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Travel Agent Commissions, Explained. [Infographic]

There’s no two ways about it, travel agent commissions are complicated—the numbers are not black and white numbers and there is no set way of doing things. Simply put, there is no "average" travel agent commission. Heck, if that were the case we'd be wrapping up this article by now!

We’re going to try to simplify things but since the system is complex, explaining it can be tough.

As you read this, just remember that commission levels vary by a travel agency's sales, an agency's consortium , franchise or host agency affiliation, vendor, destination, how the booking is made, and more (and that's just to name a few).

This article is a rough guide to travel agent commissions. It will give you a thorough, yet general, idea of travel agent commissions and what to expect.

If you're a sucker for details, don't worry. Once you join a host, franchise, or consortium, their commission guides will have all sorts of juicy details on specific commission levels!

Now, let's start breaking this stuff down, shall we?

⭐️ har's Travel agent commissions article highlights ⭐️

  • Travel Agent Commissions, Big Picture : Curious about the average commission rate for different travel products? You can check out our infographic in this section!
  • How Do Travel Agent Commissions Work? Commissions are typically tiered according to annual sales and/or passenger sales.
  • Host Agencies and Travel Agent Commissions : A host agency can help travel agents receive higher commission levels due to economies of scale.
  • Types of Travel Agent Commissions: There are 2 primary kinds of commissions for travel agents, flat commissions and tiered commissions.
  • Airline Commissions: Airline commissions are a different beast altogether because their commission range depends on a variety of different factors! (Read this section to find out why.)
  • Negotiated Contracts: Going with a host or consortia can help you leverage their commission contracts with suppliers.
  • Commission Confidentiality: You might not know the exact commission rate you'll receive until you sign on with a host. This section is where we tell you why.

Travel Agent Commissions: The Big Picture

Let's start with a visual to give you the 40,000-foot view of travel agent commissions. You can see some hard numbers and how things are broken down in an easy-to-digest infographic.

After you've checked that out, we'll deep dive into how travel agent commissions work to make sure you know all the ins and outs!

How Do Travel Agent Commissions Work?

First things first: where do travel agent commissions come from? How do they get from supplier to host to travel agent? How does a supplier know who gets what?

At its simplest, a supplier/vendor recognizes a travel agent from any Joe Blow on the street because travel agencies have an accreditation number .

These magic accreditation numbers are how travel agents get commissions! When you call/login to make a booking, the supplier asks for your travel agency's accreditation number. This is how they know who to send the commissions to.

It's like when you call any doctor's office and they always ask for your name and date of birth to identify you. Travel suppliers ask for an agency's accreditation number to pull the agency up in their system.

Host Agencies and Travel Agent Commissions

Host Agencies and Travel Agent Commissions

In the case of a host agency, all of the travel agencies in the host's network use the same accreditation number (the host's). The supplier/vendor will recognize all of the host's independent contractors (ICs) as "one" large agency since all of their ICs are using the host's accreditation number.

Consortia and some franchises are a little different from hosted agencies in that each individual agency needs its own accreditation number.

If that's a little confusing, let's try to give a similar example in the real world . . .

I like to think of the host agency model being like the relationship between a general contractor and a homeowner. A homeowner paying a general contractor is like a supplier paying a host agency.

Instead of paying the electrician, plumber, and architect separately, homeowners pay the general contractor who in turn pays the individual companies (that's the hosted agents!).

So the supplier pays the host agency (general contractor) commission because they are what's called "the agency of record". In turn, the host agency pays the individual independent contractor (IC) travel agencies their share of the commission.

Using a host's accreditation is one of the major benefits of using a host agency . . . not only does it spare you the hassle of getting your own accreditation, but a host agency is able to negotiate better commission levels than an individual agent because of their higher sales.

The general rule in travel is, that the more your agency sells of a vendor, the higher the commissions (to a point).

This is a great segue into our next section! (PS: Did you know it's segue and not segway? I just found out and want to make sure you appreciate my newfound knowledge by pointing it out.)

Two Kinds of Travel Agent Commissions

1. flat commission rates.

A flat-rate travel agent commission is the simplest type of commission. The flat rate is just what it sounds like: every travel agent gets the same no matter how much they book, what consortium they belong to, or how cute their dog is. Flat-rate commissions are actually standard and predictable! Hooray!

Here are a few types of vendors with a flat rate commission:

→ Hotel-only bookings and car rental companies: These types of bookings typically pay travel agents 10% commission and that’s that. There are small variances but car and hotel-only bookings are probably the most predictable commission level in this whole mess.

travel agent commission levels for car rentals

→ Boutique tour operators: Smaller or boutique vendors will typically pay a 10% commission or give agents net rates. They won’t have sales tiers (more on that soon). If you’re sending a boutique hotel or small tour operator tons of business, there may be room to negotiate a higher commission.

→ Disney: Okay, so they're not exactly a boutique vendor! But Disneyland and Disney World have a flat rate commission of 10% for all agents. No matter how special you, your consortia, or host agency are, you're not going to be able to negotiate a better commission.

When it comes to Disney Cruise Line and Adventures by Disney products, their commissions are tiered (we'll talk about tiered commissions in-depth in just a sec) but the sale thresholds for those are the same for every. single. agency. out there.

Disney commission levels for travel agents

2. Tiered COMMISSION RATES

It only seems fair that if you sell more of something, then you get a higher commission, right? Well, a lot of vendors think so too! Tiered commissions essentially mean that the more you sell, the higher the commission you get. Sounds simple?

I hate to burst your bubble, but tiered commissions are so complex so I'm going to put them in the spotlight after our intermission...

Rigel Break!

Ugh. My mind is wandering too. Let's take a break and look at a cute picture of my dog, Rigel.  This is his "business dog" look.

Rigel takes a break from travel agent commissions

Sigh. Handsome lil' devil, isn't he? Sorry, that's all the cuteness for now; back to work!

Tiered Commission Rates. How Are They Determined?

So why would Travel Agent #1 receive a 12% commission for selling vendor X, while Travel Agent #2 receives a 16% commission for selling the same product?

There are two major factors that will determine travel agent commission tiers:

1. Aggregate/ Annual Sales Volume

For some vendors, the commission level (or tier) they pay an agency is determined by the sales volume under that agency's accreditation number. A vendor may increase commission based on annual sales of an agency (or their host agency).

Here's an example (numbers are hypothetical)

Annual Sales Commission Level:

  • 10% . . . $0-$49,999
  • 13% . . . $50,000-$249,999
  • 14% . . . $250,000-$499,999
  • 15% . . . $500,000+

From the numbers above, you can see that as a solo travel agent, it's a heckuva lot easier to reach 15% when you belong to a host agency!

So even though you may have a commission split with your host agency, in the end, many agents stand to rake in more dough with a host because they are earning more commission.

When you look at the big picture, it's also worth noting that nearly all host agencies also belong to a travel consortium (such as Travel Leaders Network, Signature, Virtuoso, or Ensemble). With a host agency's aggregate sales among ICs and their consortia relationships, host agencies are able to bring in higher commission tiers with vendors than most individual travel agencies.

2. Passenger Count

While many vendors use sales numbers to determine an agency's commission level, there are a handful of vendors that use a different marker. Instead of looking at the total sales coming from an agency, a vendor will look at how many passengers you're sending their way.

You’d see something like this (these are hypothetical numbers):

Annual PASSENGER Count Commission Level:

  • 10%: 0-20 passengers
  • 11%: 21-49 passengers
  • 13%: 50-199 passengers
  • 15%: 200+ passengers

A Note on Airline Commissions

Airline commissions for travel agents

I always say airlines are another animal and honestly, they're not my forte. So I’ll say this. Don't expect to become a millionaire by selling domestic tickets from JFK to LAX.

In August 2017, American Airlines announced they would pay travel agents a $2/segment for airline ticket commission — which is the first time airlines have offered all agents commission on all air tickets since the 1990s.

Kinda huge. But really, is it just me, or is the $2/segment airline commission incentive not really doing it for anyone else? Well, don't worry, because going through a host agency and/or travel consortium can give you access to private air contracts that are quite a bit more attractive.

Airlines offer travel agent commissions through two routes:

1. AIRline Consolidators:

These are airline wholesalers. They specialize in air and have private contracts with the airlines. Travel agents can make money with these airline consolidators in one of two ways: commission and marking up net rates.

2. Airline Contracts:  

Your host agency or consortium/franchise/co-op will most likely have private air contracts that allow for travel agent commissions on certain airlines. Not every domestic or international ticket is going to be commissionable, it depends on things like city pairs, class of service, the carrier, time of year, etc.

The commission percentage agencies earn on air depends on numerous factors, the most important one being which private contracts you have access to.

Here's a general rule of thumb on the airline ticket commission range you can expect as a travel advisor:

  • Domestic: 0-5%
  • International: 10-22%

For most leisure agents, airline ticketing alone is not a large source of commission. That's why the most common fee travel agencies charge is a service fee for airline tickets. It helps stabilize an agent's income and ensures they're being compensated for their work.( Looking for more data on travel agent fees? HAR's 75+ page travel agent research reports are just what you need. )

Travel agents can book air-only reservations in a variety of ways, most notably through consolidators (often used by leisure agents) and for corporate agents, through a Global Distribution System (GDS) .

Now, let's chat about how companies like host agencies, consortia, and franchises help secure better commission deals for their agency members...

Negotiated Contracts: Host Agencies, Consortia, and Travel Agent Commission Agreements

Alright, you've probably figured out that the travel industry is all about economies of scale. The more you bring to the table, the more leverage you have.

So it's no surprise that host agencies (a group of independent agencies using the same accreditation number) and consortia (independent agencies with their own accreditations that band together for more buying power and access to marketing/tech tools) are able to negotiate better commission tiers.

For you, as an agency, these negotiated commission tiers are a big benefit of aligning with a host agency or consortium. When you (or your host agency) are affiliated with a travel consortium, the consortium will negotiate lower sales tiers/passenger thresholds with their preferred suppliers .  

Let me break it down in real terms.

Most vendors will have commissions broken down into tiers. Maybe they say an agency has to sell $75,000 of their product to get a 12% commission. But, if a host/franchise/consortia has a negotiated commission agreement, their agents may only need to sell $50,000 to reach the same 12% commission tier. A deal!

Since many of the readers of this site align with host agencies at some point in their careers, we’ll mention again that for hosted agents, your tier is not dependent on your individual agency’s sales, but the cumulative sales of all of the agencies under the host’s umbrella .

