Travel Agent Chatter | Friday 15

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We’ve got two listening delights for you on this channel, folks! 😲 Season 1 is Travel Agent Chatter (TAC), a spotlight interview of a wide variety of travel advisors that we publish every quarter. Season 2 is our shorter, but more frequent Friday 15 series, where every Friday we answer your travel industry questions for — you guessed it — 15 minutes! Travel Agent Chatter -- a Host Agency Reviews audio series -- inspires you with in-depth interviews featuring successful travel agents. We dig into what they do that makes their agencies flourish and how they did it. Transcripts, videos and TAC show notes can be found at...

Episodes(40 episodes)

Season 2 - Episode 247

Client IDs? Net vs Gross? Selling Yourself?

This week’s Friday 15, we're welcoming Samantha from Jus Adventures! Let’s have some fun, plus some questions to discuss this Friday at 12 pm CST. Join us!I continue to see it recommended that we get copies of our client's ID's. However, I am unsure of a process to do this that is secure? Or does it need to be secure? Can they just text or email me a photo? I'd love your perspective on this. - ErinCan you talk about the practice of DMCs presenting quotes in gross vs net commission, and is it preferred or acceptable to r...

Published: Mar 20, 2026Duration: 26m 51s

Season 2 - Episode 246

Corporate to Leisure? DMC Services? Destination Weddings?

This week’s Friday 15, we're welcoming Jennifer from Dugan’s Travels! Let’s have some fun, plus some questions to discuss this Friday at 12 pm CST. Join us! I love your podcasts and have been a loyal listener for over 3 years. In 2023, I trained and started working as a Corporate Travel Advisor for a small agency, remotely. I took the job because thought I needed training in GDS platforms but my true desire is to run my own leisure travel agency. I work full time, have great benefits and have mastered two platforms. My question is, is there a conf...

Published: Mar 13, 2026Duration: 19m 55s

Season 2 - Episode 245

Checklists? Responsible Travel? Website?

This week’s Friday 15, we're welcoming Fora! Let’s have some fun, plus some questions to discuss this Friday at 12 pm CST. Join us! I am working on creating more automated processes and was wondering if there is a general "checklist" of things an agent should do before each trip? I feel like I am forgetting something and just want to be able to check things off (virtually). Things like "gather personal info", "make airline booking" "make hotel/resort booking" "confirm car rental" "email hotel 2 weeks prior to confirm reservation was received" "deposit due" "final payment due" "call hote...

Published: Mar 6, 2026Duration: 17m 46s

Season 2 - Episode 244

Niche from beginning? Website? FIT?

This week’s Friday 15, we're welcoming GTN! Let’s have some fun, plus some questions to discuss this Friday at 12 pm CST. Join us! Hi! I am looking forward to starting this next great adventure. I have a background as a paralegal that I think will serve me well in the administrative side of things as well as problem solving. I am thinking of specializing in accessible travel. Is this a good idea at the start or would it be better to get to know the business before specializing? - PattiAre you allowed to have your own landing page...

Published: Feb 27, 2026Duration: 20m 6s

Season 2 - Episode 243

Commission on Fees? Certifications? Facebook?

This week’s Friday 15, we're welcoming Dugan’s Travels! Let’s have some fun, plus some questions to discuss this Friday at 12 pm CST. Join us! How common is it for a Host Agency to take a commission on the planning/consulting/concierge/other fees I charge my clients? Is it even okay to charge commission on my planning fee given that I am an IC? For this question, I'm not asking about a payment processing fee if you use the Host payment processor. Rather, I'm talking about applying the same commission split to both sales and any fees I...

Published: Feb 20, 2026Duration: 17m 26s

Season 2 - Episode 242

CC Auths? Charging Fees? Switching Hosts?

This week’s Friday 15, we're welcoming Uniglobe Travel Center! Let’s have some fun, plus some questions to discuss this Friday at 12 pm CST. Join us!I have several corporate clients that pay with the same card throughout the year. Can I have them sign a cc authorization form at the beginning of the year and how often do you suggest I renew it? They are extremely busy people and I cannot ask them to complete the form for each and every flight they need.I would love continued conversations about how to execute charging fees when different trip...

Published: Feb 13, 2026Duration: 14m 50s

Season 2 - Episode 241

Suppliers? Rebranded? Credit Card Authorizations?

