo trip. As their travel agent, you have the power to transform their anxiety into anticipation, providing them with the information and reassurance they need. That’s the power of exceptional customer service.

Marketing Your Travel Agency Brand

Much like a pilot relies on the stars for navigation, you must traverse the world of marketing to steer customers towards your travel agency. Creating a professional image involves a unique logo, a memorable name, and a professional email that reflects your business.

A comprehensive digital marketing approach includes:

• Optimizing your website with high-quality images and informative content
• Engaging with clients on social media
• Utilizing specialized CRM and marketing software

By pinpointing and concentrating on a niche, you can gain a profound understanding of your client’s requirements, devise a custom-made marketing strategy, and carve out a unique brand identity.

Establishing a Strong Online Presence

In the digital age, your website serves as your virtual storefront. It sets the tone and provides essential information for potential clients. Maintaining a blog on your website can attract a wider audience through search engine optimization (SEO), establishing your credibility within the industry. Creating engaging and informative emails for a newsletter can effectively highlight destinations , activities, and exclusive events for potential travelers.

Choosing a name for your travel agency is like christening a ship. It should reflect your business, be memorable, and easy for clients to remember and contact. This name will be your beacon in the vast digital ocean, guiding clients to your travel services.

Crafting Compelling Marketing Materials

Crafting compelling marketing materials is like packing a suitcase with essentials for a trip. Conducting a thorough analysis of market trends, competitors, and target customers enables you to develop services that cater to market demand. Since travelers frequently use mobile devices to check their email, it’s essential to design mobile-friendly marketing emails.

Segmenting your customer base using demographics, behavior, and purchasing patterns allows you to refine pricing strategies, tailoring them to enhance revenue from each customer group. Just as a pilot adjusts their course based on changing weather conditions, you can adjust your marketing materials based on your target audience’s needs and preferences.

Building Partnerships and Networks

Just as no man is an island, an independent travel agent isn’t either. Building partnerships and networks with complementary businesses and travel suppliers can help you broaden your market reach and achieve business growth. It’s like being part of a fleet of ships, sharing resources and support, while still maintaining your autonomy.

Remember, as an independent travel agent, you’re not alone. Assess your level of support, which could range from purchasing a travel agency franchise for more support to joining host agencies for less support. These partnerships can be your lighthouses, guiding you through the vast ocean of the travel industry as you establish your own independent travel agency.

Creating Efficient Booking and Management Systems

Effective booking and management systems serve as the driving force behind your travel agency. Specialized travel booking systems automate reservations and provide back office features like accounting connections, reporting, invoice creation, markup management, and agency commission management. Integrations with global distribution systems and various suppliers through travel APIs allow you to expand your inventory and offer an extensive range of options to clients.

Tour and itinerary builders streamline the planning, booking, scheduling, and pricing process for travel agents. Accounting software designed for travel agencies supports complex scenarios such as group travel and commission management, and revenue management systems provide valuable insights for pricing strategies. With these systems in place, tour operators are ready for a smooth take-off.

Setting Your Schedule and Fees

Establishing your schedule and fees is akin to plotting your route and deciding your pace. Independent travel agents are moving towards a fee-based planning model, including options such as ‘plan-to-go’ fees, flat fees, or a la carte rates, assessing costs to establish a sustainable pricing structure. Dynamic pricing models that adjust fees based on market demand and seasonality can be beneficial, allowing you to adapt to the changing winds of the travel industry.

Determining appropriate service fees should take into account your knowledge, advice, and the accuracy of the information provided, reflecting the value you add to your clients. It’s like setting the price for a ticket on a luxury cruise – the price should reflect the quality and value of the experience.

Clear communication of the fee structure, ideally formalized through a Travel Services Agreement, is essential to ensure client understanding and agreement. It’s like clearly stating the terms of the ticket – there should be no hidden costs or surprises for your clients.

Scaling Your Travel Business

As your business flourishes, your strategies must evolve accordingly. Scaling your travel business involves:

• Enhancing your service offerings with unique travel experiences such as comprehensive travel packages and personalized travel
• Focusing on complex travel planning needs
• Integrating Global Distribution Systems to offer a wide variety of travel options
• Catering to elaborate itineraries that drive customer engagement.

Affiliate marketing and the development of a loyalty program can serve as additional revenue streams and foster a long-term customer base. Investing in bespoke systems and custom development allows you to achieve greater control over your operations, from commission management to accessing supplier inventories directly. It’s like upgrading your ship – more speed, more comfort, and more control.

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Things you need to know about becoming an independent travel agent

So what else do you need to consider before starting up your own business in this field?

Becoming an independent travel agent can be a rewarding and exciting career choice. With the freedom to create your own schedule and work from anywhere in the world, it’s no surprise that more people are considering this profession every day. However, getting started can be overwhelming, with many things to consider before launching your business. In this blog post, you’ll get to grips with everything you need to know about becoming an independent travel agent, including the benefits and challenges, education and certification requirements, marketing strategies, and more.

Before you become a travel agent, knowing what the day to day work involves is a must. Typically, when you start out, your tasks will include researching and booking flights, cars, hotels, cruises and other travel-related services. You’ll need good links with online search engines specifically for industry professionals, and not consumers, so you can get better rates for your customers. You’ll also spend your days giving advice to customers about the best options for their travel requirements, as well as liaising with suppliers and updating them on important changes. Knowing about travel trends , inside knowledge of destinations, and having up to date travel advice, are all extremely important too.

Benefits and challenges of becoming an independent travel agent One of the biggest advantages of becoming an independent travel agent is the freedom to work from anywhere in the world. You can set your own schedule and create a work-life balance that’s best for you. Additionally, you have the opportunity to shape your career in a way that suits your interests and passions. Whether you’re interested in adventure travel or luxury cruises, as an independent travel agent, you can focus on the areas of travel you enjoy the most.

However, there are also some challenges with becoming an independent travel agent. Profit margins can be slim, and competition can be fierce. You’ll need to work hard to establish your brand and build a client base. Additionally, navigating the complexities of the travel industry, such as visa requirements, travel insurance, and cancellations, can be demanding.

Education and certification requirements Like any profession, becoming a successful independent travel agent requires education and certification. While you don’t need a degree to work in the travel industry, taking courses in travel and hospitality can be beneficial. There are a variety of certification programs available, including the Travel Institute’s Certified Travel Associate (CTA), Certified Travel Counselor (CTC), and Certified Travel Industry Executive (CTIE). These certifications can demonstrate your expertise to clients and potential partners.

Marketing strategies to build your business Once you’ve gained the necessary education and certifications, you’ll need to establish your brand and build a client base. One of the most effective ways to do this is through marketing. Social media platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn can be powerful tools for promoting your brand and establishing yourself as an expert in the travel industry. Hiring an expert media company such as Centaur Consulting Group ( https://centaur-consulting-group.com/paid-media-management/ ) can pay for itself, as the lead generation potential can be significant. Additionally, building relationships with other travel professionals, such as hotels and airlines, can lead to partnerships and referrals.

Networking at industry events and conferences can also be beneficial. Attending events and meeting other travel professionals can provide valuable insights into the industry, offer new opportunities, and help you stay up-to-date on trends and best practices.

Tools and technology to help you succeed As an independent travel agent, you’ll need to have the right tools and technology to help you stay organized and keep up with your clients’ needs. A customer relationship management (CRM) system is essential for managing client information and communications, and travel software like Sabre and Amadeus can help you book flights and hotels quickly and efficiently. Additionally, a website with a blog can be a powerful tool for establishing your brand and showcasing your expertise in the travel industry.

Setting yourself apart with a niche market One of the best ways to set yourself apart from other independent travel agents is by specializing in a particular niche. Whether it’s luxury, adventure, or family travel , focus on one area and become an expert in it. This will help to differentiate your business and attract the right clients. If you have great knowledge about a specific region or continent, you could specialize in tailor-made travel packages or private tours for that area.

Make it work for your life Finally, remember that becoming an independent travel agent is a great opportunity to turn your passion for travel into a career. However, it requires hard work, dedication and a good degree of organization. Working out the right balance between work and life is essential for achieving success in this field. With the right education, marketing strategies, tools, and technology, you can achieve success as an independent travel agent. To ensure it works for your life, define how many hours a week you can put into the business, how much you want to earn, and what else you want to get out of it – for example, a certain number of hosted familiarization trips per year.

Becoming an independent travel agent can be a challenging but rewarding career choice. With the right education, certifications, marketing strategies, and technology, you can establish yourself as an expert in the travel industry and build a successful business. Whether you’re interested in adventure travel, luxury cruises, or anything in between, the possibilities are endless. By taking the time to learn the ins and outs of the industry and staying up-to-date with the latest trends and technologies, the sky’s the limit for your career as an independent travel agent.

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How to Become an Independent Travel Agent (and How Much You Could Make)

Being an independent travel agent is certainly appealing. After all, once you taste the freedom and flexibility that comes from being your own boss, it’s...

by BOSS Editorial | Published: October 2, 2023 | Updated: October 2, 2023 10:15 am

Being an independent travel agent is certainly appealing. After all, once you taste the freedom and flexibility that comes from being your own boss, it’s difficult to go back. It’s also a great way to discover more about your leadership style and potential.

As an independent contractor, you will be exposed to multiple aspects of running a business. This exposure will enrich your career growth and help you build operational skills. So, if you are ready to boss up , here are some of the things you ought to know about becoming an independent travel agent.

How to Become an Independent Travel Agent

The first thing on your list should be research. Invest ample time in gaining a well-rounded understanding of the industry. Explore potential niches, identify possible challenges, and familiarize yourself with the competition. Without this step, venturing into any business may lead you down the wrong path.

Next, focus on acquiring the necessary qualifications. These may include online courses or attending travel agent school for certification. For instance, The Travel Institute’s Certified Travel Associate program is rigorous yet comprehensive.

After getting certified, it’s time to up your business entity. Depending on where you reside and your specific needs, choose between sole proprietorship, limited liability company (LLC), or incorporation options.

From this point forward, you have 2 main options:

• Join a host travel agency
• Open your own travel agency

Join a Host Travel Agency

If you’re new to the industry and have no connections, your best bet is to join a host travel agency . This move provides you access to a vast reservoir of needed resources. These may range from booking software, customer relationship management tools, and professional training programs to marketing assistance.

Moreover, being part of such an organization helps you tap into established relationships, adding credibility to your business. Host agencies often have steadfast connections with suppliers, hotel chains, airlines, and more. They could help you secure better rates or exclusive deals for your clients.

Another major bonus is higher commission possibilities. Because host agencies book massive volumes of travel annually through their numerous affiliated agents, they’re eligible for top-tier commissions from their suppliers – some of which get passed down to you!

Open Your Own Travel Agency

Once you consider you have enough experience, you can open your own agency. Focus on becoming accredited as an independent travel agent. This includes affiliating with recognized industry bodies such as IATA (International Air Transport Association) or CLIA (Cruise Lines International Association). This aspect will help you gain credibility with new customers.

Also, building partnerships is another vital step you need to take into account as an independent travel agent. If you’re no longer aligned with a host agency, you should consider becoming part of consortiums to tap into the power of solid networks.

To ensure your earnings will skyrocket, you also need a reliable customer service policy and a solid marketing strategy. Use techniques such as SEO content writing, smart social media use, and email marketing methods to promote your services efficiently.

What’s the Earning Like?

Nowadays, most travel agents are independent contractor entrepreneurs who work with a host travel agency. That’s because the number of storefront agencies that need regular employees has been on the decline in the last few years.

This happened due to more people using the internet to find their dream vacation destinations. You can do almost anything online, from booking transportation tickets to finding the right accommodation. Yet, it takes expertise and knowledge to find the best offers and put together a great trip (especially if there are several countries and continents involved).

So, there is still a need for travel specialists. Just not the kind who would sit in an office all day and answer phone calls. 