The value in this becomes a little more clear if we compare two agencies: one is a hosted agency that belongs to a $100M host agency, the other is a smaller agency that has $2M in sales.

Both of our agencies belong to the same travel consortium. Both agencies have access to the same negotiated commission tiers because they're members of the same consortium. But, who is going to have a harder time meeting the $50,000 commission tier the consortium worked out?

You got it. The $2M agency because they have to rely on only their sales, whereas the agency who belongs to a host agency — regardless of how much of the vendor they actually sell — reaps the benefits of the sales of all of the other agencies in their host agency's network.

Host agencies and consortia will have the strongest travel agent commission agreements with their preferred suppliers. When a vendor is on a "preferred supplier list," it means that the host or consortium will have better contracts with them and likely sell a higher volume with that vendor.

Understanding Commission Confidentiality

As you can imagine, commission contracts between travel agencies and vendors, as well as those between consortia and vendors, are confidential. They’re like trade secrets that can give one travel agency/consortium an advantage over the other.

Top Secret - Understanding Travel Agent Commission Confidentiality

Knowing that, don’t be surprised if a consortium or host is tight-lipped when you ask for their commission guides. Sadly, they're not going to hand over a detailed pamphlet listing all their trade secrets. If you made it to this point, you can understand why :)

Or maybe they're tight-lipped because they're spies? I dunno. I say follow your gut on that one.

All that said, if you do sell a lot of a certain vendor(s), it’s perfectly acceptable to ask about commission info for your top vendors.

Even if a host/franchise/consortium doesn't spell out the commissions you'd get in detail, you can ask for:

  • a list of the preferred suppliers and
  • an idea of the sales volume with your favorite vendors

More Ways to Earn . . .

Believe it or not, there are multiple ways an agent can earn money beside travel agent commissions!

A few other common income streams agents included service fees, consultation or planning fees, markups from net rates, and selling insurance (which is technically still a commission, but worth a note!).

Here's a few more resources to check out:

Curious to Start Earning Commissions Like a Bona Fide Travel Advisor?

Looking for some resources on how to start your own travel agency?

We happen to have oodles of resources on our site. But I have to say, that at this stage in the game our 7 Day Setup Accelerator course takes the cake.

Because it cuts the noise for you and delivers the exact info you need to launch your agency, with the support of industry experts and the accountability to make things happen!

7 day setup Accelerator course

Editor's Note: This article was originally published in Oct. 2021. We occasionally update it with the latest data, indicated by the publish date listed on the article.

About the Author

Steph Lee - Host Agency Reviews

Steph grew up in the travel industry, helping on and off with her mom's homebased travel agency. She has worked with thousands of agents in her role as a former host agency director before leaving in 2012 to start HAR. She's insatiably curious, loves her pups Fennec and Orion, and -- in case you haven't noticed -- is pretty quirky and free-spirited.

If you’re looking for Steph, she leaves a trace where ever she goes! You can find her on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn (her fav) and Pinterest as 'iamstephly'. 🙂 You can also catch her on her Substack, Bumblin' Around, where she writes on things outside the world of HAR.

Steph Lee - Host Agency Reviews

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THE JOURNAL

Travel Advisor Resources

Travel Agent Commission: How Does it Work?

Fora Author Fora Travel

The Modern Travel Agency

Fora Travel

https://www.foratravel.com/the-journal/travel-agent-commission

Not sure how a travel agent commission works? Is it the only way travel agents and advisors earn income? Here, we break it down for you.

Want to start earning income for your passion? Apply to become a Fora Advisor and kick off the ultimate career in travel.

How do travel agent commissions work?

A supplier — hotels, rental car agencies and so on — pays a travel agent commission for making a reservation on behalf of a client (or group of clients; here’s why group bookings are great ). The amount is typically a percentage of whatever the service costs, and can vary widely depending on the type of booking. 

(Curious about how to become a travel agent in the first place? Our guide has all the intel you need.)

Who pays a travel agent commission?

Hotels are the most common suppliers travel agents work with. But there are also rental car agencies, airlines, tour operators and much more. 

Many businesses recognize the value in paying a facilitator to book their services for a client and treat travel agent commissions the same way they might advertising costs. You’ll sometimes even find that event venues, especially in places like Las Vegas, and businesses that are adjacent to travel also offer commissions to travel agents.

What’s a typical travel agent commission?

For hotels, five to 10 percent is about average. For other suppliers, it changes with the service and brand. Broadly, travel agent commission percentages run anywhere from one to twenty percent.

(P.S. Wondering how much travel agents make per booking ? Check out our guide.)

Do travel agents charge more on top of a commission?

Travel agent commission rates are typically set in stone. That being said, commissions are not the only way travel agents make money. Most remote travel agents offer custom itinerary building and other planning services as well. The exact amount varies by travel agent, but many Fora Advisors charge a fee per week of travel planned. 

Intrigued by the idea of building custom travel itineraries and getting paid for it? Apply to become a Fora Advisor .

( How much do travel agents make ? What’s the typical Fora travel advisor salary ? Our guides have help answer these questions.)

Do travel agents get paid for things like selling travel insurance, too? What else counts as commissionable revenue?

Absolutely. Selling travel insurance not only makes sense for the client (especially for more expensive trips), but it can also be a great way to boost your commissionable income.

As for other sources of travel agent commissions, our guide to all the types of bookings you can make as a Fora Advisor has more details.

Are there different types of travel agent commissions?

Technically, there are three different types of commissions travel agents encounter, although only two are common.

Standard commissions

Standard commissions are what we’ve covered thus far. They represent a small percentage, usually between five and 10 percent of the total sale (before tax, if applicable). 

With few exceptions, standard commissions are most favored by travel agents because they usually offer the most value, and come at no additional cost to the client.

Flat commission rates

Flat commission rates are set amounts that hotels and other suppliers pay travel agents for bookings. These rates are independent of the total cost the client is paying, so regardless of when the service is provided, the agent is earning the same amount. This essentially negates any potential boost to the commission if the client is staying during a popular period, when hotels usually raise prices.

There can be some nuance to flat rates, though. For example, a hotel may pay per hotel room so the agent at least earns more for a larger booking. 

These types of rates are most common in Europe, particularly among older hotels, and you won’t often encounter them with domestic travel.

Tiered commission rates

Tiered commission rates are fairly uncommon for travel agents to encounter; they’re much more popular among other careers in travel and tourism and are typically paid by wholesalers rather than individual suppliers. 

With tiered rates, t he commission rate changes with the number of tickets sold for a service, which might be a group tour, cruise or hotel block. 

On the flip side, travel agents at the top of their game may be more likely to encounter these types of commissions, usually in the context of large group bookings or corporate events (learn how to master the art of group bookings ). 

Usually this type of travel agent commission isn’t something new agents need to worry about.

Travel agent commission FAQs

Have more questions about travel agent commissions or adjacent topics? We have answers.

How else do travel agents make money?

As mentioned earlier, travel agents can also charge fees for planning itineraries. It’s also not unheard of for agents to charge extra fees for large group bookings since these require more time to orchestrate — which brings up an important point: the best travel agents don’t charge their clients arbitrary fees; there should be justification for the extra costs.

Between commissions and planning fees, you can see why travel agents are among the more lucrative jobs in the travel industry .

What percentage of a commission do travel agents usually get? Is Fora different?

Five to 10 percent is a normal travel agent commission. Fora Advisors do occasionally earn a higher commission for booking certain partner hotels because of our supplier relationships. 

Sound intriguing? Apply to become a Fora Advisor .

How much can you charge as a travel agent to use your services?

This varies by advisor and the exact service provided. People in some travel agent jobs or travel agent niches charge higher fees. For example, luxury travel advisors may have higher fees because they’re offering an elevated degree of service. Essentially, discerning clients pay more for the white-glove treatment. The same can also be said for corporate travel agents .

(Learn how to become a luxury travel agent .)

Does a vacation cost more if someone books through a travel agent?

One of the myths about booking through a travel agent is that they always upsell the price of the trip. In reality, advisors are paid by the hotel, so having an advisor book your accommodations comes at no extra cost to the client.

(BTW: check out the myths about becoming a travel advisor .)

Can you make a living off commissions as a travel agent? Do all travel agents rely on commissions?

You can certainly turn travel advising into a full-time career, as many of our advisors have.

(Looking for tips for how to be a successful travel advisor ? Read our guide.)

Do all host agencies take a percentage of a travel agent’s commission?

This is standard practice in the industry, and typically helps fund the host agency’s services. In Fora’s case, this percentage goes toward maintaining Fora profiles, our proprietary booking platform, supplier partnerships and so much more. Fora takes a 30% slice, then 20% once advisors have reached a certain bookings threshold (which is a far lower percentage than industry standard).

Our guide to how much it costs to become a travel agent has more details.

How does a commission pay schedule work at most host agencies? How does Fora handle this?

Travel agent commissions are typically paid by the supplier after the client uses their service (e.g., after they stay at the hotel or return a rental car). Across the industry, it’s unfortunately common for some hotels and other suppliers to drag their feet when it comes to paying out commissions (check out how travel agents get paid to learn more).

At Fora, we support our advisors and invoice hotels for you, allowing you to focus on the fun parts of the job. In other words, we worry about chasing commissions and getting you paid, so you don't have to.

(Curious about other reasons to become a Fora Advisor ? Hear it from our existing travel advisors.)

How is the commission rate usually determined for travel agents?

Travel agent commissions are usually set long before the agent ever enters the picture. This often comes down to a private agreement between a host agency (like Fora) and the supplier. 

In rare cases, usually involving independent or new hotels that don’t have an existing commission policy, a travel advisor may be able to negotiate a commission rate.

Are commissions calculated before or after taxes?

Travel agent commissions are calculated before taxes, as the latter is money the supplier doesn’t actually see.

Can suppliers’ commission rates change?

Certainly, though existing bookings typically aren’t affected, perhaps unless they’re part of a promotion. 

Do online travel agencies (OTAs) charge suppliers commissions?

Yes, like you wouldn’t believe. Whereas travel advisors charge hotels between five and 10 percent commission on average, online travel agencies like Expedia and Booking.com charge suppliers as much as 30 percent commission. 

It’s one of the reasons suppliers much prefer their bookings come from travel advisors — and why Fora Advisors can offer awesome perks at the coolest hotels around the world.

Ready to start earning travel agent commission? Become a Fora Advisor

Can’t wait to earn your first travel agent commission? Apply to become a Fora Advisor today and get your travel career rolling.

