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Travel Agent Chatter | Friday 15

Host Agency Reviews
Travel Industry
Host Agencies
Travel Advisors
Host Agency Reviews
Travel Agency
Fam Trips
Succession Planning
GDS
Luxury Travel
IATA
Global Distribution System
Business Development
Travel Planners International
KHM Travel Group
Host Agency
Travel Agents
Uniglobe Travel Center
Vacation Planners
Destination Weddings
Commissions

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 ... more

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes387Founded10 years ago
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Artwork for Travel Agent Chatter

Latest Episodes

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 am fairly happy with the Host Agency I am with right now, but I keep hearing recommendat... more

YouTube

***View the video, transcript, and show notes at: har.news/vol37

"She believes she could. So she did." This is what Kentucky-born advisor Ashley Young has tattooed on her arm.

While she's new to travel, she's determined to be successful and... more

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 have submitted 2 applications to host agencies I’d like to join, however they aren’t ta... more

YouTube

This week’s Friday 15, we're welcoming Gina from Uniglobe Travel Center. Let’s have some fun, plus some questions to discuss this Friday at 12 pm CST. Join us!

• I am an IC with about 2 years in the business. I'm considering going out on my own be... more

YouTube

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Find out how many people listen to this podcast per episode and each month.

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Recent Guests

Geoff Cox
KHM Travel Group representative with 15 years of experience supporting travel advisors
KHM Travel Group
Episode: Host Resources? Expansion? Finding a Niche?
Jackie Friedman
President of Nexion Travel Group and former ASTA board chair
Nexion Travel Group
Episode: Partner vs Solo? Commissions? Group Payments?
Samantha Hammond
Owner of Jus Adventures
Jus Adventures
Episode: Limited budgets? Multiple Bookings? Group Contracts?
Jennifer from Dugan's Travels
Co-host and sponsor for today
Dugan's Travels
Episode: Busy vs Productive? Next Trip? Higher-end Trips?
Jenn Lee
Speaker from Travel Planners International and Vacation Planners
Travel Planners International / Vacation Planners
Episode: Net Rates? Facebook Groups? Marketing on Social?
Andrea Wright
VP of luxury sales and partnerships at Outside Agents (Opulence)
Outside Agents / Opulence
Episode: Luxury Market? Use of AI? Need Inspiration!
Katy Rocket
Regional Director of Explore Worldwide, North America
Explore Worldwide
Episode: Tour Operator vs DMC? What is Adventure Travel?
Jennifer Dugan
Founder of Dugan's Travels
Dugan's Travels
Episode: Quoting? Incentives? Host Agencies?
Stephanie Pickles
Representative of Pickles Travel Network
Pickles Travel Network
Episode: GDS vs. Other Air Booking Tech? Booking Air for Clients? How to Get Clients to Respond Back to Supplier Options?

Hosts

Shayna Zand
Host of the show and managing director of HAR, co-host of Travel Agent Chatter.
Steph Lee
Founder of Host Agency Reviews, host and co-host across TAC and Friday 15.

Reviews

4.8 out of 5 stars from 114 ratings
  • Your Friday Lunchtime Wisdom—Every Week!

    I look forward to Friday like clockwork—not only for the coffee, but because Travel Agent Chatter packs 15 minutes of pure industry gold into my lunch break. Steph Lee tackles the questions I didn’t even know I had. This podcast’s bite-size, actionable advice is delivered with warmth and wisdom, and feels like a mini-mentor session every week. Five stars doesn’t even feel like enough!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    ARAY224
    United Statesa year ago
  • Valuable information and advice

    Thank you for these Friday Q&As! I’ve been an agent for two years and my old travel agent actually has allowed me to be under their wing and learn at my part time pace. The downfall is I don’t get a ton of training in the industry unless I’m booking something new so terms and business know how’s came slowly. I found your website and podcast so valuable for my growth and I’m just wanting to say thank you so much!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    bladesblah
    United States3 years ago
  • Wow!!