This week’s Friday 15, we're welcoming NEST Plus with April! Let’s have some fun, plus some questions to discuss this Friday at 12 pm CST. Join us!When choosing a supplier to work with, what are some questions to ask them about their support given to you and your clients. Same question for host agencies. It gets expensive trying so many only to discover the fit is not right. Thanks - BarbaraHi!!! I have basically been binge listening to the podcast for about a month now and I've enjoyed everything thus far!!I am a (fairly) new advisor. I've...

Published: Feb 6, 2026Duration: 19m 5s

Season 2 - Episode 239

Reasonable fees? Preferred Suppliers? Thresholds for access?

This week’s Friday 15, we're welcoming Travel Leaders Market Square with Kelly and Rochelle! Let’s have some fun, plus some questions to discuss this Friday at 12 pm CST. Join us! How do I decide what reasonable travel fees are to charge my clients? I'm a newbie. Can you talk about how to determine the host agency preferred suppliers both before joining and once you’re a member? It’s very difficult to find suppliers on your own. Following up on the seminar at sea question. My host does not allow new advisors to attend these. The host is not b...

Published: Jan 23, 2026Duration: 17m 41s

Season 2 - Episode 238

Chargebacks? Partnerships? FAM as new advisor?

This week’s Friday 15, we're welcoming Sava Travel and Byrd! Let’s have some fun, plus some questions to discuss this Friday at 12 pm CST. Join us! How can travel advisors protect ourselves against fraudulent chargebacks? I have terms and conditions in my TravelJoy that the clients have to sign when they pay a deposit and make payments. I had a client sign for a non-refundable deposit, They submitted a charge back for the deposit to their bank. What can I do?How do you start a partnership with someone? Someone wants to "get into" travel with me. I sp...

Published: Jan 16, 2026Duration: 16m 38s

Season 2 - Episode 237

Client communication? Niches? Quoting Clients?

This week for the Friday 15, we're opening 2026 with OASIS Travel Network and Chelsea! Let’s have some fun, plus some questions to discuss this Friday at 12 pm CST. Join us! I have been listening to past Friday15’s and someone mentions that they send an email to prospective clients to explain HOW she is paid (commissions, fees etc). I'm communicating that I will be charging fees in my business, but while I am in my 1st year of business (currently), I am waiving those fees. But I want to have something that explains that to clients right away. What...

Published: Jan 9, 2026Duration: 15m 25s

Season 2 - Episode 236

Family travel? First year focus? Marketing activities?

This week for the Friday 15, we've got a final in-house HAR special with the entire HAR crew, Shayna Zand, Abbey von Gohren, Rita Perez and Jenn Myers! So much to catch up on, plus some questions to discuss this Friday at 12 pm CST. Join us! What are a few things that families care about when they travel (other than the cost) that advisors can typically overlook or forget about?Having been a franchise owner, if you were advising a brand-new IC today, what would you tell them to focus on in their first year and what should they...

Published: Dec 19, 2025Duration: 30m 17s

Season 2 - Episode 235

Generate Leads? FIT’s with non-preferred? Confusing Booking Platforms?

This week for the Friday 15, we've got a special in-house HAR special with Jenn Myers and Rita Perez! So much to catch up on, plus some questions to discuss this Friday at 12 pm CST. Join us! I’m a relatively new advisor (I started about a year and a half ago) and I am trying to understand the concept of “leads”. My host agency (which I love!) does not have a lead generation program, and I would really like to see how a lead works and practice using my training and skills with a mock lead. Do you know of...

Published: Dec 12, 2025Duration: 30m 58s

Season 2 - Episode 234

What to Expect With Hosts? LLC’s? Partnerships?

This week for the Friday 15, it’s the RETURN OF STEPH LEE as she cohosts with Lori Speers of Levarte, now a KHM travel company. So much to catch up on, plus some questions to discuss this Friday at 12 pm CST. Join us! I am wanting to transition from working fulltime at home for my current job, to owning my own homebased travel business. I still need to keep my fulltime salary while my travel business ramps up. I have been researching into host agencies, and think this is the way I will go. If I do choose to go t...

Published: Dec 5, 2025Duration: 24m 29s

Season 2 - Episode 233

FIT best practices? Costs to join a host? Niche and make money?