Alternatively, check out these travel advisor resources if you’re still testing the waters:

How Long Does It Take to Become a Travel Agent?  

How to Become a Travel Agent Online: Fora's Full Guide  

How Do Travel Agents Get Clients? Fora's Top 5 Tips  

How to Become a Disney Travel Agent  

Travel Agent Training Guide: What are Your Options?  

Book a Cruise With a Virgin Voyages Travel Agent  

Is Being a Travel Agent Worth It? Fora Discuses the Pros & Cons

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Complete Guide to Travel Agent Commissions

by Core Commissions | Feb 16, 2023

According to research by  Statista , as recently as 2022, the travel industry was reported to be worth as much as two trillion dollars. It is one of the  largest industries  in the world based on employment, with an average growth of 12% over the past five years specifically among travel agents. 

Travel agents earnings are made up of a mix of salary, commission, and other incentives. Their pay can fluctuate significantly month to month or even annually. Different destinations, seasons, suppliers, affiliates, or even how the booking is made, all factor into the percentage of commission that an agent takes home. All of these variables make the process for calculating and managing commissions for agents ever-changing and very complicated.

Similar to other commission-based industries such as  insurance  and  finance , an agent’s pay will vary depending on whether they are employed by an agency or if they are self-employed. Typically, agents employed by an agency have a  salary and receive commissions and incentive pay  as an additional source of income. Whereas, a self-employed agent is not paid a salary and is  only paid commissions  earned from suppliers and fees paid by customers.

Core Commissions is a leader in sales compensation software. Founded in 2005, Core Commissions provides an affordable web-based commission management solution that automates the calculation of complex sales commission and incentive pay plans. Core’s powerful and robust application is capable of managing complex data relationships and commission rule scenarios while providing an intuitive online portal for salespeople to view their pay statements and performance dashboards.

In this guide, we’ll cover vocabulary, types of commissions, commissionable revenue, and commission payment schedules that are common for US-based travel agents. 

Travel Agent Vocabulary

Supplier: The vendor or business that provides travel services. Suppliers could be airlines, hotels, rental car companies, tour guides, cruise lines, etc.  

Host Agency: Many independent agents may prefer to work under the umbrella of a larger organization to earn higher commissions and benefit from better contracts, relations, and marketing assets. These organizations are referred to as host agencies.

Accreditation Number: The identification number that suppliers use to keep track of sales made by each agency is known as the accreditation number. Suppliers group all bookings made under the same accreditation number together, meaning that host agencies, or agencies with multiple reps, can more easily generate enough sales to place them into higher commission tiers.

Non-Commissionable Fees (NCF): There are some aspects to the cost of travel that are not commissionable, meaning agents cannot accrue any commissions from them. Non-commissionable fees typically include any services fees and taxes added on to a booking, though there are some cases where both fees and taxes can be fair game for commissions.

Travel agents look at world map to plan travel arrangements for clients.

Types of Commissions for Travel Agents

There are three main commission types for travel agents: flat commission rates, tiered commission rates, and airline commissions.

Flat commission rates

With flat rate commissions, every travel agent gets the same commission rate no matter how much they book. Flat commission rates are standard and predictable.

Tiered Commission Rates

For larger suppliers, they may utilize a commission tier structure as a way to incentivize agents to book more with them. Suppliers may base their tiers off of two variables: annual sales revenue or passenger count. In either case, the supplier establishes a commission structure that rewards agents or agencies who meet certain thresholds. Once an agent reaches a threshold, they receive a higher commission rate.

How many levels each supplier includes in their tier structure can vary, but generally they have three to four tiers for agents to reach. As mentioned above, suppliers keep track of all bookings made by agents through use of an accreditation number.

Annual Sales Revenue: In most cases, suppliers opt to build their commission tiers around overall sales volume achieved by an agent or agency. Once a certain threshold for annual sales is met, an agent’s commission rate increases.

Passenger Count: Alternatively, some vendors may choose to use passenger count as a way of structuring their commission. This can be a common route for suppliers such as cruise lines as they have several vacancies to fill on each cruise.

Either way, agencies have an advantage with tiered commissions because they have multiple agents working under the same accreditation number, all of whom will benefit from the commission rate increase. Because of this, they are able to reach the tiers with higher commission rates quicker and easier.

Airline Commissions

Airline commissions are unique from flat rate commissions and tiered commissions because they vary completely based on the contract that is negotiated with each agency. Agencies with better contracts earn a higher percentage rate. Even with a well-negotiated contract, an agent’s compensation will be impacted by domestic vs. international flights, city pairings (where they are flying to and from), class of service, the carrier, and the time of year.

Not all airlines pay commissions to travel agents, but airlines that do will have their own policies and commission rates. For specific commission rates, you will need to inquire with each individual airline. 

Commissionable Revenue for Travel Agents

Almost any travel services booked by a travel agent can be eligible for commissions or other incentives, some examples include:

  • Car Rentals
  • Travel Insurance
  • Service Fees
  • Custom itineraries

Other Variables

Aside from the variables mentioned above, there are additional factors that contribute to how an agent gets compensated.

Commission Confidentiality: Many suppliers choose to keep their commission rates private. You will only learn the commission rate when you sign on with a host.

Net Commission vs Gross Commission: As mentioned above, for some aspects of travel, there are non-commissionable fees. This can play a role in whether the commission accrued for each agent is based on the gross cost of the booking or the net, which is gross less any taxes.

Phone vs. Online Bookings: In some cases, suppliers may base their commission percentages on how the booking is made. This won’t have a huge impact on the rate of commission paid out, but it can alter the rate a little bit.

Price Matches: Many suppliers will offer price matching for customers, which can result in a lower commission rate for agents.

Travel Type: Leisure and business involve different methods for planning and agents will earn different rates depending on the type of travel being arranged.

Travel Agent Commission Pay Schedule

Another complicating factor to travel agent commissions is the schedule in which they receive their incentive pay. Here are the two most common ways agents are compensated:

Payment upon booking: Agents will receive payments upfront when the client buys travel insurance, if the agency requires any type of deposit prior to planning, or when they submit their final bill to the customer. The fees incurred from completing bookings for the customer are received as incentive payments for the agent.

Payment after client has traveled: Suppliers will not usually issue payment to agents until the client has concluded their travel, which means that in most cases agents will go long periods before seeing their commission hit their paycheck.

Ensure Accurate Payments to Your Agents

There are a lot of moving pieces involved in managing sales compensation for travel agents and ensuring that the commissions received from suppliers are accurate with your records. Core’s customizable sales compensation solution has all of the tools you need to reconcile payments from suppliers, track commissions tiers, and accurately calculate your agents’ pay.

Single-button processing allows you to process commission cycles at any point once payment is received from your suppliers and our customized dashboards give you a real-time view into which suppliers are your biggest revenue generators.

Contact us or set up a free demo and we’ll show you how Core can automate the entire compensation process for your agency.

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  • October 4, 2023
  • Pickles Travel Network

As you start or continue on the exciting journey of planning your clients’ dream getaways, you are likely to encounter the invaluable assistance of travel agents. Travel agents are experts in “all things travel” and not only help navigate the complexities of trip planning but also earn their income through commissions from various travel-related bookings.

Let us take you on a detailed tour of the commission landscape for travel agents.

Together, we will shed light on the typical and high/low range commission amounts for hotels, cruises, airfare, tours, and other avenues you may not have considered — yet.

Accessible Travel

Travel agents specializing in accessible travel have a unique niche that caters to individuals with disabilities or special needs. Commission rates in this niche can vary widely depending on the suppliers and the level of specialization they offer. For example, suppliers like Wheel the World may offer a commission rate of 3%, which reflects their commitment to accessibility. On the other hand, Kingdom Strollers , which provides specialized stroller rental services for families with young children, may offer a higher commission rate of 15%. Accessible travel agents should explore partnerships with various suppliers to ensure their clients’ needs are met.

Airfare Bookings

Airfare is a fundamental aspect of travel, and travel agents can assist you in securing the best flight options. However, commissions for airfare can be more intricate, as they often depend on the agreements travel agencies have with airlines.

Typical Commissions: Commission rates for airfare can be relatively modest, ranging from 1% to 3% of the total ticket price. In some cases, travel agents might receive a fixed fee per booking instead.

High/Low Range: Domestic flights and economy class tickets usually offer lower commissions, while international flights and premium class tickets can yield higher commissions.

Airline Consolidators, on the other hand, have a more “Build Your Own Commission” structure.  So, it is pertinent to know with you are working with as a travel agent.

Cars, RV, and Transfers

Travel agents can expand their services beyond traditional bookings to include ground transportation options like car rentals, RV rentals, and transfers. These services can be particularly beneficial for clients who want flexibility and convenience during their travels. The commissions offered by suppliers in this category can vary based on factors such as the type of transportation, location, and the supplier’s agreement with the travel agent. Here’s a breakdown of these opportunities:

Car Rentals: Travel agents can earn commissions when they book car rentals for their clients. Commission rates for car rentals often fall within the range of 5% to 17%. The exact rate can depend on the rental agency and the volume of bookings made through the travel agent. Agents may consider establishing partnerships with major car rental companies as well as local or specialty providers to offer a wide range of options to clients.

RV Rentals: For clients seeking a unique travel experience, RV rentals are an exciting option. Commission rates for RV rentals typically follow a similar range, ranging from 5% to 17%. Travel agents can work with RV rental companies to provide clients with options for various sizes and styles of RVs, allowing them to embark on memorable road trips.

Transfers: Transfers, such as airport shuttle services or private transportation to and from accommodations, are essential components of a seamless travel experience. Suppliers offering transfer services often provide commission rates in the 5% to 17% range. By offering transfer services, travel agents can ensure their clients have a hassle-free journey from arrival to departure.

Cruise Bookings

Cruises offer travelers an opportunity to explore multiple destinations in one trip, and travel agents are there to guide cruisers through the vast ocean of cruise options. Commissions for cruise bookings can be quite diverse, influenced by the cruise lines’ policies and the complexity of the booking.

Typical Commissions: On average, travel agents can earn commissions ranging from 10% to 18% of the total cruise fare. This means that for every cruise package booked, the travel agent has the potential to receive 10 to 16 cents on every dollar spent.

High/Low Range: High-end cruises and luxury liners like AmaWaterways may offer travel agents higher commissions, while budget or discounted cruises might provide lower rates.  Disney, Holland America, and Princess tend to typically fall in the mid-level commission range, around 10%.

