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Welcome to the Travel Agent Life! My name is Chris Lawrence (she/her). I’m originally from the Boston area, but I’ve been calling San Diego home for the past seven years. I live with my loving and supportive partner, Bill, and our adorable dog, Henry. After working as a software engineer for 23 years, I decided to leave the corporate world to seek more joy and work-life balance. I started my journey as an independent travel agent and would love to share this opportunity with you.

This opportunity is great for the following individuals:

  1. Those who love to travel and want to take advantage of excellent travel agent discounts and perks.
  2. Those looking for a side hustle. This includes individuals with an existing job, a partner with a job, or retirees.  This is someone with financial stability seeking some additional spending money.
 
This is not an W2 employment. This is an opportunity to start your own business.  This is a commission-based, independent contractor (1099) role without a base salary or hourly pay. This is best suited for those seeking the perks or those seeking a side hustle with an entrepreneurial mindset, enthusiastic about building a business from the ground up and finding customers who will love the service you provide.
 
Did you know that most travel has commission already built into the price? This includes hotels, cruises, all-inclusive resorts, car rentals, tours/activities, and even event tickets. The only exception is airfare. When you buy your travel through online travel agents (e.g. Expedia) or a cruise line or hotel directly, you are paying the “commission loaded” price. Why let Expedia take that commission? Why let the cruise line or the hotel make more profit? If you are a travel agent, you get that commission either as a “travel agent discount” or as a commission, which is basically the same as getting a rebate. This applies to travel you book for others too. If it’s a friend or family member, you can pass the discount along or split or keep it all. If it’s a stranger, (i.e., customer), that’s profit. You get a discount or profit depending on who you are booking travel for, and you don’t need to charge them any more than they would pay anyway.
 
Here are some of the benefits of starting your own travel business
  1. You can earn perks from vendors just by completing their free training
  2. You have access to discounted travel agent rates and upgrades
  3. You have the ability to deduct expenses related to your business (consult your tax advisor)
 
How to Work as a Travel Agent: Three Main Paths
 
  1. Work as an Employee for a Travel Agency
    This is a fine option for some folks, however I sought the flexibility that comes with owning my own business.
     
  2. Start Your Own Independent Travel Agency
    This route requires a significant upfront investment of time and money. You must establish relationships with vendors (e.g., cruise lines, hotels), which means starting at the lowest commission tier and potentially missing out on some perks. For instance, the lowest tier for cruise lines is typically 12%.
     
  3. Work as an Independent Contractor Through a Host Agency
    Similar to how a realtor operates under a broker’s license, this arrangement offers the best of both worlds. You get to start your own business while enjoying the support of a larger agency. This backing of a large host agency often places you in a higher commission tier. For cruises, it’s generally around 16%. You also get the benefits of the larger host agency’s buying power. More on the “power of large” below.
 
Working under a host agency was the right fit for me and exactly what I was seeking!
 
There are several host agencies available, and after extensive research, I chose Archer Travel. Here are some of the benefits of using Archer Travel as a host agency:
  1. They have been in business for over 70 years and maintain an A+ rating with the Better Business Bureau
  2. They pay us 80% commission from day one – this is the highest commission split in the industry.
  3. There are no quotas and no maximum to the amount of commission you can earn
  4. They are in the top tier of sales volume with most vendors – the power of large – that means many of these vendors have special rules for us, such as how many cabins you can hold in a group for free! That saves your precious working capital.
  5. Under their license, you work directly with the vendors and you you can book with any vendor that pays a commission
  6. There is no large start up fee
  7. Archer’s long-established relationships gives strength when advocating for your clients to resolve an issue
  8. Archer’s relationship with vendors means more access to perks and FAM trips
  9. There is an optional side of the business to mentor/recruit, but that is completely optional and there is never any pressure to do so
  10. Agents can obtain a CLIA card on day 1.  And Archer agents get a $50 discount on the card, making it only $79
  11. They have an annual convention and other regional events to meet other agents and vendors
  12. No prior experience is required
  13. They offer a 10 day money back guarantee.  This is an opportunity for you to give it a try, start the training and make sure it is a good fit for you.
  14. The arrangement is month-to-month and you can cancel anytime. No long term contract.
  15. They do not require a non-compete clause
  16. The team support is incredible.  There are facebook groups, team chats, and daily Q&A sessions so you can always find answers to your questions.
  17. They provide Evo+ This is a proprietary wholesale booking system that you can use to book for yourself, friends/family or clients.
  18. There are live trainings every day and an incredible amount of recorded trainings
  19. Eligible to participate in raffles and other giveaways
  20. You earn your IATAN card after earning $5,000 in commissions
 