As an independent travel agent, there are a series of factors that can impact your earnings . Since you’re the one in charge of your finances, time, and business operations, you have the potential to earn as much as you’d like.

For instance, one of the factors that impact your earnings is the niche(s) you choose to follow. Agents working as corporate advisors have the potential for better income than leisure agents. But even as a leisure agent, there are slices of niche (like luxury travel or adventure) where you can earn a lot more.

Overall, according to BLS, the average travel agent salary in 2023 is $46,400. On the other hand, independently-accredited travel agents with over 3 years of experience in the field earned as high as $76,252.

As you can see, becoming an independent travel agent can lead to personal and professional growth. However, keep in mind that this is a dynamic industry that calls for continuous learning. It’s crucial that you always stay informed of travel sector updates, customer preference shifts, and emerging technologies. 

The ability to evolve with these changes determines the longevity of success in this industry.

By: BOSS Editorial

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How To Be An Independent Travel Agent

Sep 28, 2023 | Aspiring travel agents , Launch a travel business , Travel Business

Discover the ins and outs of setting up as an independent travel agent, from legalities to supplier relationships so you can earn 100% of the commissions you make.

It’s time to start the career of your dreams as a travel agent. Which means, it’s also time for the fun of having your job revolve around fantastic locales and experiences. For the satisfaction of helping people have the trip of a lifetime. For the excitement of discounts on your own travel.

…For part of your commissions to be handed over to a host agency?

If you’re a budding travel professional, that last one is NOT part of the dream you’re trying to live. You want the full freedom to set your own goals and hours, to not have to be under anybody else’s umbrella, and to bring home the entirety of the commissions you earn. And that means becoming an independent travel agent.

Rather watch than read? Check out the video below!

Click here to watch on YouTube!    

Set Up Your Travel Agent Business

The journey to becoming an independent travel agent starts with some foundational steps. First things first – you need to get your business set up. Whether it's an LLC, partnership, or S corp, consult with an attorney to register your business in your state and pick a catchy name that resonates with you and who you want to work with.

Next is, you need to set up your travel agency. Yes, even if you’re just a one-person shop, you’re still going to operate as an agent within your agency. To do this, you’ll need to get your agency credentials and then list yourself as an agent under your agency.

Travel Agent Paperwork and Operations

Now, with the business side sorted, it's time to tackle logistics. In Careers on Vacation , we provide all of our students with their own Wander Path, which is a comprehensive guide covering legalities, insurance, and other crucial aspects of setting up as an independent agent.

Launching your business involves strategic planning. You need a training plan, knowledge of various technologies, and a marketing infrastructure. Each of these depends on your unique goals and niche within the travel industry but at a high level, you’ll want to make sure you have in place:

• Legal paperwork
• Proper insurance
• Systems for operating like training, technology, CRM and bookings
• Business bank account

Build Relationships with Suppliers

Now, before you can sell dream vacations, you must establish relationships with travel suppliers. This involves finding all the suppliers that you want to do business with and then registering your agency credentials with them. Registering usually means filling out the required paperwork and having a business bank account to receive those coveted commission checks. Be prepared for this process to take anywhere from 8 to 12 weeks.

Getting Support to Become an Independent Travel Agent

Feeling overwhelmed? We get it. The travel industry can feel like a maze, but fear not – we're here to help. At Wanderlust Campus, we help independent travel agents evaluate their goals and choose their right path – whether that means going solo or opting for a hybrid approach. Our Wander Paths provide access to our vetted supplier lists, setup checklists and industry partners, so you can be sure you’ll have support every step of the way.

Whether you choose to go it alone or seek guidance from Wanderlust Campus, the key is to take a deep breath, evaluate your goals, and drown out the noise.

The travel industry is waiting for your unique touch, and we're here to support you every step of the way.

Last quick reminder, if you're ready to explore the exciting world of becoming an independent travel agent, take our free master class at careersonvacation.com/masterclass . It's a one-hour session that covers all you need to know about being independent, working for someone else or taking a hybrid approach.

Let's embark on this adventure together!

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Market size of the tourism sector worldwide 2011-2024

Market size of the tourism sector worldwide from 2011 to 2023, with a forecast for 2024 (in trillion U.S. dollars)

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Leading travel companies worldwide 2022, by sales

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Leading online travel agencies (OTAs) worldwide from 2019 to 2022, by revenue (in million U.S. dollars)

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Marketing expenses of leading online travel agencies (OTAs) worldwide from 2019 to 2022 (in million U.S. dollars)

Marketing/revenue ratio of leading OTAs worldwide 2019-2022

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Revenue of Booking Holdings worldwide from 2007 to 2023 (in billion U.S. dollars)

Revenue of Expedia Group, Inc. worldwide 2007-2023

Revenue of Expedia Group, Inc. worldwide from 2007 to 2023 (in billion U.S. dollars)

Airbnb revenue worldwide 2017-2023

Revenue of Airbnb worldwide from 2017 to 2023 (in billion U.S. dollars)

Total revenue of Trip.com Group 2012-2022

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Despegar: revenue 2015-2022

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Total visits to travel and tourism website tripadvisor.com worldwide 2020-2024

Estimated total number of visits to the travel and tourism website tripadvisor.com worldwide from August 2020 to March 2024 (in millions)

ACSI - U.S. customer satisfaction with online travel websites as of 2023

U.S. customer satisfaction with online travel websites from 2000 to 2023 (index score)

Number of aggregated downloads of leading online travel agency apps worldwide 2023

Number of aggregated downloads of selected leading online travel agency apps worldwide in 2023 (in millions)

Number of aggregated downloads of leading online travel agency apps in the U.S. 2023

Number of aggregated downloads of selected leading online travel agency apps in the United States in 2023 (in millions)

Leading travel apps in the U.S. 2022, by market share

Market share of leading travel apps in the United States in 2022

Leading travel apps in Europe 2022, by market share

Market share of leading travel apps in Europe in 2022

Travel agencies and tour operators

• Premium Statistic U.S. travel agency industry market size 2012-2022
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Market size of the travel agency sector in the United States from 2012 to 2022 (in billion U.S. dollars)

Market size of the tour operator sector in the United States from 2012 to 2022 (in billion U.S. dollars)

Revenue of TUI AG worldwide 2004-2023

Revenue of TUI AG worldwide from 2004 to 2023 (in billion euros)

Leading travel agents ranked by number of outlets in the UK 2024

Leading travel agencies in the United Kingdom (UK) as of February 2024, by number of travel shops

Leading ATOL-licensed tour operators in the UK 2024, by passengers licensed

Leading ATOL-licensed tour operators in the United Kingdom as of February 2024, ranked by number of passengers licensed

Turnover of Hays Travel Limited in the UK 2008-2023

Turnover of Hays Travel Limited in the United Kingdom from 2008 to 2023 (in million GBP)

Cruise companies

• Premium Statistic Worldwide cruise company market share 2022
• Premium Statistic Revenue of Carnival Corporation & plc worldwide 2008-2023
• Premium Statistic Revenue of Royal Caribbean Cruises worldwide 1988-2023
• Premium Statistic Revenue of Norwegian Cruise Line worldwide 2011-2023
• Premium Statistic TUI cruise brand revenue worldwide 2015-2023, by brand
• Premium Statistic Percentage change in revenue of leading cruise companies worldwide 2020-2023

Worldwide cruise company market share 2022

Worldwide market share of leading cruise companies in 2022

Revenue of Carnival Corporation & plc worldwide 2008-2023

Revenue of Carnival Corporation & plc worldwide from 2008 to 2023 (in billion U.S. dollars)

Revenue of Royal Caribbean Cruises worldwide 1988-2023

Revenue of Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. worldwide from 1988 to 2023 (in billion U.S. dollars)

Revenue of Norwegian Cruise Line worldwide 2011-2023

Revenue of Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd. worldwide from 2011 to 2023 (in billion U.S. dollars)

TUI cruise brand revenue worldwide 2015-2023, by brand

Revenue of TUI cruise brands worldwide from 2015 to 2023, by brand (in million euros)

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How to Become a Travel Agent: All Your Questions, Answered

The Modern Travel Agency

Fora Travel

https://www.foratravel.com/the-journal/how-to-become-a-travel-agent-all-your-questions-answered

Are you the go-to person for travel tips? Do you have lists of restaurant recs for your favorite cities? Obsessed with hotels and resorts? Or maybe you're looking to score epic hotel perks for your friends and family?

Narrator’s voice: If you answered yes to any of these questions...

If you have a passion for travel, a career path to becoming a travel agent is closer than you think. First, we answer some FAQs on  booking travel, travel agencies and the travel industry, then walk you through how to become a travel agent, step by step.

Ready to take the first step? Become a travel advisor today.

Let’s back up. What exactly does a travel agent do?

Travel agents sell, curate and book travel. What kinds of bookings do Fora Advisors do , exactly? All sorts, from booking a cruise line or a hotel room to planning a multi-country journey that includes transfers, tours and unique experiences (and everything in between).

As a travel consultant, travel agents work with clients to tailor travel arrangements based on budget, taste and vacation vibe, and communicate with hotels to ensure each trip goes off without a hitch. And when it comes to getting paid as a travel agent, hotels and other travel providers pay advisors a commission on anything they book, at no additional cost to the traveler. For more intel, check out our post: what is a travel agent?

What are the qualifications to become a travel agent?

Good news! There are no exams, accreditations or other hoops to jump through to start booking travel as a career path. Nor is a travel agent certification (or formal training, or experience at a travel agency) required. Anyone with a passion for travel, a problem-solving attitude and a little spare time can succeed as a travel agent. Solid people skills don’t hurt either!

Eager to learn more? Download our guide on how to turn your passion for travel into $$$ .

What are the benefits of being a travel agent?

Beyond talking about gorgeous destinations and cool hotels all day (hey, the topic could be worse), there are also tons of travel industry perks, like trips to develop your travel experience (called ‘FAM’ trips ), plus in-person networking events and hotel site visits.

Plus, you can hook your clients up with amazing perks and upgrades when they travel, becoming the go-to ‘friend with hotel benefits’ (see what we did there…). As a travel agent with Fora, for instance, you’ll have access to best-of-the-best partner programs , with perks at over 4,500 hotels around the world (more on that below). Say hello to room upgrades, complimentary breakfasts, resort and spa credits for your clients.

Learn more about our partners .

How do I get started as a travel agent?

Step 1: find a host agency that gets you.

If you’re interested in becoming a travel agent, you’ll need to choose a host agency. Travel agents work with a travel agency, referred to as a host agency, that handles commissions and other logistics. A host agency like Fora acts as an umbrella organization, providing resources to travel agents, including access to booking systems & partner programs, marketing support and training. (And, in many cases, a host agency provides you with an IATA number, allowing you to earn commission). Plus, host agencies give independent travel professionals leverage with suppliers, gaining better commission rates and overall credibility within the travel market. Why choose Fora as your host agency? As a modern host agency, we’re upgrading the travel industry by building tech tools to help you jumpstart your travel business. We’ll get you onboarded and teach you the ropes with training programs galore (more on that below). And when it comes to booking travel, our global community of experienced travel agents will help you get that first booking — and be on call for all the support you need. Learn more about what you get as a Fora Advisor .

Plus, unlike other travel agencies, we don’t require a hefty training fee, minimum number of bookings or quotas. Being a Fora Advisor is flexible, meaning you determine your own schedule and work as much or as little as you'd like. Ready to take the first step? Become a travel advisor today.

Step 2: Learn the ropes & get certified

As an independent travel agent with Fora, we’ll set you up with everything you need to become a successful travel agent, including a best-in-class training program developed by industry experts. 

You’ll hit the ground running — you can book hotels from day one — and get trained up with fellow advisors as part of Fora’s travel agent training . Advisors attend weekly live training sessions, receive 1:1 mentorship from industry leaders and get ‘Fora Certified’ to sell travel. (Fora certification isn’t required, but offered to equip you with all the knowledge you might need).

