The top factors advisors consider when choosing a host agency: Travel Weekly

Jamie Biesiada

What are the biggest factors advisors consider when picking a host agency?

A new survey from Travel Experts in Raleigh, N.C., found that most were looking for higher commissions, support and technology.

Travel Experts recently surveyed its advisors and found that 90% said pay via higher commissions was a factor in their decision. Eighty percent of advisors said they were looking for support from the host’s staff and technology. Another 65% said they needed support to run their own business, from commissions to back-office support.

The advisors were also asked how they identify which hosts they’re interested in joining.

Fees topped the list, with 83% of respondents listing that as a factor, followed by other advisors (68%), the host’s reputation (60%) and in-depth research and talking to hosts (55%).

Virtuoso membership a plus

Virtuoso, Travel Experts’ consortium, also got a shout-out from a number of advisors: 44% said they were looking for a host that was a Virtuoso member. 

Thirty-six percent of respondents said they relied on supplier recommendations and news articles.

Sharon Fake, executive director of Travel Experts, said in a release that survey respondents ranged from those who have been affiliated with the host agency for more than 20 years to those who joined in the past 10.

“We found it interesting that so many of the advisors attributed their choice to recommendations from other advisors as well as brand reputation,” Fake said.

Indeed, many of the survey respondents spoke of using peers as a gauge for potential hosts. It speaks to the power of both networking and a good reputation on the part of the hosts.

Word of mouth from fellow travel advisors

Virginia “Ginger” Duval of Gingerly Travel in Decatur, Ga., said she spoke with other agents about their happiness levels.

“I also really paid attention to host agencies that had kept their agents for years, since that is very telling,” Duval added.

Alex Dalton of Travel With Alex in Port St. Lucie, Fla., also found a host agency via word of mouth. After he left his previous agency, he met a fellow advisor affiliated with Travel Experts. That advisor mentioned the host charges fees but offers 100% commission.

“I was intrigued and did my research, and the math worked out that I’d be better at this host agency,” Dalton said.

The reputation of a host agency

The reputation of a host was one of the top factors for Steve Torres of the Traveling TORO in Rockwall, Texas.

Torres said he approached the exercise of finding a host agency in the same manner he guides clients with travel decisions. He was looking for three main factors: reputation and credibility of a host; support and resources; and flexibility and autonomy.

“Partnering with a host agency gave me the infrastructure and support I needed to hit the ground running, without having to navigate the complexities of supplier relationships, technology and industry resources entirely on my own,” Torres said. “It was the perfect balance of independent and support.”