This week for the Friday 15, Shayna co-hosts with Sheila Folk of Travel Industry Solutions. We’ve got a bunch of great questions to discuss this Friday at 12 pm CST. Join us! I'm very confused and overwhelmed by the FIT "best practice" for travel advisors. When advisors put together a/an FIT, do they always use tour suppliers (like Classic Vacations/Project Expeditions, etc), or make it themselves by reaching out directly to tour operators (if price is more favorable to client), or just patch things together with a DMC? How do advisors find DMCs if they don't have conn...

Published: Nov 21, 2025Duration: 27m 53s

Season 2 - Episode 232

Help with BDMs! Group Bookings? Commission Splits?

This week for the Friday 15, Shayna co-hosts with Jennifer Dugan of Dugan’s Travels! This week we’ve got a bunch of great questions to discuss this Friday at 12 pm CST, and you know it’s gonna be good. Join us! I worked as an independent contractor for a brick-and-mortar agency before covid. BDMs visited us regularly with updates, and stayed to chat. Their presence drew attendees and raised my credibility. Unfortunately, that agency has the worst split in the business. I switched to a host agency with a much better split and no fees or minimum sales, but the...

Published: Nov 14, 2025Duration: 22m 35s

Season 2 - Episode 231

FAM trips? Switching Hosts for more support? Name & Niche?

This week for the Friday 15, Shayna co-hosts with Betsy of Uniglobe Travel Center. We’ve got a bunch of great questions to discuss this Friday at 12 pm CST. Join us! I'm a disabled travel agent just starting. I'm nervous about Fam trips. how can I explain or how can a host agency help me go on Fam trips - MichelleI am thinking about switching to another host agency because the one I am with really does not reach out to ask me why my sales are low. It is very difficult to find clients, I would like to sig...

Published: Nov 7, 2025Duration: 15m 12s

Season 2 - Episode 230

Using Points? New at Booking! Platforms for Booking?

This week for the Friday 15, Shayna co-hosts with Robin and Jennifer of TiqueHQ. We’ve got a bunch of great questions to discuss this Friday at 12 pm CST. Join us! 1. I am just starting out but I had a question about credit card reward points. If a client has points for flights or hotels with a particular credit card. Am I able to book travel for them using their points or a combination of points and money and still receive commission?2. I'm just starting out in the business. I'm about three months in...

Published: Oct 31, 2025Duration: 24m 56s

Season 2 - Episode 229

(229) Visibility as new advisor? Fear of Marketing? How to Market?

This week for the Friday 15, Shayna co-hosts with Kelli Hayes Smith of Wanderlust Campus. We’ve got a bunch of great questions to discuss this Friday at 12 pm CST. Join us! How to get visibility and to get my first clients to work with me and trust me as a junior travel advisor? - JulieHow do you face your fear about marketing your travel business on social media if you are an introvert? - TracyNew advisor here, just starting out-I’m wondering if it’s possible to be successful in getting leads through online marketing only, and not tap int...

Published: Oct 24, 2025Duration: 22m 36s

Season 2 - Episode 228

Supplier network? Where to start? Changing commissions?

This week for the Friday 15, Shayna co-hosts with Sheila Folk of Travel Industry Solutions. We’ve got a bunch of great questions to discuss this Friday at 12 pm CST. Join us! I realise that every Host agency has a different network of suppliers. Even though I understand that I'm not supposed to go out of network if working in their system, if I am able to keep my own name and advertise as my own company, am I allowed to book with different networks of suppliers?I feel a little overwhelmed with so much information and access out the...

Published: Oct 10, 2025Duration: 27m 15s

Season 2 - Episode 227

Starting my journey? Questioning my host? Niches?

This week for the Friday 15, Shayna co-hosts with Jenn Lee of Vacation Planners and TPI! This week we’ve got a bunch of great questions to discuss this Friday at 12 pm CST. Join us! Hello all! I am at the start of my journey to becoming an independent travel advisor who will join a host agency. What are some of the ways that travel advisors obtain health insurance? I did see that ASTA members have access to their insurance partner but that this varies by state. I'm in Indiana if that helps. Thanks so much! I am really fin...

Published: Oct 3, 2025Duration: 20m 43s