And it doesn’t stop there. We offer tons of formal (yet flexible) training so you can continue to boost your know-how, including partner webinars, tips on building your client base and tutorials on itinerary planning. 

Step 3: Market yourself

Once you are officially a travel agent with Fora, you’ll be off to the races to boost your client base. To do so, we offer tons of resources for our independent contractors, including a dedicated profile page on Fora’s website and your own fora.travel email address. 

Thanks to our easy-to-follow marketing plan, you have all the resources to market yourself from Day One. Post on social media, send an email blast, ask your friends if they’re planning a trip — there are tons of ways to get the word out. Learn more about how to market yourself as a travel agent .

Step 4: Find your first client

As a travel advisor with Fora, you’ll get the tools, tech and marketing support to help you build your client base. First, we recommend planning trips for your personal network — your first clients can totally be your friends and family. 

Next, word of mouth will be your best friend. After a client returns from a trip, ask them to spread the word. Next, leverage content creation tools to make yourself more visible. And finally, take advantage of Fora’s Client Lead Program (learn more about our game-changing client lead program for advisors ). Learn more about how to get clients as a travel agent .

Step 5: Book your first trip

Time to make the magic happen! And by magic, we mean booking hotels — not to mention itinerary planning & unlocking epic perks, of course.

As a Fora Advisor, you make money by booking hotels — but there’s tons more that goes into it. Your services can range from simply booking a hotel room to planning a multi-country vacation. And Fora Advisors have tons of tools at their fingertips to plan trips. Start by researching your destination and getting intel from fellow travel advisors on our community app, Forum, then make your first booking — and compare rates and perks in real time — with our integrated booking platform . Our most game-changing tool yet, our integrated booking platform is an all-in-one tool for advisors to browse, quote & book hotels directly from their Fora Advisor Portal.  

Step 6: Rinse & repeat — always on your own schedule

One of the best parts of being a travel agent? Being a Fora Advisor provides tons of flexibility, because we allow you to choose your pace, niche & schedule. And thanks to our booking platform, you can work from anywhere. 

Planning travel can be a side hustle to bring in some extra earnings. Or, you might also decide to transition into a full-time travel career with a larger client base as you build your own business. Fora doesn’t place quotas on bookings or earnings, either. Our objective is to teach you and support you when you need it. Beyond that, you’re free to choose the types of bookings you make, how often and when. 

Step 7: Get paid

As a Fora Advisor, you’re eligible to earn commissions on most 3-star or higher hotels, along with other travel suppliers like villa companies or DMCs (tour operators). 

And the best part? If you book travel with Fora as your host agency, thanks to Fora’s integrated booking platform, we handle every aspect of getting you paid (and paid fast). You’ll receive your commission upon the completion of your client’s trip. Learn more about how travel agents get paid. Convinced? Sign up to take the first steps today to . Or, read on for more FAQS on how to become a travel agent.

Can I still become a travel agent if I’m not a travel expert?

Our community is made up of people who are passionate about travel. Beyond passion, travel experience and destination knowledge of any kind — be it the best beach resort in Florida, the top hotel in California or your preferred cruise line — is valuable. However, to become a travel agent, you don’t have to be an expert (i.e., know everything about everywhere). That's where our community comes in. 

At Fora, our advisors get exclusive access to our community app to connect with a network of travel experts. Planning a honeymoon to Japan? A family reunion in Hawaii? A girls trip to Greece? Your fellow travel advisors will be your biggest asset in travel planning — which is why you should choose your host agency wisely. Collective intelligence is a beautiful thing.

Learn more about our community app, Forum .

Define “best-of-the-best partner programs": what brands has Fora partnered with?

We really do mean “best-of-the-best.” From to Hyatt Privé , Fora has partnered with dozens of reputable brands and groups — from boutique hotels in Europe to epic Disney resorts. And we’re not just in the hotel sphere. Our list of preferred partners has grown to include popular cruise lines like Virgin Voyages and Viking, along with on-the-ground experiences like Project Expedition and more. 

Plus, Fora is constantly seeking new partnerships our travel agents can benefit from, so their clients get the most out of their vacations.

How much do travel agents make?

Much like other sales positions, as a seller of travel, travel agents get paid in commissions. Your paycheck depends on how much, and what type of travel, you’re booking. (Learn more in our post on how travel agents get paid .)

For instance, if you book a family cruise in the tens of thousands of dollars, your commission will be substantial. You could also get the same commission by handling hotel bookings at a lower price, but at a higher amount. (TLDR: In general, suppliers commonly pay 10% commission, which is split between you and your host agency).

Check out our guide on how much travel agents make per booking .

Why should I choose Fora as my host agency?

Fora's Head of Travel Operations Leslie Overton coaches advisors at Live Forum 2023

From our inclusive global community to our super-fast commissions (looking at you, other travel agencies), there are tons of reasons to choose Fora as your host agency. 

From Day One, Fora Advisors benefits from A+ support and training, convenient tools and an all-are-welcome ethos. Because we get it: this is uncharted territory for many. Learn more about what you get as a Fora Advisor .

Want to know how to become a travel agent? Here’s the bottom line...

There is a lot to love about being a travel advisor, but one of our favorite parts is that it’s easier than ever to become one. As a Fora Advisor, you get all the support, training and community you need, at a host agency reimagining the industry.

Ready to start your own business? Take the first steps to become a travel advisor today.

Looking for more intel on how to become a travel agent?

Read our other articles on becoming a travel agent:

How to Become a Travel Agent from Home

How to Become an Independent Travel Agent

How to Become a Disney Travel Agent

How to Become a Luxury Travel Agent

Are you the go-to person for travel tips?

Transform your passion for travel into your dream job. We'll set you up with everything you need to succeed as a travel advisor. From training to top-notch tech, marketing assets, community, commission tracking & payments (and more), we've got you.

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The Independent Travel Agent Income Report, 2021

Host Agency Reviews has conducted an annual travel agent survey since 2016. The results of HAR’s 2021 survey offer an opportunity to look at income trends among an advisor subset that the Bureau of Labor and Statistics doesn’t include in their reporting: independent travel advisors.

The results of HAR’s 2021 survey offer an opportunity to look at income trends among an advisor subset that the Bureau of Labor and Statistics doesn’t include in their reporting: independent travel advisors.

This year, over 1,100 travel advisors filled out our survey. In this report, we’re going to look at income among independent travel advisors. What does it mean to be independent? We consider independent advisors those who have their own accreditation (rather than exclusively using a host agency , or selling travel as a travel agent employee ).

However, advisors within the independent subset are far from cookie cutter. Some independent advisors have dozens or hundreds of ICs or employees, and some work solo. Some are home-based and some own storefronts. Some are hosted in addition to having their own accreditation, and some also own franchises.

While our 2021 Travel Agent COVID Report details COVID's industry impact, the findings in this year's report detail its aftershocks destabilized income potential and shifted business among independent advisors.

Here’s what we'll cover:

⭐️ HAR Article Highlights: ⭐️

• The 2021 independent Travel Agent Infographic : A visual look at the data
• Summary of independent Travel Agent Income

Independent Travel Agent Income & Hours Worked

Did independent advisors sell travel as a primary source of income, independent travel agent income & years of experience, independent travel agent income & niche, what products did independent agents sell, independent travel agent income breakdown, industry engagement and independent travel agent income, independent travel agent income, by region, key takeaways, the independent travel agent report, infographic.

Our infographic below visualizes some of the data we'll cover!

Summary of Independent Travel Agent Income

This year, HAR used median income instead of average income. Why did we switch it up after so many years? According to our data analyst Dr. Maga Gei, “the median offers a more reliable look at what independent advisors were likely to make during the reporting year because it's not affected by extreme values.” (Especially within the context of a pandemic.)

With that in mind, survey data indicated that median income for full-time independent advisors dropped to a low of $3,100 in 2020.

Independent advisors who worked full time earned 3x more than independent advisors overall, $3,100 compared to $1,020.

Despite this precipitous decline in income, COVID did not shift trends in earning potential as work hours increased. Independent advisors who worked full time earned three times more than independent advisors overall ($3,100 compared to $1,020, respectively).

The graph below offers an income overview for part-time and full-time independent advisors, including the median income decrease between 2019 and 2020.

In 2020, median income dropped 92% for part-time advisors, and 94% for full-time advisors between 2019 and 2020. 1

Before the coronavirus outbreak in March 2020, 78% of independent advisors sold travel full time. During the pandemic, however, the percentage of full-time advisors dropped a precipitous 51 points to 27%. Here’s a visual:

In 2020, before the pandemic outbreak, 73% of independent advisors sold travel as a primary source of income. This is a higher percentage than in 2019 when only 67% reported selling travel as a primary source of income.

• During the pandemic, the percentage of independent advisors selling travel as a primary source of income dropped 19 points from 73% to 54%.

During the pandemic, the percentage of independent advisors selling travel as a primary source of income dropped 19 points from 73% to 54%. The graph below illustrates COVID’s impact on independent advisors:

MOST INDEPENDENT ADVISORS PLAN TO RETURN TO SELLING AS A PRIMARY SOURCE OF INCOME:

Zero respondents answered no to the question, "Do you intend to resume selling travel as a primary source of income?"

Remarkably, zero respondents answered no to the question, "Do you intend to resume selling travel as a primary source of income?" 2 The vast majority (78%) of independent advisors who stopped selling travel as their primary source of income during the pandemic plan to resume selling at a pre-covid volume, and 20% responded that they were unsure.

The chart below illustrates independent advisors’ intent to return to selling travel as a primary source of income. 3

The median experience among independent advisors profiled in this report is 15 years. This is higher than 2019 when the median experience of independent advisors was 13 years.

The chart below details median income by experience level:

Advisors typically earn more income as they gain experience. However, in pandemic times, advisors with 15+ experience earned the lowest median income. It’s also important to note that, statistically, the 15+ years experience category received the highest response rate and is more representative of the data overall.

In 2020 72% of independent advisors had a niche and 20% were generalists. 4

Excluding generalists, the top three niches in 2020 were:

• Groups: 13%
• Weddings & Honeymoons: 10%
• Luxury & Destination Specialist: 9%

Below the graph illustrates how agents responded when asked about their specialty:

WHAT NICHES EARNED THE MOST INCOME FOR INDEPENDENT ADVISORS?

Below are the top three income-earning niches in 2020:

• Weddings & Honeymoons, $11,700
• River Cruises, $9,000
• Disney, $5,755

Weddings and Honeymoons was far and away the top-earning niche in 2020. With its appeal as a domestic destination (for US travelers) that was open for the majority of 2020. Disney made its first appearance on the list of the top three highest income earners. 5

Below is a complete look of income by niche among the categories we received a high enough response rate: 6

In our survey we ask, “which travel product do you sell the most of?” In 2020, agents cited all-inclusives as their most common product sold at 35% (This was also the top product for hosted travel advisors .)

In addition to all-inclusives, here are the top three travel products independent agents reported selling in our 2021 survey:

• All-Inclusives (35%)
• Tours and Packages (14%)

Below you can find a complete list of travel products sold and the percentage of independent agents who reported it was their top product sold:

In a typical (non-pandemic) year, cruises land in the top three products sold for independent advisors. However, the Center for Disease Control (CDC) implemented a “No Sail” order, which resulted in a significant drop in cruise bookings.

MEDIAN INCOME BY PRODUCT DURING COVID

Some types of products were more resilient to the pandemic. The top three median incomes by product most sold were:

• All-Inclusives, $3,600
• FITs, $1,615
• Airlines, $900

Below is a fuller look at independent travel agent income by top product sold in 2020: 7 .

We combined four income streams to tally overall income. Here's our secret sauce:

Overall Travel Agent Income = Commissions + Service Fees + Consultation Fees + Other Industry Related Income (e.g. coaching or speaking).