Specialized transportation suppliers, such as Yachtico rentals, may offer 3 to 5%.

Excursions and Tour Packages

For travelers seeking curated experiences and guided adventures, travel agents may offer assistance in booking tour packages. Commissions for tour packages can fluctuate widely, influenced by the tour operator’s policies and the complexity and exclusivity of the tour.

Typical Commissions: Commissions for tours typically fall in the range of 10% to 14% of the total package price – and on rare occasions, up to 20%. This means that your travel agent may earn 10 to 20 cents on every dollar spent on the tour, or more.

High/Low Range: Specialized or high-end tours, such as adventure or luxury excursions, may offer travel agents’ commissions at the higher end of the scale, while budget-friendly or standard tours might provide lower rates.

Hotel Bookings

When it comes to booking accommodations, travel agents can be a treasure trove of knowledge and resources. They assist in finding the perfect hotel that suits your clients’ preferences and budget. For their services, travel agents typically earn commissions, which can vary based on factors like the hotel’s size, type, and location.

Typical Commissions: The standard commission rate for hotel bookings falls in the range of 8% to 15% of the total room cost. This means that for every dollar the client spends on accommodation, a travel agent may earn anywhere from 8 to 15 cents as a commission.

High/Low Range: Keep in mind that commission rates can fluctuate. Luxury or boutique hotels may offer lower commissions, often closer to the lower end of the scale, while larger chain hotels, particularly for group bookings, might offer commissions at the higher end.  Places like Palace Resorts usually offer a 10% commission, and luxury entities such as Excellence Collection , and Belmond , offer various commission rates.  The better the relationship a travel agent forms with these luxury suppliers, the higher the probability of higher commission rates will be!

Specialized suppliers

Suppliers like Atlantis Events and VACAYA cater to niche travel markets. These suppliers often offer commission rates in the range of 10% to 14% to travel agents who bring them business. Travel agents who focus on specialized markets can develop expertise in serving this unique clientele and build strong relationships with specialized suppliers to earn competitive commissions while providing tailored experiences to their clients.

Travel Insurance

In 2023, travel insurance is more essential than ever, and travel agents can earn commissions by offering these policies to their clients. The commission rates for travel insurance can range from 10% to 36%, depending on the insurance provider and the specific policy sold. Companies like Allianz Partners and Travelex are known for offering competitive commission rates. Travel agents have an opportunity to educate their clients about the importance of travel insurance and assist them in selecting the right coverage, thus earning commissions while providing valuable protection for travelers.

Miscellaneous Travel

Travel agents who offer exclusive packages to destinations like C Lazy U Ranch or specialize in wine travel, such as Taste Vacations , can earn commissions of around 10% for bookings made through them. These niche travel experiences often attract clients seeking unique and personalized adventures. By collaborating with these specialized providers, travel agents can offer their clients memorable and customized travel experiences while earning commissions.

Rail Travel

Rail travel is a less common but fascinating niche within the travel industry. Suppliers like Belmond Trains may offer gross pricing that can include a 15% commission, providing travel agents with an opportunity to earn commissions while promoting rail travel options. Building relationships with railway transportation suppliers can be advantageous for travel agents looking to diversify their offerings and provide clients with alternative and eco-friendly travel options.

In addition to commission rates, travel agents have the option to earn money through service or planning fees.

Service or planning fees are a subject that often sparks debate within the travel agent community. Charging a service fee is a way for agents to compensate themselves for the extensive research, skills, and expertise they invest in planning travel experiences. It is crucial for agents to approach this aspect strategically to ensure it is well-received by clients.

  • First and foremost, travel agents should never apologize for their planning fees.  Apologizing may inadvertently communicate desperation, which can deter potential clients. Clients prefer working with successful agents who confidently stand by the value they offer.
  • Secondly, it is important to justify the service fee.  Explaining the reasoning behind the fee, such as investing in ongoing education, designing personalized itineraries, or prioritizing client needs over commission rates, can help clients understand the value they receive in return.
  • Lastly, agents have the option to introduce the fee quietly without a public announcement, particularly if they are new to the travel industry and do not have an extensive client base. Service fees can be a way for travel agents to establish their worth, maintain financial sustainability, and continue providing exceptional travel planning services to their clients.

In the realm of travel planning, travel agents are not only guides but also rely on commissions for their livelihood.

By having a grasp of the commission structure for various travel categories, clients are empowered to make well-informed decisions when collaborating with travel agents, and, thus, travel agents are able to establish fair fees for their services.  A travel agent’s expertise can enrich a client’s overall travel experience, ensuring that their dream vacation becomes a reality.

Remember that travel agents are valuable partners in creating hard-to-forget memories. Travel agents’ commissions reflect the effort and expertise they invest in planning trips, helping their clients embark on journeys filled with adventure, relaxation, and exploration.

Meet Pickles Travel Network: The Host Agency That Makes It Easy to Start and Scale Your Travel Business

Whether you’ve just started your travel agent journey, or you’ve been on it… Pickles Travel Network has the tools and resources to help grow your business. Unlike other host agencies, we believe in letting our members choose what works best for their business. Pickles Travel Network allows you to choose your commission rate, along with whether or not you want to charge planning fees. As a member, you’ll receive instant access to our list of suppliers, several marketing platforms and monthly coaching/trainings. 

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IATA | CLIA Membership

Ptn iatan code: 45769253, ptn clia number: 00032299.

When you enroll with suppliers, you must use PTN’s codes to receive a commission from us. Want to sign up for your own CLIA or IATA numbers for exclusive travel benefits? See below.

Get your own IATA/IATAN ID Card:

The IATA/IATAN ID Card is the industry-standard credential to identify bona fide travel professionals. Key benefits include access to concessionary incentives from industry suppliers. Just added, the IATA MemberPerks program provides cardholders with daily savings at over 300,000 merchants across North America.

To be eligible, you must be registered with IATAN under PTN’s IATA number 45769253, working a minimum of 20 hours per week and earning a minimum of $5,000 per annum in commissions. You’ll need to send PTN a support ticket asking for approval. Once approved, we will send you a PRIN # to allow you to register with IATAN and ask for an ID card.

Get your own CLIA EMBARK ID:

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Obtain a CLIA EMBARC ID for travel discounts and FAM (Familiarization) trips. Join CLIA as an Individual Agent Member, under Pickles Travel Network CLIA #00032299.

Once you’ve registered, submit a support ticket to let us know, and we will approve your registration.

Please select the option that best describes you for more information.

We're Here to Help

Can travel agencies/advisors earn a commission, information on commissionable and non-commissionable rates sep 29, 2023 • knowledge, information.

  • Enter the search criteria on Marriott.com and your available Options will be returned showing an Average Rate per Night for each Hotel
  • Click ' View Rates ' on the Hotel you are interested in booking [ Click here to view Image ]
  • Click the ' Rate Details ' link for the Rate you are interested in booking [ Click here to view Image ]
  • Rates will be listed as ' Commissionable ' or ' Non-Commissionable ' within 'Rate Details ' [ Click here to view Image ]
  • Click ' Select ' to proceed with the Reservation [ Click here to view Image ]
  • On the ' Guest Information and Payment ' screen, within the ' Payment Information ' section, expand the ' Are you a travel agent? ' section and enter your ' IATA Number ' [ Click here to view Image ]
  • Complete the Reservation

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Travel Agent Resources

Travel agent commissions.

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By Courtney Eisen

February 22, 2024

Travel agent commissions can be pretty complicated, with varying numbers and no set standards. In this article, we aim to simplify the concept for you. Keep in mind that commission levels depend on factors such as a travel agency's sales, consortium or host agency affiliation, vendor, destination, and booking method, among others.

How do travel agent commissions work.

Travel agent commissions originate from the accreditation number assigned to travel agencies. When you make a booking, the supplier asks for your agency's accreditation number to identify you and allocate the commissions accordingly. Think of it as a unique identifier, similar to providing your name and date of birth at a doctor's office. Common identification numbers are IATA, ARC and CLIA.

Host Agencies and Travel Agent Commissions

Host agencies play a significant role in the travel industry. They have a network of travel agencies and agents that use the same accreditation number, making it easier for suppliers to recognize them as a single entity. Consortia and some franchises, on the other hand, require individual agencies to have their own accreditation numbers.

Suggested Article: How Do Travel Agents Get Paid?

Using a host agency's accreditation number offers several benefits, including simplified accreditation processes and better commission levels due to higher sales. Host agencies negotiate higher commission tiers based on their sales volume, allowing them to offer more lucrative opportunities to their agents.

To better understand the flow of commissions, let's use a real-world analogy. Think of the relationship between a real estate broker and a real estate agent. The broker receives the commission at closing and then pays the agent their commission after taking their cut. Host travel agencies work the same way. The host agency and the agent, or agency, agree to a commission split. The host receives the comission from the travel vendor, and then gives the agent their cut.

Typical Travel Agent Commissions

We cover this in more detail in our training, but commissions differ from vendor to vendor. The average commission you earn is called your "yield" - you want this to be above 10%, which is easy to do in this industry unless you're booking frequently with vendor that has an increidbly low commission payout. We like our agents to be closer to 14% in their yield. As you learn to navigate the industry, you will find amazing vendors with high commissions that can get your yield up. It is important to note, however, that the most important thing is matching your client to the best property, regardless of comission, so that they book their next trip with you. Long term clients will make you more money than short term, but high yield bookings.

Suggested Article: How Much do Travel Agents Make?

Another thing to understand is in regards to flights. Many flights pay zero commission, and can event cost the agent money. However, international first and business class flights can pay incredibly high commissions and be a profitable business segment.

We are constantly negotiating for higher commissions for our agents, and even have members of our team dedicated to negotiating wholesale contracts, which have incredibly high yields. However, we cannot share the specifics publicly.

Understanding Commission Confidentiality

Commission contracts between travel agencies, consortia, and vendors are confidential, similar to trade secrets. As a result, consortia and hosts may not readily provide detailed commission guides. However, you can still inquire about commission information for your top vendors, ask for a list of preferred suppliers, and get an idea of the sales volume associated with those vendors.

More Ways to Earn

Aside from travel agent commissions, there are other income streams available to agents. These include service fees, consultation or planning fees, markups from net rates, and selling insurance. We ban charging clients fees at our host agency, as we have proven multiple times that charging fees decreases earnings long term, however, many host agencies and industry resources encourage charging fees.

