💡 Key Takeaways
- A host agency lets you book under an established accreditation instead of spending the time and money to get your own.
- Most independent agents in the US work this way, with survey estimates putting the share somewhere between 43% and 85% of leisure agencies.
- The things worth comparing between hosts are cost, commission split, training, support, supplier access, and whether you’re locked into quotas or contracts.
- One-time fees and monthly fees are very different over a year. Compare the annual total, not the number on the landing page.
- The right host depends on what you’re building, since a part-time agent booking for friends and family needs something different than someone going full-time.
Somebody in your life already asks you where to stay. Which park day to skip. Whether the balcony cabin is worth it. If you’ve ever thought I should be getting paid for this — you’re not wrong, and the path from here to there is shorter than most people assume.
It starts with picking a host agency. That one decision shapes what you’ll pay, what you’ll earn, how much help you get in your first few months, and how much freedom you have to build the business your way. It’s worth getting right.
Here’s how host agencies work, what actually separates them, and how Boardwalk measures up on the same criteria you’d use on anyone else.
What Is a Host Agency?
To sell travel and get paid for it, an agency needs accreditation, such as an IATA, CLIA, ARC, or TRUE number. Suppliers use it to confirm you’re a legitimate seller and to route your commission.
You can definitely get your own. But it can be expensive and slow, and in some cases requires bonding or documented industry experience. That’s a lot to take on before you’ve booked your first trip.
A host agency solves this part for you. The host holds the accreditation, and independent agents book under it. You run your own business (your clients, your hours, your specialties) and the host supplies the credentials, the supplier relationships, and the machinery behind the scenes.
This is how most of the industry works now. Survey estimates put the share of US leisure agencies booking under a host somewhere between 43% and 85%.
What You Should Expect From a Host Agency
Most hosts offer some version of the same things:
- Accreditation: The credential that lets you register with suppliers and get paid
- Supplier Relationships: Cruise lines, resorts, tour operators, theme parks, often at agency rates you couldn’t reach on your own
- Commission Processing: The host agency collects from suppliers and pays out your share
- Training: Onboarding, supplier certifications, and ongoing education
- Support: Someone experienced to ask when a booking goes sideways
- Community: Other agents to compare notes with, which turns out to matter more than most new agents expect
The question isn’t whether a host offers these. It’s how well, and what you’re paying for them.
Why Become a Travel Agent?
The simplest reason to become a travel agent is to make money while doing something you love. Booking travel itineraries for your clients allows you to live vicariously through their vacations. The more entertaining their plans, the more fun it is to book.Â
Additionally, you can help your friends and family members get discounted rates on their next trips. You get to treat the people you love like VIPs, all while earning commissions in the process.Â
Finally, one of the benefits of becoming a remote travel agent with a host agency like Boardwalk Travel is that you have the flexibility to work wherever you want. No more office space, and no more clocking in and out. Work whenever you want. You can make this a full-time or part-time job or just turn it into a side hustle whenever you need extra cash.
How to Choose a Host Agency
Even though you can become an independent travel agent, you still have to work with a host agency. Hosts connect you with suppliers and vendors so you can offer the best deals to your clients. For example, you can get discounts and perks for Disney and Universal vacations that aren’t available to the general public.Â
While many hosting agencies exist, they’re not all created equal. Here are the top factors to consider when comparing different hosts.Â
- Costs – All travel host agencies charge to use their network and supplier services. However, some agencies charge a monthly or annual fee. These fees can easily eat into your profitability, as you must make at least that much in commissions to cover those expenses. Otherwise, you’re paying to be a travel agent but not making any money.Â
- Commissions – Commissions are where you earn your income. Some agencies may pay a small hourly rate, which is typically the minimum wage for your state. However, the trade-off is that you make less from each commission. Sometimes, you have to pass a probationary period of three months to start earning that, so you’ll only make a small hourly wage until then.Â
- Training – All host agencies provide some level of training so you can use their system. However, if you run into issues or questions later on, you may not be able to access more training services without paying another fee. Also, some hosts only offer minimal training programs, so you may have to do a lot of research on your own time, meaning you’re not getting paid for it.Â
- Work Requirements/Quotas – If you work for a big travel agency, you’ll likely have to meet monthly or quarterly quotas. Sometimes, you must meet these quotas to earn your commissions. In other cases, failure to meet these standards could leave you without a job. Additionally, some agencies require you to work a standard schedule, meaning you don’t get to choose your own hours or where you work.Â
Six Things Worth Comparing
1. What it costs — over a full year
This is where hosts differ most, and where the advertised number can quietly mislead. It’s important to have a clear picture of what it costs to get started.