Below is an overview of what kind of fees independent advisors charged in 2020 (We will explore this exact distribution more in our fee surveys, so stay tuned!) 8 :

COVID eroded the typical landscape of earning potential, with advisors reporting in the 2021 survey that fees and other income comprised a much higher percentage of overall earnings compared to commissions.

Below the graph illustrates median incomes by each of the four revenue streams, comparing it to last year’s medians. (The service fees, consultation fees, and other categories included only advisors who reported income from that specific revenue stream).

BOOKING VOLUME FROM WEBSITE BOOKING ENGINES

11% of independent advisors reported having a booking engine on their websites. Year after year, what we find is bookings from online booking engines are negligible and this year was no different.

Among agents who reported having a booking engine on their site, 80% reported they yielded no bookings via this channel. The graph below illustrates the entire breakdown:

Agency Models of Independent Travel Agents

How do independent agents run their business and how does it impact income? In this section, we’ll take a peek at whether or not agency location (home-based vs. storefront) correlated with higher income.

Additionally, we’ll also look at how many independent agents have independent contractors (ICs) and/or employees.

HOW MANY INDEPENDENT AGENTS WERE ALSO HOSTED?

Among independent agents, 12% were also hosted in addition to having their own accreditation. This is lower than last year when 30% of independent agents were also hosted.

WHICH ACCREDITATIONS DID INDEPENDENT ADVISORS HAVE IN 2020?

Overall, the top three accreditations were:

• IATAN non-ticketing: 30%
• IATA ticketing: 26%

Below, the graph depicts a breakdown of which accreditations independent advisors had in 2020:

HOME-BASED OR STOREFRONT AGENCIES?

A higher percentage of independent advisors reported having storefront agencies in 2020 compared to 2019, 26% compared to 16% respectively. In 2020, the majority of independent advisors, 74%, were home-based.

In a reversal of last year's results, home-based independent advisors earned 77% more income on average than storefront agencies. 9 The image below compares median income among home-based advisors and storefront agency owners:

Over half of storefront agencies earned no income during the pandemic in 2020 (hence, their $0 median income levels depicted on the graph). However, the interquartile range among this segment was $60-$48,000.

Our survey also asked advisors about sales loss (personal sales and agency-wide sales) in the wake of the pandemic outbreak.

The graph below compares home-based and storefront individual sales loss in 2020:

However, when we look at agency sales (opposed to individual sales) storefronts were more likely to report a high percentage of sales loss. When looking at sales on an agency level, our data indicated that storefront agency owners were harder hit by the pandemic than their home-based peers:

Compared to home-based agencies, storefronts registered 18 points higher for losing 61-80% of sales, and 26 points higher for losing 81-100% of sales.

Since storefronts are more likely to have a higher volume of employees and ICs before the pandemic and may have had to downsize during the pandemic, it’s more likely that the cumulative drop in sales will be more dramatic.

INCOME FOR INDEPENDENT AGENTS WITH EMPLOYEES AND/OR ICS

56% of independent advisors had ICs and/or employees in 2020. Below is a breakdown of what percentage of independent agents reported having ICs and/or employees:

Agencies with both ICs and employees earned the highest median income, banking 109% more than solo advisors. Those with ICs only earned nearly 56% more.

Agencies with employees-only were hardest hit, with a $0 median income. If you’re doing a double-take at a $0 median income, you’re not alone. 2020 was an unusual year. If you didn’t get into selling travel for your love of statistics it may be a minor comfort to know that the median is $0 because more than half of agencies with employees only earned no income during the pandemic.

HOW MANY ICS AND EMPLOYEES DID INDEPENDENT AGENCIES HAVE?

Independent agencies report a broad range when it comes to the volume of ICs and employees. Below, we list the range and median of ICs as well as FT and PT employees:

EMPLOYEE RETENTION AMONG INDEPENDENT ADVISORS

Many advisors with employees deferred to furloughs and layoffs during the pandemic. However, 63% of advisors with employees reported making no layoffs in 2020.

Among agencies who did lay off employees, 47% was the median workforce reduction.

79% of independent advisors reported belonging to at least one association. The top 3 associations among independent advisors were:

Here’s the complete breakdown of what associations independent advisors belonged to:

CERTIFICATION RATES AMONG INDEPENDENT AGENTS

69% of independent advisors reported having at least one travel certification. The top three certifications in 2020 were:

• Destination/ Vendor Specialist: 29%
• ACC (through CLIA): 10%
• CTA (through the Travel Institute): 9%

Below is a complete breakdown of which certification independent advisors received in 2020.

Attaining a certification also had a positive impact on income for independent advisors. Those who earned at least one certification earned 37% more income than those who hadn’t received any certifications.

While commissions are influenced by different factors, regionality isn't one of them: An agent who sells Disney in MN is going to get the same commission as the agent who sells Disney from NY (even if rent is 3x the cost).

In 2020, the top-earning regions were:

• Heartland ($22,680)
• Midwest ($18,589)
• Appalachia ($13,979)

Here’s the complete breakdown of median income by region:

Regional income has not been consistent from year to year. Do the regional findings seem accurate in comparison to your income? If these numbers aren’t reflective of what you earned, we’d love for you to participate in next year’s survey!

How about that, we take the notes for you! Here are some of the highlights from our 2021 Independent Travel Agent Report:

Before the coronavirus outbreak in March 2020, 78% of independent advisors sold travel full time. During the pandemic however, the percentage of full-time advisors dropped a precipitous 51 points to 27%.

• 72% of independent advisors had a niche and 20% were generalists. Additionally, Weddings and Honeymoons was the top-earning niche that year.
• In 2020, all-inclusives were the most common primary product sold at 35%
• 44% of independent advisors charged a service and/or consultation fee in 2020. 56% charged no fees.
• 12% of independent advisors were also hosted in addition to having their own accreditation. This is lower than 2019, when 30% of independent agents were also hosted.
• Advisors with both ICs and employees earned the highest median income, banking 109% more than solo advisors.
• 79% of independent advisors reported belonging to at least one association and 69% reported having at least one certification.

Data Is the Gift that Keeps on Giving . . . Stay Tuned

Um. Wow. That was pretty thrilling. If you're as excited by this data as the HAR crew, then you're definitely in the right industry!!!! We are cooking up other great information including a report on new-to-industry agents, a demographic report, and travel agency employees!

Don't forget to sign up for HAR's free newsletter to get the next report right to your inbox!

A Huge THANK YOU

Not gonna lie. The thank-you section of this report could be longer than the report itself (31 pages up to this point, but who’s counting? 🙋🏻‍♀️)

Thank you so much to the HAR crew who mind-meld, collaborate, and talk me off ledges as I panic over deadlines and data. Not to wax sentimental, but y’all are my chosen family when it comes to colleagues . . . I’m looking at you, April Oliveira (marketing queen and creators of all graphs and images), Dr. Maga Gei (who I fondly refer to as our “data whisperer”), Steph Lee (does she even need an intro?), and Maureen Bourcy (who’s patience and insights bring my blood pressure down in ten seconds flat . . . even on video chat).

A colossal thank you to these travel organizations: American Society of Travel Advisors , Association of Black Travel Professionals , CCRA , Destination Wedding Honeymoon Specialist Association , Ensemble Travel Group , Gifted Travel Network , Nexion Travel Group , Outside Agents , Royal Caribbean Cruise Line , Travel Quest Network , Travel Leaders Network , Travel Pulse , and Travel Research Online .

The Method to Our Madness

Overall, 1,098 advisors responded to our 2021 Travel Agent Survey.

This report profiles independent advisors with 3+ years of selling travel. 624 respondents met our criteria to be included in this particular report.

Is the concept of a host agency new to you? I highly recommend you check out this article, "What Is a Host Agency," which will give you a foundation on what HAR is all about.

THE NITTY GRITTY

We know some of you may be seriously loving our data and looking for a few more details on the process.

Here's an overview of how we arrived at our numbers:

• In a departure from previous reports, this year we tallied median independent advisors' median income rather than average income. Median offers a more reliable look at what independent advisors were likely to make during the reporting year.
• Respondent data is from 2020: HAR’s travel agent survey was conducted between June 1st and July 31st of 2021. Advisors used their annual 2020 income numbers to complete our survey.
• Outliers were removed. In a typical year, we only include advisors who earn a minimum of $500 in income. However, as 2020 was an exceptional year, this report also includes those who earn $0-$500, with a few extreme outliers removed. (If you made $80,000,000 during a pandemic then holy moly! Go you! But for report purposes, we’ll go ahead and assume that’s an error.)
• We round to the nearest percent or dollar. What can I say? It's easier on the eyes when you're wading through so much data. (Sorry, decimal points. We still love you.)

A Glossary of Terms

• Interquartile Range (IQ): A typical "range" shows us the lowest and highest fee. But the interquartile range helps us remove outliers in order to get a clearer picture of moderate fee-charging practices. For those really nerding out, the Interquartile Range measures the range between the 25th and 75th% percentile. This means the IQ range excludes the data from the lowest 25% and the highest 25%, eliminating the lower and upper outliers.
• Median: The median is the middle value in the set of numbers. (That’s right, the middle child of data!) We are beginning to use median to look at income as we . This helped us get a clearer picture of the “average” agent, by eliminating outliers that skew the data.
• Median Range: When we offer a median range the numbers reflect the spread between the most common lowest fee and the most common highest fee reported by our respondents in our survey.
• Mode: The mode is the number that appears most often in a set of numbers. For our purposes, it means that it was the most frequently-occurring response among travel agents who answered the question. We used mode to determine the most common amount charged for certain service fees, in order to give a clearer picture of what the “typical” agent is most likely to charge.
• HAR recalculated 2019 income to derive median income, rather than the averages, which is the data we reported in 2020 ↩
• This segment includes only those who reported they stopped selling travel as a primary source of income after the coronavirus outbreak. ↩
• The numbers in the graph don’t compute to 100% because for 2%, the response was “not applicable” ↩
• 8% were non-selling independent advisors, responding N/A ↩
• Disney World began closing its resorts on March 16th, 2020. On June 22nd, they began to reopen a few of their resorts, and by July 11th, 2020, they began a phased reopening of theme parks. ( Source ) ↩
• Categories that didn’t receive a high enough response for a reliable income median were River Cruises, Disney, Adventure Travel, Corporate Travel, Accessible Travel, LGBTQ+, Heritage Travel, MICE, Wellness Travel, Romance Travel, Write-Ins. ↩
• The “other” category includes those with a response rate too low to calculate a reliable income average, including travel insurance (3%), river cruises (2.5%), car rentals (.4%), and Disney (0%) ↩
• The chart only includes independent advisors who sold travel. In 2020, 8% of respondents were non-selling advisors ↩
• In 2019, storefront advisors earned 1.5x more than home-based advisors. ↩

About the Author

Mary Stein has been working as a writer and editor for Host Agency Reviews since 2016. She loves supporting travel advisors on their entrepreneurial journey and is inspired by their passion, tenacity, and creativity. Mary is also a mom, dog lover, fiction writer, hiker, and a Great British Bake Off superfan.

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How to become an independent travel agent.

Home » Travel Marketing Tips » How To Become An Independent Travel Agent

• November 18, 2023
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Embarking on a journey to become an independent travel agent is an exciting endeavor. The allure of earning 100% commission and the freedom to shape your travel business according to your vision make it a compelling option. However, the lack of readily available information on this subject can be a bit daunting. In this guide, we’ll take you through the essential steps and considerations for successfully becoming your own travel agent.

The Decision to Go Independent

Before diving into the intricacies, it’s crucial to weigh the decision carefully. Consider your personal goals and niche within the travel industry. While it can be overwhelming, resources like Wanderlust Campus’ free masterclass can help navigate the complexities of becoming an independent travel agent, ensuring that you make informed choices aligned with your vision for your travel business.

Steps to Become an Independent Travel Agent

1. setting up your business.