Suggested Article: How Do Travel Agents Make Money?

We hope this article provides you with a thorough yet simplified understanding of travel agent commissions. Remember, joining a host agency, franchise, or consortium can offer valuable benefits, including access to negotiated commission tiers and better contracts with suppliers. If you are searching for a host agency, check out our free travel agent training program. We may or may not be the right host agency for you, and we suggest that you shop around before committing to a host.

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Our agency is built to be higher pressure and caters to those looking to earn six or seven figures. Our travel agent training is very difficult and you are not gauranteed to pass. We take a loss on all recruits until they start selling, so we are very motivated to help you make bookings. That being said, we would not be a good match for something looking to make a few thousand dollars a year so that they can take thier family to Disney. If you are not good at sales, do not want pressure to perform, a host agency that charges a fee and who does not care whether you actually make sales would be a better match.

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How Travel Advisors Can Secure Hotel Commissions

How Travel Advisors Can Secure Hotel Commissions

Industry pundit talks about steps to take to deter the non-payment situation, and what to do if it happens. Photo: Shutterstock

In our last article about working with the hospitality industry, I discussed how to manage relationships with hotels when prospecting for meeting or group space . Today, I explore the thornier question of how to secure commissions that have been earned but that the hotel declines to pay.

This issue is as old as the business itself. Despite the engagement of sophisticated, modern hotel managements and state-of-the-art technology, travel advisors are still denied earned income for clients delivered to hotels. It is pointless to theorize about why some hotels think such conduct is a good business strategy in an age in which travel advisors have at their disposal the communication power of the internet. The problem exists, so let’s address it.

The core principle is that an agent is entitled to the supplier’s announced commission when she delivers a customer ready, willing and able to take up the supplier’s offer as made. So, in its simplest form, if the hotel advertises a room for $200 and has a published ten percent commission policy and you book a client at that rate, the commission is earned.

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If the hotel walks the client, you are still entitled to the commission. If the hotel rebooks the client at the front desk so that it appears as a direct hotel booking, you are still entitled to your commission. The supplier cannot defeat your right to be paid by post-booking conduct, unless, of course, the client fails to show. However, “no show” is not the same as “rebooking at the desk.” A no-show defeats the “ready, willing and able” idea; a rebooking is deliberate supplier conduct intended to defeat your commission. The latter maneuver is improper because your commission was earned when the client stepped to the desk and said, “I’m here for the room I reserved.”

Will you book non-paying properties? With that principle in mind, the next consideration is: do you continue to book a property that has failed to pay commission on prior bookings? If yes, I suggest you should rethink your practice. Continuing to serve a non-paying hotel simply encourages its bad behavior. The property has no incentive to change its conduct if treating you badly still gets them your business.

Then, do you keep meticulous and efficient records of your sales and the related commission policies? I know this can be hard, especially since the commission amounts are often small. Nevertheless, you should be able to determine, with a minimal amount of work, how much you are owed, by whom and how long the obligation has been outstanding.

If you have commission collection issues regularly, prepare in advance for an efficient dunning process. Create form letters, as many variations as you think you need, so you can quickly react to a non-payment situation. Having to create new dunning letters from scratch for each event creates a disincentive to act and, in effect, gives away money to which you are entitled.

Be polite but firm Next, and this is important: Be polite but firm. Don’t go ballistic at the outset just because a commission payment has been missed or even if the first dunning letter has been ignored. On the other hand, don’t waste your time chasing the wrong solution. If the hotel’s accounting people have ignored your dunning letter, I recommend immediately going up a level to management. Explain the situation fully and provide documentation to establish that you made the booking and, if you have it, any evidence that the client actually arrived to take the room.

If the first outreach to management doesn’t work within a reasonable time, go up a level and, if necessary, keep going up a level until you get a response. Remain professional at all times. But be clear you intend to be paid.

Handling no-shows But, what do you do if the hotel claims the client was a no-show? This raises a related issue of how you follow-up with your clients. I believe that a personal service business like a travel advisor should routinely reach out to clients to ask how their trip went and what could we have done together, as advisor and traveler, to have made the experience even better? Many clients won’t want to be bothered, but many will answer. A response, even if it contains a complaint, will give you the ammunition you need to call out the hotel on their false claim that the client did not show.

Then, if you want to stop this from happening again, take the time to write to management and tell them what happened. Explain, if it’s true, that you have provided them with multiple clients in the past and, if true, have always spoken well about them at industry gatherings. Then, calmly, ask them: What evidence is there that you should continue singing their praises and sending future travelers to them?

I put it that way, rather than suggesting telling them off, because asking a question provides an invitation for the hotel to do the right thing. A question can communicate just as effectively as a declarative statement without immediately putting the other side on the defensive. If you hear nothing or just get a form letter saying, “Sorry about that, but you can trust us in the future,” politely tell the management you will be directing your clients to competitors going forward because this property or brand has shown it cannot be trusted to treat you professionally and thus has not earned your business.

And then do it. Send future clients elsewhere when the client’s interests can be served as well that way. If it makes you feel better, when you do that, communicate to the management of the now-abandoned brand or property. Tell them you have, in fact, sent a client elsewhere and why. As they said in the movie, “The Godfather”: “It’s not personal; it’s just good business.”

Of course, a realistic view of the business world tells us some managements will dig in and not care what you do. Maybe, in their view, your business is too small to matter much. It will nonetheless pay you in the long run to stop doing business with such companies and direct your clients to other properties that can meet their needs.

What about a lawsuit? Inevitably, someone will ask: Should I sue the hotel for my unpaid commissions? My answer is to discuss the costs and other implications with your attorney.  Generally, the amounts in dispute, the problems of proof, and the unavoidable time and distraction argue against such drastic steps, but there may be rare cases where litigation is justified. Remember, the race doesn’t always go to the fastest. It goes to the relentless.

Final point: if you belong to a consortium or are associated with a host agency and are selling preferred suppliers, you may be able to get help. These issues probably won’t arise much in that context, but sometimes individual properties can go rogue and your affiliation may be helpful in those cases.

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Marriott commission policy.

Marriott International serves as a central processor and facilitator of consolidated commission payments for more than 8,500 hotels globally, providing you with one weekly payment and statement in your choice of more than 35 currencies. Marriott centrally processes, on behalf of participating Marriott-branded hotels, commissions owed to travel agencies that have an active and valid accreditation/membership with at least one of the following: ARC, IATA, IATAN, TIDS, or CLIA 1 . Marriott will process commissions for consumed reservations booked at commissionable rates, provided that the industry accreditation/membership number is present at the time of booking. All published rates and packages available to the general public with no qualification required are commissionable. Reservations must be booked via the  GDS ,  Marriott.com ,  travelagents.marriott.com , or via  telephone .

Onyx CenterSource Members:  Marriott honors your choice to be an Onyx Member and will forward your commission payment information to Onyx for processing on your consolidated Onyx payment and statement. 

Marriott reserves the right to change our commission policy at any time.

1 US/Canada only. Your MyCLIA profile must include your Employer Identification Number (EIN).

Marriott Preferred Travel Agency Program

Marriott’s Preferred Travel Agency (PTA) program was created to recognize and support travel agencies that demonstrate a commitment to selling Marriott-branded hotels and engagement with Marriott’s Hotel Excellence! training program, which enables travel advisors to more confidently, efficiently, and therefore, more profitably, sell Marriott’s vast portfolio of brands.

Travel Agencies meeting the Preferred Travel Agency criteria at the time of guest stay will receive a 10% commission on all actualized transient reservations sold at a commissionable rate. Standard Travel Agencies, those agencies that have not met the criteria to be Preferred, will receive an 8% commission on all actualized transient reservations sold at a commissionable rate.

Brand-Specific Commission Policies

Residence Inn, TownePlace Suites & Element

For these extended stay brands, commission will be processed for each night booked at an eligible rate, up to the first 29 nights of a guest’s stay.

Marriott Executive Apartments

For this extended stay housing brand, commission will be processed for each night booked at an eligible rate, up to the first 14 nights of a guest’s stay.

All-Inclusive by Marriott Bonvoy hotels branded as Blue Diamond Resorts Autograph Collection and Tribute properties

Commissions for these hotels will be processed by the individual hotel. Commission inquiries should be directed to [email protected]

Commission Inquiries

Travel agencies can research commissions and submit inquiries directly through the Commission Portal . Inquiries of more than 50 stays should be consolidated into a single request through the Inquiry File Submission feature on the Commission Portal. You will be notified via email when your inquiry is resolved, and you can view the results on your My Inquiries page after logging in to the Commission Portal .

Marriott will only accept inquiries for missing commissions between 45 days and 12 months after guest departure . Onyx CenterSource Members must submit inquiries directly to Onyx CenterSource .

As noted above,  commission inquiries for All-Inclusive by Marriott Bonvoy hotels   branded as Blue Diamond Resorts Autograph Collection and Tribute properties should be directed to  [email protected] .

Economic and Trade Sanctions

Travel agencies shall make reasonable efforts not to arrange for any Restricted Persons (defined below) to book events, stay at or visit Marriott properties, or tour any Marriott properties. It is Marriott’s policy to comply with applicable economic and trade sanctions laws, including those promulgated by the U.S. Department of Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (“OFAC”). These laws prohibit Marriott from (1) providing certain travel related services to any person identified on the OFAC List of Specially Designated Nationals and Blocked Persons or otherwise identified by government or legal authority as a person with whom Marriott or its affiliates are prohibited from transacting business (“Restricted Persons”); and (2) providing commission payments to any travel agency or entity that is ineligible under OFAC sanctions from receiving a travel related commission (“Prohibited Commission”). Marriott will not pay any commissions where there is a known violation of laws involving or related to a Restricted Person or Prohibited Commission.

Centralized Commission Processing (“CCP”): Quick Reference for US Travel Agents (updated August 2022)

This overview provides essential information for Hilton’s travel agents so that they can maximize their benefits from Hilton’s Centralized Commission Processing (“CCP”) and the Travel Agency Commission Settlement (“TACS”) system. This supplements the information posted on https://www.hilton.com/en/portal/travel-agents/ .

Introduction

With CCP, Hilton consolidates and pays individual commissions, also known as transient commissions, through TACS to give agents one payment, one statement and one contact for logging inquiries for all participating Hilton Worldwide hotels. CCP commissions exclude any commissions paid directly by hotels to agents. There are brand specific commission limit policies applicable to Home2 Suites, Homewood Suites and Embassy Suites. For these extended stay brands, commission will be paid for each night at an eligible rate, up to the first 29 consecutive nights of a guest’s stay. This applies to bookings made on or after September 1, 2017.