    I love your podcast. I started listening to it a few weeks ago.

    I love the different topics and success stories that are covered. I love the ideas that I’m hearing. It gives me new things to consider and try out.

    Maybe I’m not there yet ( currently on episode 11) , but ……I would love to hear how travel agents deal with visas? Is that something they handle ? Or something they allow the clients to do on their own ?Do they charge a fee for this? 🤔

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Piolin@88
    United States3 years ago
  • A necessary topic. very informative! Thank you for sharing! I totally reccommend. quick listening!

    Audible
    5
    Thomasa Bradley
    United States5 years ago
  • Great episode!

    A necessary topic. very informative! Thank you for sharing! I totally reccommend. quick listening!

    Audible
    5
    Thomasa Bradley
    United States5 years ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Many appreciate the real-world guest insights from host-agency leaders and suppliers.
Listeners praise concise, actionable tips and concrete takeaways for growing travel businesses.
The show is valued for its upbeat, practical approach and supportive community atmosphere.

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Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Host Resources? Expansion? Finding a Niche?
Q: How do I know when I'm actually ready to bring on help? And what would you recommend first, outsourcing or hiring?
Cox suggests considering help when administrative work is limiting sales or work-life balance. Options include a part-time assistant, an associate agent, or delegating work through a mentoring relationship.
Host Resources? Expansion? Finding a Niche?
Q: What are some of the resources you see successful advisors using that other advisors tend to overlook?
Cox recommends using the host agency's support team, marketing tools, and live or streamed training, which can provide both practical guidance and a sense of community.
Host v Independent? Planning Fees? Booking Metrics?
Q: Do advisors typically split their planning fees with their host agencies, and does the split follow the commission split?
Gina says Uniglobe Travel Center does not take a share of planning fees, and Shayna says most hosts do not split service fees. They note that seller-of-travel laws in some states may require fees to pass through the host before being returned to the advisor.
Host v Independent? Planning Fees? Booking Metrics?
Q: How do you know it's the right time to go out on your own, and what are the pros and cons of staying an independent contractor versus being independent?
Gina recommends considering another host agency first, since going independent means finding and negotiating supplier contracts and may bring lower commissions and fewer amenities. Shayna adds that independent advisors need their own accreditation and lose the built-in support community, and suggests discussing concerns with the current host and researching alternatives.
Partner vs Solo? Commissions? Group Payments?
Q: Why do we have to wait so long to get our commission if the client pays in full? Shouldn't we be able to get our commission then or a couple days after that? How does this whole process work?
Commissions may be delayed because bookings can change or be canceled before travel, which can affect the final commission. Friedman says ASTA's preferred goal is payment within 30 days of final payment for individual bookings, while group bookings are commonly paid after travel. She also suggests offering travel insurance and charging professional fees to help with cash flow.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

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Frequently Asked Questions About Travel Agent Chatter

What is Travel Agent Chatter about and what kind of topics does it cover?

A lively, practitioner-focused show that blends in-depth interviews with practical Friday Q&As for travel advisors. Episodes typically explore host agency dynamics, supplier relationships, commissions, training, and growth strategies, with guests ranging from host agency executives to supplier reps and experienced travel professionals. The format emphasizes actionable takeaways, community building, and realistic guidance for building and scaling a travel business. Noteworthy elements include a consistent emphasis on choosing the right hosting model, balancing technology with hands-on mentorship, and leveraging supplier partnerships to serve clients better. Potential listeners—especially aspiring or current travel agents—can expect concise, ... more

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How many episodes of Travel Agent Chatter are there?

Travel Agent Chatter launched 10 years ago and published 387 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

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What guests have appeared on Travel Agent Chatter?

Recent guests on Travel Agent Chatter include:

1. Geoff Cox
2. Jackie Friedman
3. Samantha Hammond
4. Jennifer from Dugan's Travels
5. Jenn Lee
6. Andrea Wright
7. Katy Rocket
8. Jennifer Dugan

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

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