Start by establishing the legal framework for your business. Work with an attorney to decide on the most suitable structure, whether it’s an LLC, partnership, or S corp.

2. Obtaining Travel Agent Credentials

Secure individual travel agent credentials, a critical step in operating independently within the industry. Learn how to list yourself as an agent under your agency.

3. Managing Logistics

Navigate through the logistical aspects of becoming an independent agent. Ensure all legal paperwork is in order, acquire the necessary insurance, and plan meticulously for a smooth operation.

4. Launching Your Business

Successfully launching your business requires strategic planning. Develop a comprehensive training plan, choose the right technology, and implement effective systems for smooth operations.

5. Partnering with Travel Suppliers

Forge relationships with travel suppliers to lay the foundation for your business. Register your new agency credentials, set up a business bank account, and go through the necessary processes, recognizing it might take 8 to 12 weeks at a minimum.

Overcoming Challenges

While the prospect of independence is thrilling, challenges may arise. From confusing industry nuances to overwhelming logistics, be prepared to overcome obstacles. Wanderlust Campus offers invaluable support to guide you through this journey.

Becoming an independent travel agent is a significant decision that requires careful consideration and strategic planning. Remember to take a deep breath, let the information from this guide settle, and align your actions with your goals.

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Discover the Most Effective Ways to Market Your Travel Agency

With travel on the rebound and bookings increasing dramatically in practically every travel segment, travel agent marketing is more essential than ever! That’s why you need to optimize your travel agent marketing efforts today to attract potential new clients, increase your customer base, and rock your travel agency business.

Bottom line: The more effective your travel agent marketing, the more bookings you’ll get and the more commissions you’ll make. It’s that simple!

However, discovering the best travel agent marketing tools and techniques as an independent travel agent can be a tricky and overwhelming ordeal, especially when you’re up against modern-day online booking websites. That’s why you need to think outside the box and take advantage of every travel agent marketing tool in your arsenal!

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Here are some of the most effective ways you can greatly enhance your travel agent marketing:

• Define Your Target Audience and Develop a Niche Market: To stand head and shoulders above the masses, you need to determine a niche travel market to focus on exclusively. Then you can become an expert in that specific area of travel. Personalize your website, content, and services to be consistent to the travel niche you have chosen to market.
• Get Active on Social Media: An essential part of your travel agency marketing plan, social media is not only FREE , but it’s used by 58% of the world’s population every day ! Make sure you use social media to its full potential by staying active and making regular posts on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram, TikTok, and others. Maintain a strong social media presence by answering questions and educating potential clients about what’s happening in your particular travel niche. Use travel images and video in your social media to generate even more interest from your followers.
• Create a Travel Blog: Now that you have your very own travel niche, make sure you’re informing potential clients about your various travel experiences, travel tips for certain destinations, the latest travel information, getting the best travel deals, and more.
• Reward Referrals to Your Business: Word-of-mouth referrals are an ideal way to attract new clients. That’s why you should reward referrals from existing clients that generate a travel booking with a discount or free gift. This type of offer can also be extended to clients who leave you a glowingly positive online review as well.
• Maintain Consistency Among All Marketing Platforms: Once you define your brand image and travel niche, be sure to keep your message consistent across all platforms, including website, advertising, social media, and email marketing.
• Highlight Your Travel Experience and Credentials: Your travel agent marketing efforts should feature the travel experience and ongoing education in your travel niche that sets you apart from the competition. Potential clients will place more trust in your business if they get a glimpse of your commitment level.

About the Author

Jenn Lee serves as  Vice President of Industry Support & Engagement  for   Travel Planners International , one of the leading  host travel agencies  in the United States. She is a frequent keynote speaker at major travel conferences, author and popular podcast guest on travel industry-related subjects.

Enlist Help from TPI to Achieve Rockstar Status!

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Once you’re a member of the TPI family, we provide you with access to ready-made marketing materials from travel agent marketing experts in all travel segments that will accelerate your success and make marketing easier than you ever imagined!

In addition, you get your very own Agent Portal that gives you easy access to a booking engine and all your marketing and promotional materials, as well as an email marketing platform and accounting software – all in one place! With expert training , unparalleled travel agent marketing support , and cutting-edge technology , TPI can help ensure your success.

By partnering with TPI, you’ll boost your productivity and profitability. Contact us today for more info about joining our amazing community of Rockstars!

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My name is Anastasia and I have been working in the restaurant Industry for over 10 years. During my career I have always wanted to learn something new but didn't really know what. After some time had passed, I learned that I can turn my love for travel planning into something lucrative.

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Frequently Asked Questions

How do i enhance my travel agent marketing efforts.

You’ll want to work with the best travel host agency to meet your specific needs. Fortunately, TPI provides unparalleled marketing support and technology to assist you in the right direction every step of the way.

Is social media important to travel agent marketing?

Absolutely! According to Travel Market Report, 90% of travel agents stated that social media is important to their marketing plans. Make sure you provide regular posts pertaining to all aspects of your travel niche market to increase your customer base.

What are some niche travel markets for travel agents?

Niche travel markets include destination weddings, luxury travel, bucket list trips, cruises, adventure travel, voluntourism, family travel, sports tourism, agritourism, senior travel, and many more.

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Growth of Independent Agents Is Reshaping the Industry

The continued growth of independent travel agents is leading to new business models that promise to strengthen the agency community, according to Ann van Leeuwen, president of the National Association of Career Travel Agents (NACTA). Van Leeuwen identified several key trends shaping the travel agency industry: •    Smaller brick and mortar travel agencies are reducing their employed staff, choosing instead to work with more independent contractors (ICs), and in some cases, exclusively with ICs. •    ICs, some working with the same host agency, are forming their own loose, informal networks. •    Host agencies – and NACTA – are stepping up their game in terms of providing services and support to their independents. Fueling the trend The shift by smaller agencies to greater use of ICs and reduced reliance on staff agents, often allows agencies, particularly those that are struggling, to stay in business, while maintaining a relationship with valued former staff agents. “Some of those that are really struggling might go to [being] a true host agency,” van Leeuwen said. “We know that about 14% of agencies in the U.S. and Canada are not profitable,” said van Leeuwen, citing ASTA’s Agency Sales & Revenue Trends for 2013. “We can assume that this percentage of agencies is looking to cut costs and may look to host agencies, or may go out of business leaving their agents to consider going independent or becoming unemployed if they can’t find other jobs. “This is a considerable number of agencies and is enough to fuel new business models,” she said. The move to independents NACTA’s membership has grown to 1,800, van Leeuwen said. According to the just-completed 2014 NACTA Independent Agents Report, slightly more than half (52%) of NACTA’s agent members are hosted ICs. More than one-third (36%) are fully independent agents, meaning they are not affiliated with a host agency or a franchise organization. These independent agents are small business owners who deal directly with suppliers. Ten percent of NACTA’s agent members belong to a franchise, and 2% are employees. The majority of NACTA’s members – 86% – work from home, according to the report. Hosts’ support Host agencies are responding to the increasing number of ICs by stepping up their game in providing services and support. Some are adding programs to help small agencies transition to new business models, according to van Leeuwen. “The large hosts are adding programs that help smaller agencies with back-end support, and they can offer [commission] override schedules,” she said. Host programs are often “very robust and can help some of the smaller companies stay in business,” van Leeuwen said. NACTA too is expanding the resources it offers its ICs. (See sidebar) ICs are ‘highly networked’ Independent agents meanwhile are becoming “highly networked,” van Leeuwen said. Networking is a way for independents to share and exchange expertise, with agents filling in the gaps in each others’ knowledge of a particular niche. Networking is also central to NACTA’s member benefits, said van Leeuwen. ‘Special ingredient’ She called NACTA’s chapter system its “special ingredient.” The organization’s 42 chapters across the country enable its members to connect locally to share information and experiences and even work together on shared bookings. NACTA also offers the NACTA Agent Digest, a daily online communication where members can connect, share information and post comments. “For travel consultants to know everything is impossible,” said van Leeuwen. “A NACTA consultant can’t be everywhere so they can rely on a peer. “That’s especially true now because [ICs] are diversifying what they sell and are selling more high-end FITs, custom trips and boutique hotels, not just mid-market travel or mass market cruises. “They have to make sure the client is satisfied and do what’s right for their business,” said van Leeuwen. “The two are interchangeable.”

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Travel Agencies in the US - Market Size, Industry Analysis, Trends and Forecasts (2024-2029)

Instant access to hundreds of data points and trends.

• Market estimates from
• Competitive analysis, industry segmentation, financial benchmarks
• Incorporates SWOT, Porter's Five Forces and risk management frameworks
• PDF report or online database with Word, Excel and PowerPoint export options

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Industry statistics and trends.

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Travel Agencies in the US

Industry Revenue

Total value and annual change from . Includes 5-year outlook.

Access the 5-year outlook with purchase. View purchase options

Trends and Insights

Market size is projected to over the next five years.

Market share concentration for the Travel Agencies industry in the US is , which means the top four companies generate of industry revenue.

The average concentration in the sector in the United States is .

Products & Services Segmentation

Industry revenue broken down by key product and services lines.

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Table of Contents

About this industry, industry definition, what's included in this industry, industry code, related industries, domestic industries, competitors, complementors, international industries, performance, key takeaways, revenue highlights, employment highlights, business highlights, profit highlights, current performance.

What's driving current industry performance in the Travel Agencies in the US industry?

What's driving the Travel Agencies in the US industry outlook?

What influences volatility in the Travel Agencies in the US industry?

• Industry Volatility vs. Revenue Growth Matrix

What determines the industry life cycle stage in the Travel Agencies in the US industry?

• Industry Life Cycle Matrix

Products and Markets

Products and services.

• Products and Services Segmentation

How are the Travel Agencies in the US industry's products and services performing?

What are innovations in the Travel Agencies in the US industry's products and services?

Major Markets

• Major Market Segmentation

What influences demand in the Travel Agencies in the US industry?

International Trade

• Industry Concentration of Imports by Country
• Industry Concentration of Exports by Country
• Industry Trade Balance by Country

What are the import trends in the Travel Agencies in the US industry?

What are the export trends in the Travel Agencies in the US industry?

Geographic Breakdown

Business locations.

• Share of Total Industry Establishments by Region ( )

Data Tables

• Number of Establishments by Region ( )
• Share of Establishments vs. Population of Each Region

What regions are businesses in the Travel Agencies in the US industry located?

Competitive Forces

Concentration.

• Combined Market Share of the Four Largest Companies in This Industry ( )
• Share of Total Enterprises by Employment Size

What impacts market share in the Travel Agencies in the US industry?

Barriers to Entry

What challenges do potential entrants in the Travel Agencies in the US industry?

Substitutes

What are substitutes in the Travel Agencies in the US industry?

Buyer and Supplier Power

• Upstream Buyers and Downstream Suppliers in the Travel Agencies in the US industry

What power do buyers and suppliers have over the Travel Agencies industry in the US?

Market Share

Top companies by market share:

• Market share
• Profit Margin

Company Snapshots

Company details, summary, charts and analysis available for

Company Details

• Total revenue
• Total operating income
• Total employees
• Industry market share

Company Summary

• Description
• Brands and trading names
• Other industries

What's influencing the company's performance?

External Environment

External drivers.

What demographic and macroeconomic factors impact the Travel Agencies in the US industry?

Regulation and Policy

What regulations impact the Travel Agencies in the US industry?

What assistance is available to the Travel Agencies in the US industry?

Financial Benchmarks

Cost structure.

• Share of Economy vs. Investment Matrix
• Depreciation

What trends impact cost in the Travel Agencies in the US industry?