Some charge once. Some charge monthly. Some charge annually. Some pair a low entry fee with recurring costs that pile up fast.
Do the math across twelve months. A host advertising $49 to join with $39 a month runs $517 in year one and $468 every year after that. A host charging $99 once costs $99. The cheaper-looking option is often the more expensive one, and the difference compounds every year you stay.
Also worth asking: what does the fee actually cover? Supplier registration? Training? Your welcome materials? Or is each of those billed separately once you’re in?
2. The commission split
Your split is the share of commission you keep. Industry splits typically run 60% to 90%.
One thing worth understanding, because it trips people up: the supplier pays a commission on the booking — often somewhere around 10% to 16% depending on the supplier and product. Your split determines how much of that you keep. A 70% split doesn’t mean you earn 70% of the trip’s price; it means you keep 70% of the commission the supplier pays. Any host quoting numbers without making that distinction clear is worth a second look.
Higher splits usually come with something attached, like higher fees, thinner support, or an assumption you already know what you’re doing. A 90% split with nobody to call is worth less than 70% with real help, if you’re new. Once you’re established and booking volume, that flips. Know which one you are right now.
Ask how fast commission is paid, too. Waiting sixty days after travel is a real cost.
3. Training
Ask what training exists, whether it’s included, and whether there’s a person attached or just a video library.
If you’re new, ask specifically what the first thirty days look like. Some hosts hand you a login and wish you luck. Others walk you through your first booking. Both models exist and neither is wrong, but you should know which one you’re signing up for.
4. Support
The most common complaint about host agencies is support that’s slow or simply absent. It surfaces at the worst possible moment: a client’s booking has a problem and nobody’s answering.
Ask how support works. Email only? Live chat? Phone? What hours? What’s a typical response time? A host that gets vague here has told you something.
5. Supplier access
More suppliers isn’t automatically better. What matters is whether the host is registered with the ones you actually plan to sell.
If you’re going to specialize in Disney, ask about Disney specifically. If cruises, ask which lines. Two hundred suppliers with no relationship to the one you need doesn’t help you.
6. Quotas and contracts
Ask whether there’s a long-term contract, a minimum booking requirement, or a penalty for going quiet for a while.
Life happens. Some hosts will drop you or charge you for missing a sales threshold. Others won’t. If you’re starting part-time around a job you already have, this matters more than the split does.
Why Boardwalk Travel is the Best Host Agency for Travel Agents
Based on the factors we outlined above, the best host agency for travel agents is one that doesn’t charge much for access to its system, pays a lot of money in commissions, and offers free ongoing training and support to all agents, no matter how much they work. If all those features sound appealing, then Boardwalk Travel Agency is right up your alley.Â
Low Upfront Costs
One of the main hurdles many people face when becoming a travel agent is the cost of joining an agency. Businesses that charge a monthly or annual rate put a lot more pressure on you to succeed. So, if you’re not dedicated to building your client network, you could lose more money than you gain. Sometimes, these losses can spill into multiple months, making it even harder to build your business from scratch.Â
Thankfully, Boardwalk Travel Agency only charges a one-time membership fee. This means you never have to pay more money every month or every year to access the system. One low rate, and you’re ready to go.Â
The primary advantage of this setup is that there’s no pressure to start selling immediately. Because this is a lifetime membership, you can sign up today and start working on your travel agency several months from now. Go at your own pace and take as much time as you need to learn the system.Â
Highest Commission Rates in the Industry
As mentioned, most host travel agencies pay about a 10 percent commission on all sales. While this rate can be good for high-ticket vacations and travel packages, it’s not always enough to pay your bills. Having such a low rate means you must book more trips with more clients, which takes more time and energy. Overall, this setup can become a feedback loop, forcing you to put more resources into becoming a travel agent than you thought.Â
Boardwalk Travel Agency does things much differently. Because we don’t have expensive overhead or utility bills, we can pay up to 70 percent commission rates on your travel packages. This allows you to spend more time with your clients and provide better service. Since each package pays more, there’s less pressure to overextend yourself, ensuring you can succeed that much easier.Â
There is one thing to note about how commissions are paid, though. As with all travel agencies, you earn a commission when your client takes their trip, not when they book it. So, if most of your clients book months in advance, it can be a while before you see the money coming in.