Note: Hilton and the hotels reserve the right not to pay commissions on bookings made through non accredited online travel agencies.

While Hilton facilitates the payment of travel agent commissions through a central payment system on behalf of hotels operating under the Hilton brands, Hilton is not a guarantor of payment. Hotels are solely responsible for all payments due.

The Commissions Process

Hotel Commission Processing. Hilton centrally calculates commissions and sends records to TACS for the weekly payment run based on the hotels’ daily checkout records.

TACS Services

TACS Payments and Reporting. All payments are accompanied by a paper or electronic statement that includes the property name, guest name, hotel PMS confirmation number, the arrival and departure date, the commissionable revenue, the gross commission amount and the commission paid. Commissions are processed on a weekly cycle, and the payment cycle takes approximately 10 days from the weekly cut-off, so depending on timing, payments should generally be received 2-3 weeks after checkout.

TACS Service Offering

Consolidated, weekly payments for all participating Hilton Worldwide hotels

Consolidation of multiple locations’ payments as selected by the agent

Payment in the agent’s preferred currency and preferred method, including ACH, wire and cheque

Real-time, online ability to check commission status and payment detail

Online ability to open inquiries and check status

Automatic return of inquiry closure responses to agents

Electronic statements of commissionable and non-commissionable bookings

Online reporting and ad hoc report capability

Live travel agent help desk, plus automated 24-hour help desk

No tiered membership structure and no contractual obligation

Recommendations for Agents

Register with an Industry Association. Hilton only pays bona fide agencies that are registered with an accredited organization such as IATA, ARC, TSI, CLIA, SATO, TRUE, and TIDS. Agents must quote their membership number when booking.

Register Payment, Reporting and User Preferences with TACS. Agents should go to http://ce.tacsnet.com to register for electronic payments and statements, and select preferences, including payment method (wire, bank transfer, ACH or cheque), currency, frequency and consolidated payments for multiple branches. Agents must ‘register’ in order to have TACS verify their identity in order to provide access to their payment records online. Agents should also provide TACS with details of users who should have access to researching and opening inquiries for various IATA/ARC numbers. There is no registration fee.

Do Not “Deduct Commissions at Source”. Hilton does not support this for individual guest stays due to potential duplication of payments through standard commission channels. Direct-billed companies should pay in full , and the hotel should pay the commission through CCP. Exceptions require explicit hotel agreement, subject to a strict internal approval process.

Reconcile Payments and Reporting Records with Booking Files. TACS provides agents with a detailed file of all transactions processed by Hilton and other participating chains, including non commissionable records, no-shows and cancellations. Agents should reconcile this against their booking files. All Hilton commissions are subject to a 3% processing fee for all Hilton hotels and for all agents worldwide.

Research Payments on TACSnet. After reconciling the TACS reports with their booking files, agents should research unreconciled transactions or missing payments on TACSnet.

Log Inquiries with TACS. Agents must log inquiries with TACS, not directly with the hotels, within 365 days of checkout and in batches of 25 or fewer. Agents must provide their agency ID and the guest stay details, including the hotel name. Inquiries can be loaded directly through http://ce.tacsnet.com , emailed to [email protected] or raised by telephone at +1- 703-480-6916. Inquiries outside this period must be addressed directly with the relevant hotels. TACS will research inquiries against Hilton’s checkout and payment records, and forward unresolved inquiries to hotels for investigation.

Identify Disputed Commissions Separately from Standard Inquiries. Agents may raise disputes where they have evidence that contradicts Hilton’s reported payment amount, number of rooms, room nights, commissionable status, no-shows or cancellations. Agents must advise TACS they are raising a dispute , not an inquiry. Failure to do so may result in the disputed record simply being closed as previously reported.

Advise TACS of Agency Address Changes. Provide full detail to: [email protected] .

TACS Contacts

www: http://ce.tacsnet.com (online auto help desk)

e-mail: [email protected]

Tel: +1-703-480-691

Expedia TAAP is the leading booking platform for travel agencies. Join thousands of your fellow travel agents worldwide to earn commissions, create memorable trips for travelers and grow your business.

Welcome to expedia taap, boost your travel business with expedia taap.

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A man sits in a hammock looking out at Concepción volcano in Nicaragua.

Should I Use a Travel Agent? Our Travel Expert Says It Makes All the Difference.

The new age of travel agents know how to find deals, book off-the-beaten path adventures, and get you out of any jam. Especially if you know who to use.

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I’ve always thought that planning my own trips was the most cost-effective way, but I’ve been hearing more about travel agents making a comeback and saving their clients a lot of money. What kinds of outdoor trips should I turn to a travel agent for, and are there any who specialize in working with adventurers like me?

Technically, I’m a professional traveler. As a journalist, it’s my job to research and connect with locals to get beneath the surface of a destination. So I have never really used travel agents. What could they plan better than I could?

A lot, it turns out. Over the years, I’ve gotten to know many travel specialists, and I consider them magicians. My big aha moment happened two winters ago on a trip to Iceland . A massive storm shut down internal flights for a day, causing me to miss my return flight to the U.S. Normally, I would have spent frustrating hours on hold with the airline. But because I’d paid $65 to have Ana Gloria Garcia, an air-support specialist at the travel agency EmbarkBeyond, find and book the most affordable and convenient flight option for me, she handled the rebookings while I soaked in the Blue Lagoon.

A woman soaks in Iceland’s Blue Lagoon.

During the pandemic, agents became advocates helping travelers get refunds on canceled flights and trips. As travel has come roaring back, an agent’s superpower is now their access to the best hotel rooms, most in-the-know guides, free amenities, and more, says Cory Hagopian, senior vice president of sales and partnerships for Virtuoso , a global network of travel agencies.

And they’re attracting a young clientele. According to a recent industry survey , 38 percent of millennials and Gen Zers are opting to use travel agents as opposed to booking on their own trips. That number is far greater than Gen Xers and baby boomers, of whom only 12 and 2 percent respectively use agents.

What Do I Gain from Using a Travel Agent?

I recently had a friend tell me she spent close to 40 hours researching a family trip online. She probably could have gleaned the same intel from an hourlong conversation with a travel adviser. Knowledge is priceless, and advisers act as your insiders. They know what you don’t and fill in the blanks for things you might not have considered, says Erika Richter, a spokesperson for the American Society of Travel Advisors (ASTA). Their firsthand knowledge, vast network, and on-the-ground connections all combine to provide a unique perspective for crafting the perfect itinerary for you.

Kayak, paddle, raft—a river trip down Costa Rica’s Pacuare is good fun. And Danielle Meyer of Coastline Travel likes to book clients in the riverfront, all-inclusive, 20-suite Pacuare Lodge. “The way to get to the property is by whitewater rafting, so you truly begin with adventure!”

Most travel advisers specialize in certain regions and countries and travel to them frequently, so they have up-to-date intel on not only the best safari camps but the perfect tent to book for the most incredible views and the best local restaurants you won’t find on Tripadvisor. They want their client’s trips to go well to keep them coming back, so it’s in their interest to have sussed out hotels and itineraries before they send you out into the world.

Nicole Forster, 29, considers herself a savvy traveler. She’s been to 20-plus countries and enjoys destination research. But when it came to planning her honeymoon in Africa, she felt overwhelmed, so she reached out to Danielle Meyer at Coastline Travel Advisors , which specializes in bespoke itineraries. “Originally, I wanted to go to South Africa, Victoria Falls, and Madagascar,” Forster recalls. “Danielle convinced me that if we wanted to relax, we should stay in South Africa and save the other countries for separate trips.”

Over five phone conversations and multiple emails, they crafted a 15-night itinerary that included Cape Town, the winelands, the Cape Peninsula, and a safari at the Thornybush Game Reserve. Forster established her budget early in the process, and Meyer sent her a variety of lodge options to choose from.

“I initially wanted to start with the safari, but she pointed out that we’d be jet-lagged and would need to wake at sunrise for game drives,” says Forster. “The safari was our highlight, so it was a perfect way to end the trip.”

A man sitting in an open-air vehicle while on safari in South Africa smiles at the camera while an elephant is just over his shoulder, approaching.

Not only did Meyer book all of the flights, hotels, and transfers, but she created a detailed, day-by-day trip app for the couple that included useful information like check-in times at hotels and how much to tip guides .

Agents also act as advocates. If something goes wrong during your travels, they’re on call 24/7 to handle it. When Forster left the battery and charger for her camera at a hotel, Meyer arranged for an on-the-ground contact to go to a camera store and buy new ones that would be delivered to her hotel the next day.

The cost for the honeymoon planning: $150 per person. “I wouldn’t use a planner for a trip to Hawaii ,” Forster says, “but if I ever took a big trip like this again, I’d 100 percent work with an expert.”  

When to Consider Using a Travel Agent

For savvy trip planners, the best time to use a travel agent is for complicated international travel. It can save you hours of planning and peace of mind that if anything goes wrong in your chosen far-flung destination, there’s someone a What’sApp message away to handle it.

Domestically, I’d consider using a travel agent when planning a multi-week national park trip or multi-island trip in Hawaii. They will save you time, guarantee you get the best guides, and help you land reservations at always-booked lodges and hotels.

Dream Trips Delivered

Jessica Cook and her husband both work in the travel industry. Decision fatigued, they handed their honeymoon logistics over to the team at Askari Travel , an agency that specializes in South Africa. Their original plan was also an African safari, but just as they were about to put a deposit down, the Omicron variant of the coronavirus made headlines. Worried about getting stuck abroad, they reached out to Askari’s founder, Muriel Truter, who is from Zimbabwe, and upon her advice, changed their focus to South America.

Knowledge is priceless, and advisers act as your insiders. They know what you don’t and fill in the blanks of things you might not even have considered.

Truter suggested they stick to Colombia rather than country-hop. Cook supplied a budget and a wish list: 12 days, no more than three destinations, a barefoot-luxe feel, and adventures like horseback riding and mountain biking. The rest was a surprise that Askari pretty much nailed, with the exception of one hotel.

“Everything felt so authentic, but this one hotel on Barú island felt really fabricated and was full of American tourists,” recalls Cook. She immediately messaged the Askari team, saying, “Hey, this place really isn’t our vibe,” and within an hour they were on a water taxi headed to Blue Apple, a B Corp hotel—and an Outside pick for tropical adventures —on Tierra Bomba island. “It was honestly the best trip we’ve ever taken,” she says.