Financial Ratios

• 3-4 Industry Multiples (2018-2023)
• 15-20 Income Statement Line Items (2018-2023)
• 20-30 Balance Sheet Line Items (2018-2023)
• 7-10 Liquidity Ratios (2018-2023)
• 1-5 Coverage Ratios (2018-2023)
• 3-4 Leverage Ratios (2018-2023)
• 3-5 Operating Ratios (2018-2023)
• 5 Cash Flow and Debt Service Ratios (2018-2023)
• 1 Tax Structure Ratio (2018-2023)

Data tables

• IVA/Revenue ( )
• Imports/Demand ( )
• Exports/Revenue ( )
• Revenue per Employee ( )
• Wages/Revenue ( )
• Employees per Establishment ( )
• Average Wage ( )

Key Statistics

Industry data.

Including values and annual change:

• Revenue ( )
• Establishments ( )
• Enterprises ( )
• Employment ( )
• Exports ( )
• Imports ( )

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the market size of the travel agencies industry in the us.

The market size of the Travel Agencies industry in the US is measured at in .

How fast is the Travel Agencies in the US market projected to grow in the future?

Over the next five years, the Travel Agencies in the US market is expected to . See purchase options to view the full report and get access to IBISWorld's forecast for the Travel Agencies in the US from up to .

What factors are influencing the Travel Agencies industry in the US market trends?

Key drivers of the Travel Agencies in the US market include .

What are the main product lines for the Travel Agencies in the US market?

The Travel Agencies in the US market offers products and services including .

Which companies are the largest players in the Travel Agencies industry in the US?

Top companies in the Travel Agencies industry in the US, based on the revenue generated within the industry, includes .

How many people are employed in the Travel Agencies industry in the US?

The Travel Agencies industry in the US has employees in United States in .

How concentrated is the Travel Agencies market in the United States?

Market share concentration is for the Travel Agencies industry in the US, with the top four companies generating of market revenue in United States in . The level of competition is overall, but is highest among smaller industry players.

Methodology

Where does ibisworld source its data.

IBISWorld is a world-leading provider of business information, with reports on 5,000+ industries in Australia, New Zealand, North America, Europe and China. Our expert industry analysts start with official, verified and publicly available sources of data to build an accurate picture of each industry.

Each industry report incorporates data and research from government databases, industry-specific sources, industry contacts, and IBISWorld's proprietary database of statistics and analysis to provide balanced, independent and accurate insights. 

IBISWorld prides itself on being a trusted, independent source of data, with over 50 years of experience building and maintaining rich datasets and forecasting tools.

To learn more about specific data sources used by IBISWorld's analysts globally, including how industry data forecasts are produced, visit our Help Center.

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TRAVEL AGENCIES & Booking sites LOCATED INSIDE THE UNITED STATES

Travel agencies located outside the united states access africa safaris - over 10 years experience bringing you the best of uganda with the our specialized east african tours. african safari holidays - luxury-safaris are a uk based travel specialist for african safari holidays to kenya, tanzania and botswana. unforgettable croatia - best croatia private tours and luxury small ship cruises with expert luxury travel specialists offering customized vacations - high quality service. amazing peru - private jets & luxury travel with award winning luxury tour operator "tours of a lifetime" by national geographic, and our forbes listed customers. anywhere costa rica - anywhere costa rica is a comprehensive resource and travel guide for costa rica. atulya rajasthan - offers budget rajasthan tour packages that includes some of its finest cities: rajasthan, jaipur, jodhpur, udaipur, bikaner, and jaisalmer. all with travel services included. bailey robinson - uk tour operators, bailey robinson, offer tailor-made holidays to destinations around the world. beijing airport layover tours - beijing tours expert. over 30 airport layover tours operated by beijing tour company. best honeymoon destinations - researches and recommends the top honeymoon destinations in the world. explorer kenya - we offer kenya safari holidays visiting national parks in kenya and tanzania including masai mara, serengeti, ngorongoro, lake nakuru and amboseli. beach holidays to mombasa and zanzibar. layover tour beijing - a proffesional tour operator to make sure you have a worry free layover trip in beijing wayfairer travel - explore luxurious holiday ideas for some of our most popular destinations in africa and asia. lion queen gulet cruises - gulet cruises in croatia are organized by a professional travel agency specializing in booking cruises in croatia. perfect for every ages silk road explore ? central asian travel agency with more than 180 unique package tours along the great silk road countries. possible to book and buy online. round the world experts - the uk's biggest round the world and multi stop flight specialists - round the world experts. short break cruises - reader offers ltd offers an amazing range of value short cruise holidays to non-traditional cruise customers. china highlights travel - offers china tour packages to multi chinese destinations designed for independent travelers, couples and families to plan a travel to china. china journeys - travel in china with added interest. china tours - a china based tour operator providing personalized china tours to every corner of china. costa rica vacations - a full service all inclusive costa rica travel agency featuring affordable vacation packages. cuba travel network - online travel to cuba - hotels, flights, rental cars and excursions. exsus luxury holidays - is a bespoke tour operator with over 10 years experience in creating luxury holidays to africa, asia, the caribbean, europe and latin america for explorers with standards. flights direct - new zealand's longest running online travel agency and flight centre for cheap flights and holiday deals. freedom africa holidays - tailor-made africa holidays and safari tours. book your holiday to africa with freedom africa for an unforgettable holiday. goolets.net - take a gulet charter holiday. blue cruises in turkey, croatia and greece. rent an entire gulet or rent just a cabin. more than 40 gulets in croatia and over 500 gulets in turkey and greece all with interesting cruise routes. just the flight - book cheap flights at just the flight online. compare prices from over a hundred airlines to destinations worldwide, members of atol, iata and abta. kenya safari - specialises in tailor-made safari, beach and camping tours in kenya. contact our consultants to start planning your safari. laterallife sabbaticals - we are an exclusive travel design business for discriminating, like minded individuals in search of the greatest travel experiences that this wonderful planet has to offer. latin odyssey - at latin odyssey, creating spectacular, luxury travel experiences to south and central america is a labour of love. luxotic holidays - we provide you with detailed information on hotels, attractions, transportation, resorts, and everything else to complete the itinerary for your luxury holiday in kerala. luxury wedding and honeymoon hotels - we are dedicated to providing you with a wedding & honeymoon in the most romantic destinations of the world. we invite you to craft your ideal luxury wedding & honeymoon abroad exactly the way you want it. mega cheap holidays - for cheap holidays from the leading travel firms pay mega a visit before you book a vacation online. munnar in kerala holiday - comprehensive guide to the hill station of munnar in kerala, india including information, travel guide, photos and hotel reservations. onyx safaris - uganda gorilla safari offers at $950 -$1120 - other africa holidays include - wildlife safaris to uganda, chimpanzee tracking safaris, cultural tours, birding safaris, rafting and africa adventure holidays. palmarvoyages in ecuador-galapagos and south america - tailor-made tours, galapagos cruises, amazon and adventure trips, community based tours, and airline tickets. pettitts travel - specialises in creating authentic and inspiring tailor-made holidays. eco aventura punta venado mayan riviera - best shore excursions and beach tours in cozumel and playa del carmen. just one hour from the cancun airport. niagara falls tours from toronto - narrated niagara falls tours from toronto including free time in niagara falls, wine tasting and sightseeing. niche escapes holiday rentals - from niche destinations around the world. list your property or search today. catered ski chalets by snowchateaux - fully inclusive ski chalets including flights, transfers, cooked breakfast, light lunch and 4 course evening meal. wine & beer all included. terra cotta warriors tour - a day tour specialist based in xian china offering a high quality local experience. tours to norway - award-winning collection of private & small group tours to norway brought to you by the team of inbound local experts. tots too - specializing in luxury family holidays and child friendly resorts. tianjin xingang port tours - tianjin xingang port beijing tours & transfers. turquoise holidays - luxury holidays from turquoise - travel with passion and imagination uzaze travels: africa safari, ethiopia tours and gorilla trekking - providing safaris, adventures and accommodation in kenya, ethiopia, rwanda, uganda and dr of congo. viet value travel - local vietnam tour operator specializing in vietnam travel, tours, hotels and other travel services. laos and cambodia tours are also available. voyajo.com - voyajo is a free online trip planner. plan your journey and share with your friends, family and the voyajo community. peter sommer travels - escorted tours: turkey, greece and italy. gulet cruises, adventure family holidays, sicily holidays, food tours and turkish gulet charters. steppes travel - offers tailor made holidays to the most exciting and exotic destinations worldwide. cheap tenerife holidays - holidays in tenerife are a joy for all and cheap prices can be had booking tenerife holidays online. my costa rica vacations - custom vacation packages to costa rica including top hotels, all-inclusive resorts and rental villas. wakanow - travel agents - plan, research, and book cheap flights and hotels in africa and beyond. offices in houston, texas and victoria island, lagos. royal caribbean international- find a cruise in europe - treat yourself to a truly unforgettable cruise vacation. cruising offers countless new onboard experiences and exciting shore excursions. a cruise with royal caribbean international has so much variety it\'s like several vacations in one. china odyssey tours - affordable china tour packages, yangtze cruises, city tours in beijing, shanghai, guilin, yunnan, chengdu and tibet. free 1-on-1 travel consulting, prompt reply. adventure uganda safari - we specialize in uganda safaris, taking you for gorilla trekking, birding, mountain climbing, white water rafting, and game viewing. indochina odyssey tours - your trustworthy indochina tour operator since 1987. personalized and worry-free service in tours, hotels and tickets in vietnam, cambodia, laos, burma and thailand. travel central asia with roxana tours - uzbekistan tours, hotels and visa support. best travel destination in central asia and silk road. kruger national park accommodation, tours, and lodging - (south africa) join us for an unforgetable experience in nature's untouched wilderness. cheapflights.co.uk - find and compare travel deals from all the major airlines and get the lowest prices on hand-picked deals at cheapflights.co.uk. tourdust.com - travel agent specialising in independent adventure travel, cultural tours and walking holidays in uk, latin america and se asia. lets travel india - tour operator based in kerala, provides kerala tour packages including honeymoon packages, leisure packages, ayurveda tour package and hill station packages. holiday resources - holiday car hire, accommodation, flights and cruise information worldwide. qantas holidays to australia - travel to australia with qantas holidays, the australia holidays specialist premier holiday cottages - the uk's only 4 and 5 star luxury holiday cottage letting directory for the finest holiday cottages. indian wildlife moments - indian wildlife safaris - providing indian wildlife safaris, jungle safaris, horse safaris, wildlife national parks, tiger projects, wildlife sanctuary of incredible india. co-operative travel - beach holiday packages to great beach destinations all over the world, including fantastic beach holidays to lanzarote, spain, and florida. hotelandtraveling.com - hotel online booking - hotel and traveling guides. cheap, easy and safe hotel booking. that is hotel and traveling.com. wendy wu tours - china holidays - is the uk?s leading china specialist tour operator offering the best value tours to china and indochina on the market. amani tours & unique african safaris - memorable & affordable african wildlife safaris in tanzania, land of kilimanjaro & zanzibar with amani tours & safaris tanzania. go fly - cheap airline tickets-canadian online travel agency, world-class flight booking engine. search travel online - budget holidays specialst offering holiday bargains to european destinations such as the canary islands, egypt and the balearic islands. book a learning holiday at golearnto.com - learning holiday specialists with inspirational holiday courses in over 30 countries worldwide to suit all timescales and budgets. taj mahal tours of india - with rajasthan, kerala,varanasi, nepal, private car with professional driver, family tours in your budget. travel agents in toronto - find a travel agent for your holiday to ontario. costa rica vacation 4 me - the costa rica travel guide offers hundreds of pages of useful costa rica travel information including maps, weather forecasts, etc. rapid-visas.co.uk - specialising in providing india and china visa services. all visa applications managed by professional visa handling agents in london, uk. explore argentina - reservations of tours in argentina, hotels, travel packages and tourism in buenos aires, el calafate, perito moreno, bariloche, ushuaia, iguaz? and patagonia. travel-spain.net - offers discount vacation travel packages and tours to a variety of destinations in spain. best kenya safaris - online travel guide to kenya, tour operators, national parks, flights and general information. cape town car rentals - south africa - affordable south africa car hire. car rental locations include johannesburg, cape town and george. unlimited miles, great rates turansa.com - guatemala tour operator and travel agency of the mayan world turansa. majestic travel tours - we customize tours to italy for individuals and groups and can design tours for specific interests and budgets depending on our clients needs. audley travel - specialists in tailor-made holidays and individual itineraries for discerning travellers seeking authentic experiences around the world. a la carte italy tours - tour operators in italy provide luxury escorted tours with a private driver, local guides and an exclusive limousine. antelope-travel - greece travel agency located in athens, greece. vacation packages, greece honeymoon packages. toronto and niagara falls tours - bus, boat, and helicopter tours of toronto and surrounding cities like niagara falls. travel in paradise costa rica - we are experts in costa rica: family trips, honeymoons, vacations trips, tours, incentives, and educational tours. inghams tours - if you're considering a ski holiday in europe, or a walking tour, inghams is the tour operator you're looking for. costaricaholiday.co.uk - cost rica holiday experts have 17 years experience in booking holidays to cost rica. book your golf.net - offers golf packages and tee times for dubai, spain, portugal, thailand, turkey, mauritius and more. focus on mexico - live in lake chapala. come see if it's right for you. 10 day informational program. travelsur.net - manually edited list of travel and travel related sites and is the online branch of erna rosenfeld viajes, an argentine based -fully licensed- travel agency expressions holidays luxury travel - we specialise in bespoke holidays to the top exclusive hotels worldwide. zeus travel agency - greece hotels - hotels in greece, crete, mykonos, corfu, paros, santorini, including information for planning your entire greek holiday. insider tour - we offer custom-tailored tours of st. petersburg and moscow with private tour guides. also car rentals, visas, hotels, and shore excursions for cruise travelers. letsgo2 - site is easy for combining hotel & flight plans. letsgo2 is the tour operating division of ickenham travel plc. perfect tour romania - medical travel (anti-aging, eye, dental) high quality/low costs, camps, trips, tours, romanian wonders. we can arrange the perfect tour of romania. itravelnet.com - worldwide directory of travel sites. book cheap airfares, discount hotels, insurance, eurail and car rental. srmtravel.com - turkey off the beaten track: special interest, adventure travel in turkey and neighboring countries. aspire lifestyle holidays - providing luxury self catering holiday cottages & villas. seakunga adventure tours - exciting belize tours and cuba tours from seakunga adventures. costa rica beach vacation - destination guides, online travel booking (including cruises), travel agency specializing in costa rica travel. doyouspain.com - spain car rental services with all inclusive prices. no hidden costs. greece holidays - find travel tips, hotels, airfare and info on local sites of interest from people who are there. exclusive tours - new zealand high quality tailormade guided and non guided tours. scottish holidays - guide for scotland as a holiday destination with information on travel, events & maps. goreme balloons - hot air balloon flights over the magnificent landscape of cappadocia pennyfarthing holidays - chauffeur/guide service in london, england. air/port transfers into london.small group tours al a carte. reisebuero welt - (moscow) manages corporate travel and tourism in russia. firmata travel tours - firmata travel provides a wide range of services designed for travel professionals: incentive, groups and individuals. our destinations: russia, baltic states, finland & sweden. natoura adventure tours - specializing in ecologically sensitive adventure tours throughout the amazon, andes, gran sabana, and llanos regions of venezuela. services international india travel - the site has info on india, nepal, bhutan, tibet, hotels, domestic airfares, itinerarires, indrail pass, railway timetable luxury trains, museums, fairs/festivals, etc. cruises only alaska by sea - book an alaska cruise with our cruise consultants. we offer a wide selection of cruise intineiries. alaska cruise transfer and tours - we provide alternative transportation services for cruise ship passengers, including a variety of pick up and drop off locations, day tours and transfers, all on our modern, spacious and comfortable buses. cruise croatia - we are specialists in small ship cruises in croatia and are dedicated in giving unbeatable service to every one of our guests with the best fleet in croatia. cruise paris with bateauxparisiens.com - cruise the seine river through paris, see the monuments along the seine on a luxurious boat. lunch and dinner cruises in paris. discount cruises & carnival cruise vacations - cruising is our specialty. our experienced consultants can make your vacations dream come true. cruise vacation world all-inclusive cruise packages. we discount all cruises. our cruise lines certified experts offer great service. cruise potato - cruising for couch potatos. lay around all over the world. be lazy in exotic places. more food than necessary discount cruises - the best cruise deals guaranteed our cruises are updated regularly for the best possible deals. let our experts book you on the cruise of a lifetime. galapagos cruises - galapagos tours and cruises begin right here, at galapagos.com. learn more about this remote yet surprisingly easy-to-reach destination from the comfort of our luxury galapagos cruises. cruise potato - cruising for couch potatos. lay around all over the world. be lazy in exotic places. more food than necessary kosher cruise and passover vacations - kosherica is the leader in the kosher cruise and passover hotel industry. join us on a stunning cruise to the caribbean, alaska, russia, england, new york, italy, spain, france or denmark. or join us for passover in costa rica and miami beach. kosher cruises enterprises (kce) - kosher cruises programs of the highest quality. cruise norway - is the norwegian fjord cruise specialist. cruise travel magazine .....not an agency, but a good source of information on all the cruise ships. rivercruiseexperts.com - river cruise travel provider offering exclusive deals on selective river cruise tours across the world. go to top of page specialty travel agencies, travel agent consolidators, thank you for using our travel directory.