That said, Boardwalk Travel pays commissions quickly. Once a commission comes in, you can expect it to hit your bank account as soon as possible.Â
Finally, commissions are paid by the vendor. This means you can earn commissions on your own trips. For example, you can book an all-inclusive Disney resort vacation and earn money back from your travels.Â
Top-Tier Training and Support
If you’ve never worked as a travel agent before and have no industry experience, you may not know what it takes to succeed in this industry. While it can be easy to work through logistics and find great deals, you may struggle with some of the more technical aspects of the business. Additionally, if you’re not used to being a sales person, it can take a while to find your stride.Â
That’s why Boardwalk Travel Agency allows you to go at your own pace. Training materials are available for you whenever you need them, whether it’s your first week or you’ve been with the agency for three years. Plus, you can reach out to our support team with any questions or obstacles you may come across.Â
The best way to learn how to become a travel agent is to work with experienced agents. Our support staff have decades of experience, and they can guide you through any situation. Once you book a few trips, you’ll find your stride so you can start expanding your client base and earning more money.Â
Work Whenever and Wherever You Like
These days, most individuals want a generous work/life balance. Additionally, if you’re trying to get some extra income, you don’t want a gig that comes with a strict schedule. Flexibility is key, especially if you’re already working a regular day job.Â
With Boardwalk Travel, you can work whenever and wherever you like. In fact, you can book a vacation for yourself and work while you’re sitting on a beach. All you need is a laptop, a headset, and a strong internet connection, and you should be ready to work with clients anywhere in the world.Â
This flexibility also helps if you just want to book trips for yourself, your friends, and your family. This way, you can log into the system and get access to deals without the pressure of working every week or every month.Â
Access More Travel Suppliers
One significant downside of working with a big travel agency is that they have exclusive contracts with specific suppliers. For example, you may only be able to book cruises for Royal Caribbean, not Carnival. Or, you might be able to book resort stays with Universal, but not Disney.Â
Boardwalk Travel Agency works with all the top suppliers, so you can book virtually any trip for any client. While it can be beneficial to focus on a single type of trip (e.g., Disney family vacations), this flexibility can come in handy a lot. This way, you can expand your network and find more clients. For example, you can start working with traveling professionals by booking their itineraries whenever they have to work abroad.Â
Overall, you’re not limited to a single niche, so it’s much easier to grow and thrive in this industry.
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Get Started as a Travel Agent With Boardwalk Travel Agency
Are you ready to make your travel dreams come true? Are you ready to start earning industry-leading commissions, even on your own vacation packages? If so, join the best host agency for travel agents and sign up with Boardwalk Travel Agency today. With our high commissions, low membership price, and fantastic support options, we can help you start on this exciting path today.
Whether you’re trying to become a full-time agent or just want better deals on your own travel plans, Boardwalk Travel Agency is here for you!
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a host agency?
A host agency holds travel industry accreditation (an IATA, CLIA, ARC, or TRUE number) and lets independent travel agents book under it. You run your own business while the host provides the credential, supplier relationships, and commission processing.
Do I need a host agency to become a travel agent?
Not strictly. You can get your own accreditation, but it involves real cost, time, and sometimes bonding or experience requirements. Most independent agents in the US work under a host instead.
How much does a host agency cost?
It varies widely. Some charge once, others monthly or annually. Compare the total across a full year rather than the advertised entry price . A low joining fee with monthly charges often costs more than a single one-time fee.
What is a typical commission split?
Splits commonly range from 60% to 90%. The split is your share of the commission the supplier pays, not a share of the trip price. Higher splits often come with higher fees or less included support, so it’s best judged alongside everything else. Boardwalk agents keep 70%.
What should I look for in a host agency as a new agent?
Training depth and support responsiveness matter most early on. A high commission split is worth less than actual help with your first bookings when you’re still learning.
Are there host agencies with no monthly fees?
Yes. Some charge a single one-time fee with nothing recurring. Boardwalk works this way. We don’t charge monthly fees, annual renewal fees, or any fees to remain an agent.
Can I work with a host agency part time?
Yes, and plenty of agents do. Ask about minimum booking requirements and inactivity penalties, since those hit part-timers hardest. Boardwalk has no minimums and no long-term contracts.
How quickly do host agencies pay commission?
This varies a lot and is worth asking directly. Some hosts hold commission for weeks after travel. Boardwalk direct deposits within a few days of receiving it.