Tierra Bomba, a 15-minute boat ride from the Colombian capital of Cartagena, is an affordable Caribbean destination with a relaxed pace and soft white sands.

Are Travel Agents Expensive?

It depends. Cost varies. Some travel agencies won’t charge any fee, as they receive a commission from the bookings, while some high-end agencies will charge pricey annual membership fees for their services. Still others charge nominal “professional” fees starting at $150. Fees often fluctuate based on the length and intricacy of a trip and how far out you do the planning (6 to 12 months is recommended). You may occasionally come across agents who charge a percentage of the total trip price or hourly rates.

Basic travel enquiries are generally free. In 2016, Leah Smith, founder of Tafari Travel , opened an old-school brick-and-mortar location in Denver’s Cherry Creek neighborhood so her services would feel less intimidating to first-time users. “With our retail-office location, we’ve become part of the community, and both clients and non-clients are welcome to pop in and ask whatever questions they may have, no charge,” she says.

Matt Lindsay, founder of the surf-guiding and travel company LuxSurf Travel , builds relationships with resorts and property owners to get discounted rates that he can then pass on to guests.

Matt Lindsey of LuxeSurfTravel can arrange a surf safari on a 165-foot boat, complete with dive masters. surf guides, and a spa. Guests spend a week cruising around atolls in the Maldives seeking out perfect swell and swimming with whale sharks and manta rays.

Dominic Allan, the founder of Real Latin America , specializes in travel to Belize and Nicaragua and caters to independent travelers who are happy to book their own flights and hotels but are seeking his local intel. Allan’s three-tier pricing structure starts at $300 for up to three hours of phone calls, during which he might weigh in on where to eat (or not to), the best room to request in a certain lodge, or whether you really need a guide to hike.

”Totoro Eco-Lodge, in Nicaragua, has always been one of our favorites,” says Dominic Allen of Real Latin America. In addition to its laid-back vibe, it’s spectacuarly placed on Ometepe Island, with views out to the active Conception volcano. Allen recommends volcano hikes, rainforest excursions, tours of a chocolate farm, and sunset paddles in search of caiman.

Value Versus Savings

If you’re just looking for deals and steals, you might not be ready to work with a travel adviser, says Richter of the ASTA. “Anything you invest in with a travel adviser comes back to you in the form of amenities, customer service, peace of mind, better access to unique experiences, and handcrafted itineraries,” she says. “You could save money by cutting your own hair, too, but most people go to someone who knows what they’re doing.”

Agents work with preferred partners who can guarantee perks for clients, such as free upgrades, early check-in or late check-out, and resort credits. Those add-ons often translate into savings, says Justin Huxter, cofounder of the UK-based Cartology Travel . “We had a client go to Maui for a week, and because of our partnership with the resort, breakfast was included,” he says. When breakfast costs $120 for two, that’s a savings of $840.”

A meerkat sits atop a man wearing a ball cap and scans the horizon of Botswana’s Makgadikgadi Pans.

Some of the Best Travel Agents in the Adventure World

Some of my go-to resources for finding a person to work with include travel expert Wendy Perrin’s annual Wow List of tried and trusted agents, the Adventure Travel Trade Association’s adviser network , and the ASTA’s advisor directory .

In addition to the agents mentioned throughout this story, others I highly recommend for adventurous travelers include:

  • Dan Achber of Trufflepig , for Africa and the Middle East
  • Miguel Cunant of Sri Lanka in Style
  • Javier Echecopar of Journey Costa Rica
  • Daniel Fraser of Smiling Albino , for Southeast Asia
  • Elizabeth Gordon of Extraordinary Journeys , for Africa
  • Kleon Howe of the Art of Travel , for French Polynesia
  • Jay Johnson of Coastline Travel , for Hawaii and California
  • Antonello Losito of Southern Visions Travel , for Puglia, Italy
  • Rabia Malik of Fora Travel , for general worldwide travel
  • Robyn Mark of Mayamaya Travel , for Africa, the Alps, Patagonia, and Japan
  • Marisol Mosquera of Aracari , for Peru and Bolivia
  • Zach Rabinor of Journey Mexico
  • Raluca Spiac of Beyond Dracula , for Romania

The author immersed in the hot waters of Iceland’s Blue Lagoon, with mud on her face. It beats being on the phone trying to reschedule a flight cancellation.

Travel-advice columnist Jen Murphy is now a believer in using a travel agent. Thanks to their expertise and connections, she’s avoided dozens of trip catastrophes. 

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As a travel advisor, enjoy special rates, personalized service, and more when you choose Hyatt.

We understand how important demonstrating care for your clients is to your business. Every day, with every interaction, Hyatt teams go above and beyond so you can deliver the best experiences imaginable.

  • Enjoy special rates just for you , including up to 50% off the daily rate for eligible stays. Click here to book travel for yourself .
  • Mention our perks , like free Wi-Fi in Hyatt hotels and resorts worldwide, and free breakfast at participating Hyatt Place and Hyatt House hotels.
  • Partner with our dedicated teams —together, we'll help deliver to your clients personalized service that goes above and beyond.
  • Work with an on-site planner to host industry groups with the Entertainment Set—a customizable package with special offerings including VIP treatment and multi-tour booking benefits.
  • Earn 10% commission  on eligible rates (use chain code HY in the GDS).
  • Discover our World of Hyatt loyalty program —book commissionable rates for your clients while they earn points toward free nights, airline miles, and more.

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Select Dates and Guests

Hyatt’s Commission Statement Hyatt hotels and resorts will pay 10% commission to approved travel agencies for all Eligible Rates worldwide. “ Eligible Rates ” means certain rate plans communicated to Travel Advisor as commissionable.  The Eligible Rate applies to the portion of the room rate paid by the guest. Commission does not apply to incidentals, taxes, mandatory fees, e.g. resort fees or gratuities. Special discounted rates for travel advisors are non-commissionable.

Commissions for stays at Hyatt’s hotels and resorts will be paid for each night stayed at an Eligible Rate, up to the first 29 consecutive nights of a guest’s stay. Back-to-back stays within a 24-hour period at a single Hyatt hotel are considered one stay.  Unless otherwise agreed, Commission is not paid on convention bookings, government rates that are net/non-commissionable, any internet-only (not including Hyatt.com) rate programs, Hyatt gift cards and rates booked through online travel agencies.

Please contact Onyx customer service for additional commission payment information, including the dates commission checks were issued, client changes which affect commission payments and questions regarding no-shows.

All commission payment inquiries must be submitted within 9 months of the guest’s check-out.

Onyx Phone: 1.214.396.3280 Email:  [email protected]

Due to the law in Turkey, money cannot be sent without an invoice. Therefore, travel agents must apply for their commission. Travel agents must send an invoice dated on the day of the check out and addressed on the invoice as:

This is for invoice only: 

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October 28, 2015

3 minute read

What is My Commission as an InteleTravel Advisor and When Am I Paid?

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Now that you know how you earn commissions as an InteleTravel advisor , you’re probably wondering, "What is my commission* as an InteleTravel advisor and when am I paid?"

What is my commission as an InteleTravel advisor?

When you first become an independent travel advisor with InteleTravel, you receive 70% of the travel you sell—hotels, car rentals, cruises, tours and vacation packages. And this doesn’t change, no matter who you are booking the trip for. It can be for a family member, friend, colleague or any other client. You won’t receive less commission if you book your own trip rather than someone else’s.

Supplier commissions range anywhere from 14% to 28%. This is important to keep in mind because you start off earning 70% of those supplier commissions, so there is a little math involved.

For example:

Your parents book a vacation package so the entire family can go away together. This costs them $5,000. Let’s say in this particular instance that the supplier commission is 16%. That equals $800, which means you receive 70% of that amount. In the end, you would make $560.

$5,000 x .16 = $800

$800 x .70 = $560.

And after you starting selling more travel, you have the potential to earn up to 80% of supplier commissions.

And when am I paid?

InteleTravel cannot pay you until they receive payment from the travel supplier. This usually occurs within 30 to 60 days after the trip has taken place—not immediately after the trip is booked.

Once InteleTravel receives payment, your commission check will be mailed to you by the 15th of the following month.

To put it simply: If InteleTravel receives payment on March 19th, they will send you your commission check by April 15th.

*Commissions are not calculated on taxes and other fees, and may be subject to industry standard adjustment by credit card processors and for technology or transaction costs. Commissions shown are examples and not a guarantee of income.    Travel rates are subject to error, omission and change based on travel dates, availability and other industry factors.

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Do I still need a travel agent?

I f you’ve planned a vacation before, you know firsthand how stressful the planning process can be. Between booking hotels, flights and excursions, planning a vacation can feel like a full-time job. American travelers spent an average of 8 hours and 44 minutes reviewing travel content and resources ahead of their trips and read up to a whopping 277 pages of information on average, according to a 2023 survey from Expedia Group and Luth Research .

The time commitment behind planning a vacation could be one of the factors driving the 14 percent year-over-year increase in travelers who are likely to use a travel advisor, as reported by the American Society of Travel Advisors (ASTA) . Working with a travel agent could save you time and money when planning a complex vacation, but alternatives like online travel agencies, and credit card concierge services could be more affordable. So which option is better — doing your own legwork and booking trips online or hiring a travel agent?

What travel agents do

Travel agents help plan and book travel for vacations, special events or group trips, but their jobs have evolved over the years, particularly in the post-pandemic world.

“In the past, travel agents were very transactional — able to book your flights, hotels, and tours. While that is still a service we provide, in a post-pandemic world, travelers are looking for more,” says Annie Jones, travel advisor and owner of Telos Travel , “They want to think less, have options personalized to their interests, and experience destinations in a more authentic way.”

These days, travel agents advise on multiple aspects of a trip to create a bespoke travel experience. Their role can include:

  • Regional tours and experiences
  • Cultural etiquette
  • Developing a custom itinerary
  • Finding exclusive deals, amenities and offerings
  • Handling emergencies and changes
  • Organizing travel insurance
  • Booking transportation (airfare and ground transportation)
  • Making restaurant reservations
  • Booking hotels, cruises and excursions
  • Arranging necessary travel documents and visas

To reflect the expansions on a travel agent’s role, the American Society of Travel Advisors officially transitioned the title to “travel advisor” in 2018. Some of the best travel advisors even earn certifications and attend trainings to continue their education and stay on top of industry changes.