• The Best Markets In Moscow

The Best Markets For Browsing In Moscow

Quirky curiosities, Soviet memorabilia, artisan crafts and gourmet street food; just a few of the things to buy at Moscow ‘s markets. A legacy of the Soviet era, they are a fantastic snapshot of Russian life and history and spill over with local color. We pick the best for browsing.

Izmailovsky Market

This cornucopia of curiosities brims with fascinating objects and exquisite local craftsmanship. Samovars, gramophones, fur hats, ancient coins, and even a bust of Stalin: the treasure trove that is Izmailovsky Vernisage knows no bounds. The hand-crafted products here are enchanting in the skill and beauty they display. Avoid the hiked-up prices for factory-made products at Moscow’s central souvenir shops and come to Izmailovsky for exquisite creations to meet the masters behind these objects. Venture out of the main Vernisage enclosure to explore the local art and hand-woven carpets on the second-floor wooden balcony. The nearby Izmailovo Kremlin is fascinating in its own right, with its fairground-style imitation of the Kremlin and museums of bread, vodka, and toys.

This farmers’ market is famed for being the place to find organic foodstuffs in Moscow . Danilovsky Market aims to provide the best of Russia’s farm-to-table produce. The meat, cheese, and jams here all hail from the local region, and the wafting scent of freshly baked bread is sure to set your stomach rumbling. Piles of fresh, exotic fruits teeter alongside dried fruits and nuts in rainbow towers. The witty and friendly traders from Russia and central Asia will entertain you with their tricks and dazzle you with their recommendations. The market occurs daily from around 8am to 8pm at 74 Muytnaya Street.

Novopodrezkovo Flea Market

On a busy day, this immense flea market hosts around 4,000 to 6,000 traders. Less well-known than its smaller brother, Izmailovsky, it has remained very much a typically Muscovite haunt and a local favorite. This means that Novopodrezkovo is virtually untainted by hiked-up tourist prices or manufactured souvenirs. For those lucky few foreigners in on the secret of Novopodrezkovo, there are bargains aplenty to be found. However, a visit to Novopodrezkovo is always a gamble: offerings can range from moth-eaten clothes and rusty tools to haute-couture and fabulous antiques. Fight through the hundreds of babushka laying out their Soviet-era wares to find some real treasures. Formerly located in the city center, the market has been moved a little further from the city and is open on weekends. Hop on the train to Novopodrezkovo at Moscow’s Leningradsky railway station or catch bus 370 from the Rechnoy Vokzal metro station to find the market by Novopodrezkovo station.

Bloshiny Rynok

For antique fanatics visiting Russia , Bloshiny Rynok is the place to come. Nowhere else in Moscow are there so many pre-Revolutionary items all jumbled together in one fascinating place. Shoes, clothes, and many household items, are gathered here, many of which date back to the early 20th century. Gramophones pump out vintage music to create an authentic atmosphere which makes for a perfect accompaniment to this time traveling expedition that’ll transport you back in history to a world of palaces, balls, carriages, and tsars. Check out the market’s facebook page to find out when the next market will be.

Gorbushka Electronics Market

Towering piles of bargain electronic goods fill this former television factory. An excellent spot to pick up second hand CDs, DVDs, video games, the Gorbushka market also sells electronic goods and household appliances, all at astonishingly low prices. The mind-boggling range of films, albums, and vintage vinyls means that, no matter your taste, you’ll be sure to find something at Gorbushka. The market’s origins lie in the park near the Gorbunov Palace of Culture. The park acted as a meeting ground for film and music enthusiasts who would come and swap records, but its immense popularity and rapid growth meant that the market had to move, eventually settling in a spacious warehouse by Bagrationovskaya metro station.

Sevastopol Hotel

An ethnic paradise, the exotic wares at this market inside the Sevastopol Hotel hail from India , Pakistan , and Afghanistan to name but a few. The wafting aroma of incense will draw you in, while the gleaming objects on show are sure to make you stay. The sorts of treasures available range from Middle Eastern jewelry, to silky hand-woven Oriental materials and expertly crafted toys. The master craftsmanship exhibited in each item is a sight to behold, and at eye-poppingly low prices. The market is best visited during the day-time on weekdays.

A showcase of the best of Moscow’s up-and-coming designers , Lambada bursts with creative talent. This artisan market is held at either Tsvetnoy Central Market or Strelka Art Institute around eight times a year and is a favorite with the city’s fashionable crowds who come here to keep ahead of the trend. Check out the best new designers as well as the most delicious gourmet street food here, which can range from crispy Lebanese falafel to exquisitely presented sushi.

Since you are here, we would like to share our vision for the future of travel - and the direction Culture Trip is moving in.

Culture Trip launched in 2011 with a simple yet passionate mission: to inspire people to go beyond their boundaries and experience what makes a place, its people and its culture special and meaningful — and this is still in our DNA today. We are proud that, for more than a decade, millions like you have trusted our award-winning recommendations by people who deeply understand what makes certain places and communities so special.

Increasingly we believe the world needs more meaningful, real-life connections between curious travellers keen to explore the world in a more responsible way. That is why we have intensively curated a collection of premium small-group trips as an invitation to meet and connect with new, like-minded people for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in three categories: Culture Trips, Rail Trips and Private Trips. Our Trips are suitable for both solo travelers, couples and friends who want to explore the world together.

Culture Trips are deeply immersive 5 to 16 days itineraries, that combine authentic local experiences, exciting activities and 4-5* accommodation to look forward to at the end of each day. Our Rail Trips are our most planet-friendly itineraries that invite you to take the scenic route, relax whilst getting under the skin of a destination. Our Private Trips are fully tailored itineraries, curated by our Travel Experts specifically for you, your friends or your family.

We know that many of you worry about the environmental impact of travel and are looking for ways of expanding horizons in ways that do minimal harm - and may even bring benefits. We are committed to go as far as possible in curating our trips with care for the planet. That is why all of our trips are flightless in destination, fully carbon offset - and we have ambitious plans to be net zero in the very near future.

See & Do

Russia's most remote holiday destinations.

The Mystery Behind Russia's Buddhist "Miracle"

Incredible Photos From the Longest Bike Race in the World

Zhenotdel: The Soviet Union's Feminist Movement

The Soviet Union’s Best Heart-Throbs and Pinups

A Guide to Cautionary Russian Proverbs and What They Mean

Guides & Tips

A 48 hour guide to astrakhan, russia.