The cost of using Archer as your host agency is $90 per month. This fee includes:
  • The ability to book travel under Archer’s travel license and credentials
  • Errors & Omissions insurance to protect you and your business
  • Comprehensive training, including corporate, team, and vendor sessions
  • Access to a mentor and a supportive team, committed to helping you thrive and ready to support your growth
 
How a travel agent gets paid commission
The vendor sets the commission rate based on the volume of sales of that agency. For example, if you started your own agency your initial volume would place you in the lowest tier volume of 12% for most cruise lines, but Archer’s volume places them in the highest tier of 16% for most cruise lines. Once the travel becomes non-refundable, the vendor pays the agency. The agency then pays the individual agent.
 
Here is an example. Let’s say you booked a cruise with $2000 in commissionable fare.
  • With a large host like Archer, the commission rate will be 16% and you keep 80% of that.
    • So the vendor pays Archer $320 and you make $256.
  • Let’s compare that with the what you would make if you established your business without a host agency.
    • The commission rate would be 12% and you keep 100% of that, so you make $200
So you actually make more commission booking through a host! Again, the power of large!
 
CLIA and IATAN Cards
A CLIA card, issued by the Cruise Lines International Association, identifies you as a certified travel agent with expertise in cruising. It grants access to exclusive industry benefits such as discounted cruise fares, special offers, and onboard credits. Additionally, it enhances your professional credibility and provides valuable resources for continued education and networking within the cruise industry.
 
An IATAN card, issued by the International Air Transport Association, identifies you as a legitimate travel professional. It offers access to industry discounts on flights, hotels, car rentals, and travel insurance. The card also provides recognition and credibility, enabling you to build stronger relationships with travel suppliers.
 
Both CLIA and IATAN cards offer significant benefits, but they serve different niches. A CLIA card is specifically tailored for cruise travel agents, providing cruise-related perks and resources. In contrast, an IATAN card caters to a broader range of travel professionals, offering discounts and recognition across various travel sectors, including air, hotel, and car rentals. Having both cards can maximize your industry benefits and professional opportunities.
 
FAM Trips
FAM trips, short for “familiarization trips,” are special travel experiences offered to travel agents and industry professionals. These trips provide firsthand knowledge of destinations, accommodations, and services, enabling agents to better advise clients. Generally, FAM trips include accommodations, meals, guided tours, and activities. However, airfare, personal expenses, and optional excursions are often not covered. Costs can vary, with some trips being heavily discounted or even free, while others may require a nominal fee. Typically, guests are not allowed to join FAM trips, as they are intended for professional development.

Disney
Once you complete the free Disney training and you have either a CLIA or IATAN card, you have access to the Disney perks.  You can take advantage of all of these perks each year.
  • Disney World – a free 1 day park hopper ticket or 50% of multi day park hopper ticket
  • Disneyland – a free 1 day park hopper ticket
  • TA rates on Disney hotels
  • TA rates on Disney cruises

Mariott Fam-Tastic rates
Once you complete the free Marriott training and you have either a CLIA or IATAN card, you have access to Marriott’s Fam-Tastic rates.  These rates are exclusive travel agent perks offering significantly rates than even standard discounted TA rates.

Princess Cruises
Upon completing the free Princess training, you earn a complimentary cruise. You can choose from a selection of cruises ranging from 3 to 32 days in length and bring one guest. However, you will need to cover taxes, fees, and any personal expenses.  Additionally whenever you are on board, you get the elite perks, which is their highest loyalty level.

Cunard Cruises
Upon completing the free Cunard training, you earn a complimentary cruise. You can choose from a selection of cruises ranging from 3 to 32 days in length and bring one guest. However, you will need to cover taxes, fees, and any personal expenses.

If you are not already a part of my facebook community, I invite you to join my Travel Agent Life  (https://www.facebook.com/groups/elevatedtravelagentlife) group to learn more and engage with other travel agents and those who are interested in becoming one.

If you are interested in learning more, I’d love to invite you to attend an informal presenation where you can learn more.  There will be plenty of time at the end for some Q&A.  Click here to find some time.
 

If you’re interested in learning more, feel free to reach out to me:

Or, fill out this form and I will reach out to you.