Unusual Facts About the Soviet Union

Russian Last Names and Their Meanings

A Soviet Pilot Went Missing in Afghanistan and Was Found 30 Years Later

Restaurants

The best halal restaurants in kaliningrad.

Food & Drink

The best halal restaurants in kazan, culture trip spring sale, save up to $1,100 on our unique small-group trips limited spots..

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The Truth About Becoming an Independent Travel Agent

It’s scary taking the first leap into the depth of self-employment without any clue on where to go from there. The good news is, you’re off to a solid start.

You did the hard part: you decided to embark on a new career path. Now, dig up that list of requirements for your “ideal job,” and it might read a little something like this:

Flexible schedule

Long-term career

Helps people

Comfortable

No cubicle!

Supportive network

Awesome travel benefits

This sounded crazy when you started writing it, but now, you realize this is actually achievable. These traits are basically a mirror image of the benefits you’d have in a career as an independent travel agent. So how do you turn this dream into a reality? It’s a challenge trying to sift through all the advice out there to find clear instructions on how to become an independent travel agent. That’s why we’ve filtered through the resources to provide you with the truth, challenges and all, so that you can take your next steps.

What is an Independent Travel Agent?

The perks of being your own boss are quick to entice, but before you start ordering your business cards, it’s important to understand the basics. We’ll start with one of the most important questions: What is an independent travel agent? If you break down the job title word-for-word, you can easily get a sense of what your role as an independent travel agent will be. “Independent” refers to being self-employed. You are your own boss, akin to a contracted worker, and therefore are not technically an employee of any other agency. Obviously, you work in the field of travel, creating customized itineraries for trips by offering the best recommendations for every aspect along the way. Travel agents can narrow the scope of this definition by specializing in a niche, like honeymoons, luxury, family, adventure, European, or multigenerational vacations. As an agent, you are a trusted resource from which clients learn about travel and travel services. It is your responsibility to build relationships with suppliers around the world so that you can offer their services. Of course, a love of travel is a necessary passion to become an independent travel agent, but it will not be your defining feature. More than anything, an independent travel agent is a salesperson. You will be working off of commission after all. However, because travel is an intimate and expensive endeavor, your purpose will not be to get your clients to book as quickly as possible. Instead, you have to provide them with all of the tools at your disposal to plan the best trip possible.

Are You Ready to Become an Independent Travel Agent?

One of the great things about becoming an independent travel agent is that it can be done from anywhere. That being said, it takes more than giving yourself the title to succeed. As an independent travel agent, your clients rely on your experience and advisement. Don’t worry, there is no need to start counting all of the stamps in your passport. While it is helpful to be well-traveled, it is more important that your travel knowledge is driven by your passion for it. You are the expert, and you must convey your expertise through confidence in what you are selling. Beginning with prior sales experience and an entrepreneurial spirit will get you far. Whether you served in a restaurant or worked in a retail store, those customer service experiences will all work toward your success. If you don’t know where to start, try offering up your travel agent skills to the people you are already connected with. Become the one creating detailed itineraries. Learn to anticipate people’s needs. This experience will help build your rapport with future clients.

3 Major Benefits of Becoming an Independent Travel Agent

One word: Independence. It is something everyone craves in their career, but few are able to experience it completely while working as an employee. As a contracted worker you have complete control over when, where, and how you conduct business. Whether you work from home or decide to rent a private office space, it is completely up to you. You make the rules. The freedom of being your own boss may have drawn you to learn how to become an independent travel agent. But it is not the only perk of this profession. Here are a few more benefits that you can take advantage of:

Steady income: According to Statista, revenue from travel agencies is expected to reach over $17 billion by 2020. There is a large earning potential for independent travel agents since your income is comprised of commission, service fees, and consultation fees. Also, as an at-home agent, you are eligible for tax deductions.

Travel perks: Also known as FAM trips. These “familiarization” trips are provided at reduced rates by suppliers. The purpose is to use the trip as a learning tool to understand the supplier’s services and products. In addition, FAM trips will give you firsthand knowledge to pass down to your potential clients and a chance to learn the tricks of the trade.

Travel discounts: Travel agents also enjoy a wealth of discounts from hotel stays to renting a car. One way to start generating discounts is to legitimize yourself with an IATA card.

Among the tangible benefits, becoming an independent travel agent is also a fulfilling career choice. People are choosing you to plan one of the best experiences of their lives, and that is rewarding.

The True Challenges of Becoming an Independent Travel Agent

Be forewarned, though the benefits heavily tip the scale in one direction, there are challenges to becoming an independent travel agent just like any other profession. One of the main hurdles is the investment of time and money you must make when starting out. There are start-up costs, host agency fees, and other upgrades you may need to consider. As a contractor, you do not receive traditional employee benefits. The payment structure for independent travel agents may take time to get used to as well. It is commissioned-based, and often, those commissions are not paid to you until after your client returns from their trip. It takes time to build your business. Becoming an independent travel agent is a long-term endeavor, and if you are willing to put in the time, it can be your career for life.

What Becoming an Independent Travel Agent is All About

Independence does not mean that you are alone. One of the common misconceptions about this career choice is that you will have no support. However, the role of an independent travel agent is defined by their relationships. Relationships with your clients, suppliers, and most importantly your host agency, are all essential components of your success.

Client Relationship

You can think of your role as an independent travel agent more like a consultant. Your clients, both new and returning, will rely on the recommendations you give them when planning their soon-to-be cherished experiences. This relationship requires a large amount of trust, understanding, and openness. On your part, it is also about listening and reading people to provide them with experiences they will love. Fostering these relationships is what will secure your business.

Supplier Relationship

The largest portion of your income will derive from booking with suppliers. Remember the FAM trips you took advantage of? More than anything, those trips are learning experiences. Suppliers and independent agents work together to compile the perfect trip for each client. As an independent travel agent, it is up to you to understand what type of vacation packages you are offering so you can advise based on true experience. Agent-supplier relationships are beneficial to everyone. You will have first-hand knowledge to pass down to each client so that together, you can plan the best experience possible. Plus, the more clients you send, the more both you and the supplier financially benefit.

Host Agency Relationship

In your quest to become an independent travel agent, finding the right host agency is like finding the North Star. The right agency will work with you, guiding you through the challenges, and creating a clear path for success. Host agencies are a key partner to help you become a successful independent travel agent. They help legitimize you as an agent, especially early on, and provide access to resources and their established network. Host agencies can also provide marketing and promotional materials, training, recording keeping, and support along the way.

How to Build the Perfect Travel Agent/Host Agency Relationship

Now that you know the truth about becoming an independent travel agent, it’s time to take the first step: finding the right host agency. While the importance of a fair commission should not be downplayed, it is vital to factor in other characteristics of your potential host agency that are just as important. Not all host agencies are created equal. They vary greatly in their size, benefits, and dedication to their agents. When researching the best agency for you, it is important to ask yourself:

What size agency do I want to work with?

Do they offer training?

Are there marketing opportunities?

What is the agent/agency relationship like?

Everyone has different goals. That’s why when you’re starting out as an independent travel agent, your goals should align with the agency you choose. When Travel Quest Network began hosting agents in 1998, they made sure that working closely with their agents to reach a common goal was the focus of their business. Today, they continue to fulfill that goal by serving over 1,200 agents in the US. Travel Quest Network offers training, technology resources, marketing, and flexible pricing plans that range from 70-100% commission in the agent’s pocket.

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Visit Moscow Tours

Saint Petersburg - Karelia 9 days - 8 nights

Moscow - Saint Petersburg tour package 8 days/7 nights

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Special Winter Edition Tour 8 days/7 nights

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Moscow-Saint Peterburg tour package 8 days/7 nights BEST DEAL (15th of MAY-22d of MAY only)

Moscow-sochi tour package 6 days/5 nights.

Moscow - Velikiy Novgorod - Saint Petersburg tour package 9 days/8 nights

Moscow-Saint Petersburg-Baikal lake 14 days/13 nights

Moscow-Saint Petersburg-Sochi tour package 10 days/9 nights

Moscow-Altai tour package 14 days/13 nights

Moscow-Murmansk-Saint Petersburg 11 days/10 nights

Saint Petersburg - Karelia 8 days/7 nights

Moscow tour package 5 days/4 nights including tank riding and Stalin Bunker visit

Moscow-Saint Petersburg tour package 7 days/6 nights including tank riding and Stalin Bunker visit

Magic Ice of Baikal Lake - 7 days / 6 nights

SPA tour package Grozny (Chechnya) 4 days - 3 nights

Hiking tour package Dagestan 5 days - 4 nights

Suzdal and Vladimir Tour

Moscow Kremlin Tour

River Cruise Tour

Driving Tour around Saint Petersburg

Peterhof Tour

Moscow Driving Tour

Moscow in 1 Day (Walking tour)

Welcome to visit moscow tours.

We provide authentic, informative and memorable tour packages and city tours, at very competitive prices. Visit Moscow Tours are available not only in Moscow, but also in other cities: Saint Petersburg, Kazan, Suzdal and Sergiev Posad.  We also organise customised individual programs tailored just for you.

Our guests come in large groups, small private groups, as couples or as single travellers. We take care of and treat our guests with respect in a friendly and warm family environment. We show people our beautiful cities with passion and deep knowledge of their history, culture and traditions.

Our guides are extremely hospitable, helpful and well-informed. They are simply the best because only by providing the best services can we make the world fall in love with Russia. And we are very happy when our guests say that they will definitely come back to Russia and that they will tell all their friends how great Russia is! That is what inspires us to put even more dedication and hard work into our tours, knowing that what we do is positive and meaningful.

Our classic tours include tours of Moscow and Saint Petersburg, two main Russian cities.

Moscow is a big and busy  megalopolis and Russia’s capital city, where more than 12 million people live and work. Our capital city is happening place; it is mysterious, elegant, luxurious, fashionable, clean and bright, with its unique legends, traditions and events. It is with great pride that we show the Red Square and the Kremlin, our Underground and Tretyakovskaya Gallery, among other stunning attractions.

Saint Petersburg is our second capital,  the second largest city in the Russian Federation. This wonderful city has a strong and lively aristocratic spirit, uniquely Russian royal architecture, magnificent museums and theatres. Saint Petersburg bears the royal heritage of Russia, which can be felt in its air, its streets, parks, monuments, museums and citizens.  In Saint Petersburg tours, we will take you to the Hermitage, Peter and Paul Fortress, Faberge Museum and Orthodox Cathedrals. We’re sure you will love it!

If you have a few more days to spare, venture into the dreamy Russian countryside in Suzdal or Sergiev Posad. Suzdal is a small town with a population of about ten thousand people, situated on less than 15 square kilometres. This tiny area is home to 53 historic cathedrals, five monasteries and a kremlin. Church domes are visible like mushrooms from anywhere and everywhere in the town like in a fairy tale. No wonder Suzdal is called the ‘Town Museum”.  It is definitely worth visiting!

Just try any of Visit Moscow Tours’ tour packages or any individual city tour, and we promise that you will want to come back to Russia again.  Russia is huge with countless amazing places to visit. There are so many unique experiences to be had and energies to be felt that one tour is definitely not enough to explore this vast land. It is also a very safe destination to travel, and we have a tradition of warm hospitality. Our people adore and take care of visitors as our own guests, and even if they do not know your language very well, they still try to be helpful and hospitable.

Our guides will show you the most interesting attractions and historical places, taking you on a journey to the past to enjoy stories of medieval times, the Romanov monarchy, the Soviet Era. And of course, we will show you the contemporary life of our country through authentic local experiences.

We look forward to meeting you soon!

One of the Best Travel Agency in Moscow, Russia

International travelers are very attracted to russian travel opportunities but there are many concerns and hesitations due to the complicated visa issues, the language barrier, the confusing cultural differences, and methods and means of travel confusions., our small family business eliminates all of your concerns. we offer personal solutions to all of those problems as well as rare and extraordinary tours with a highly personal touch., we will make your russian travel enjoyable and unforgettable.