Do you have to pay a travel agent?

The cost of using a travel agent varies wildly, since there are different types of travel agents and travel advisors. In the past, many travel agents’ services were free, as they earned a commission off the trips they booked paid out by the airlines and hotels. Some still are.

However, after the pandemic, when many businesses in the travel industry struggled to recover (along with the changing landscape of travel agents in general) kickbacks from these vendors became less common. According to a survey by Travel Weekly , 71 percent of travel agencies in 2023 charged some form of service fee for working with them. These days, there are three main ways travel agents get paid:

  • Flat rate fee
  • Hourly rate

Travel agents may charge a percentage ranging from five percent to 15 percent of the trip’s cost. Others may charge a flat rate, anywhere from $100-$500 on average. Some advisors charge an hourly rate to research, plan or arrange your trip. Agents may also ask for a deposit that’s returned once you take your trip or goes towards the total cost.

Although hiring a travel advisor might seem expensive, it could potentially save you money. Paying a travel agent $200 to save you $400 on airfare or obtain a cruise upgrade worth $600 means you’re still coming out on top.

“I think one of the biggest misconceptions out there is that it’s more expensive to book through a travel advisor,” Jones shares. “While most advisors do charge professional service fees, just like you would to a financial planner or lawyer, the actual cost of your trip is no different than if you were to book it on your own.”

To better understand the cost of working with a travel agent, ask about their fee structure to determine if their price feels fair for your budget.

Are travel agents influenced by commissions?

That depends on how your travel agent gets paid. Even though it’s declined in recent years, many travel agents still collect at least part of their earnings from commissions paid by hotels and other travel products.

When there’s a commision tied to each travel booking, travel agents benefit monetarily from what you buy which makes it hard to be unbiased. As such, those commissions will likely influence which vacation packages and options you’re provided. However, that’s not to say that there aren’t travel agents who put your preferences and must-sees at the forefront of their planning process.

Money tip: You may find less of a hard sell on certain travel packages if your travel agent charges a flat fee or a percentage of your total trip. But this could mean a higher out-of-pocket cost. Consider their fee structure and how your agent approaches travel planning as you decide who to work with.

Can a credit card concierge replace a travel agent?

The short answer is… sort of. Many of the best travel credit cards offer concierge services that help cardholders organize travel, accommodations and tours, and they even help when emergencies or travel problems arise. But not to the extent a travel agent might go to.

“Many of my clients are surprised I offer 24/7 support while they are traveling,” says Jones. “If they face an unexpected challenge, I’m there to help resolve the problem or answer their question so they can just focus on enjoying their vacation.”

Complimentary concierge services can take the place of a travel agent on some aspects of your trip. While concierges can help you cross small items off your to-do list, they typically won’t plan a full trip itinerary for you.

  • For example, The Platinum Card® from American Express offers Platinum Card Concierge , through which their agents help you purchase event tickets, make dining or spa reservations and handle general travel inquiries.
  • Cardholders of the Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card now have free access to PRIOR , a program providing insider destination advice and curated experiences.
  • Those with Chase Sapphire Reserve® can use the Visa Infinite Concierge, which can help reserve sports events, dining or even Broadway tickets.

In some cases, concierge benefits seem vague, so it’s worth calling or emailing to ask if they can help with your specific issue or need. However, in most circumstances, they probably won’t be able to plan and book an entire curated vacation for you.

If you’re booking travel on your own and simply want to lighten the load, then concierge services might be the way to go. However, if you want a fully customized itinerary without the legwork and within budget then a travel agent is your best bet.

Should you use a travel agent?

The decision to use a travel agent depends on a few factors and is closely intertwined with your preferences, budget and type of trip.

Travel advisors are particularly helpful when planning complex travel. Their connections and expertise come in handy for corporate, group, luxury or special-occasion travel, which could make it worth their fee. Advisors are also helpful when you’re not experienced with vacation planning or have time commitments preventing you from planning. In those cases, having a travel advisor could be a win.

Ask yourself a few questions to determine if it’s the right choice for you.

  • Does this trip require a lot of planning (i.e. corporate, group, anniversary or highly-specific travel)?
  • Are you looking for unique experiences, tours or upgrades?
  • Are you experienced in booking your own travel or designing your own vacation itinerary?
  • Do you have the time to dedicate to travel planning?
  • Are you visiting a location and culture you feel comfortable navigating on your own?

For less complex travel where you’re on a tight budget, you might consider using resources already at your disposal like the credit card concierge service on an existing credit card or booking through an online travel agency (OTA) like Expedia or Kayak.

Travel advisors offer their experience, expertise and connections to take the stress out of planning a vacation. When you want to spend less time planning, get access to exclusive experiences, or need someone to create a vacation you couldn’t imagine planning on your own, a travel agent could save the day.

Pros of using a travel agent

Still not sure whether a travel agent would be worth the cost? Some additional advantages of using a travel agent as opposed to planning your trip yourself include:

  • Saving money . According to a survey by Condor Ferries, travel agencies can save customers an average of $452 per trip through promotions and deals from suppliers that average travelers don’t have access to.
  • Expert planning on important trips. Whether it’s corporate travel, a honeymoon or a 50th anniversary trip, you’ll want it to be impeccably planned.
  • Help with trip disruptions. Many travel agents offer 24/7 support before, during and after your trip to help with any challenges or changes that arise.
  • Upgrades, benefits and extras . Travel agents have connections the general public doesn’t. Their connections and partnerships may get you hotel upgrades, VIP treatment, connecting rooms, free breakfast or other perks.
  • Curated experiences . A destination expert might find you experiences you never have discovered on your own, like an insider, after-hours visit to Cambodian ruins or a vintage car rental in Italy.
  • Extensive vacations . You need expert destination knowledge to plan a cruise to Antarctica, a hiking trip to Bhutan or a two-month-long Galapagos expedition. If you want all the bells and whistles and money is no object, a travel agent may be able to get you into the most coveted hotels, tours and spots.
  • You’re a beginner or don’t have time . Beginners planning a DIY vacation can easily get overwhelmed. The time it takes to plan a trip can also take time away from your other responsibilities. Travel agents make the process easy.

Using a travel agent doesn’t mean you’ll get a vacation that’s just like everyone else’s. Travel agents use the details of your personal preferences, budget and needs to customize your experience. Some of them even specialize in particular destinations or have relationships with hotels and tour guides which could help you get room upgrades, better rates or VIP experiences.

“These relationships not only allow for special treatment, but upgrades are nice, right? After all, you can’t VIP yourself! In addition to perks, these relationships also allow us to have high-level contacts in the event something should go wrong or a client needs assistance… These are things you are not going to get if you DIY.” — Mandy Pullin Luxury travel advisor of six years with DPP Travel

Some travel advisors have even developed specific travel niches.

“I’m seeing advisors specialize more than they did in the past,” explains Adeline Kuroki, a travel advisor and owner of Savor & Soak Travel Co. “I think this is great for travelers… For example, some advisors will specialize in luxury travel, and make it their mission to visit and understand the pros and cons of luxury resorts all over the world.”

When you have an advisor who’s an expert on one location, you get more curated experiences too. Kuroki specializes in travel to Japan and helps clients navigate the complexities of booking in such a popular destination.

“I can quickly tell them which experiences need to be booked well in advance to avoid missing out, and which can be decided on closer to their travel dates. And as Japan becomes an increasingly popular tourist destination, I’m able to recommend and book more off-the-beaten-path locations that offer a lot of the same sights and experiences as more well-known places.”.

So even with developments in online bookings and credit card concierge services, travel advisors are irreplaceable when it comes to designing a personalized itinerary in a destination with which you’re unfamiliar.

Cons of using a travel agent

While there are many benefits to using a travel agent, there are also disadvantages to consider. Some of those include:

  • Not redeeming points or miles. If you have credit card points or airline miles to cash in, a travel agent might not be the best fit since they typically can’t help you redeem them for the trips they plan. However, niche advisors can best advise you on booking using your points and miles or use your stash to book for you.
  • Less flexibility to make updates. Once your travel agent locks in reservations, it can be difficult to change things since you may have put down a deposit.
  • Added layer of communication. For your travel agent to plan a vacation you’ll enjoy, you have to clue them in on your likes and dislikes, budget, preferences, needs and more. And when you need to make adjustments, you’ll have to go through them.
  • Missing out on planning your own trip. Planning your own trip is exciting for some folks. Plus, you can build the exact type of experience you want at a price point that’s comfortable for you.
  • Fees and price. Travel agents can save you money sometimes, but it comes at a cost that might not fit into your budget. Some agents charge high fees or percentages of the total vacation cost.
  • Finding the right agent. It can take time to find the right travel agent, advisor or expert. If it takes too long, DIY travel might be more convenient.

Do you earn rewards on travel booked by an agent?

You might be hard-pressed to find a travel advisor where you earn rewards by booking through them as opposed to your credit card’s travel portal . However, it’s worth noting that the merchant code for travel agents is often “travel”, which means the travel agent fees you pay through a qualifying credit card could be eligible for bonus points if your card offers boosted rewards on the travel category.

Certain travel benefits still work for you even if a travel agent books your trip. For example, you’ll get lounge access if your credit card offers it regardless of who booked your airfare, which airline or class you’re flying. As long as you use the appropriate card to pay for the trip, it shouldn’t matter if you or the travel agent physically made the purchase.

You might also earn frequent flyer miles through an airline’s loyalty program if your travel agent can include your frequent flyer number on your reservation. You’ll also still have your airline elite status recognized if a travel agent booked your airfare for you, but you may or may not get hotel loyalty brand points. The same goes for recognition of your hotel elite status . It’s best to discuss this directly with your agent or call the hotel to confirm, as each case may be different.

Keep in mind: American Airlines announced in February 2024 it plans to limit which tickets purchased via third parties are eligible to earn AAdvantage frequent flyer miles. The details were still vague at the time of publishing, but it could mean that your ticket purchased by a travel agent would still earn miles – assuming they purchase through a qualifying site or directly on American's site – but if you go the DIY route for your trip and purchase online through a third-party site, you may not earn miles at all.

The bottom line

Choosing to use a travel agent or book vacations online ultimately depends on your personal preferences, budget and the type of trip you’re planning. Opting for online booking might be quicker and more cost-effective, but the personal touch and stress-free approach provided by a travel agent can’t be overlooked.

The days where travel agents just booked your flight and hotel are long gone. Today, they offer bespoke itineraries tailored to your interests and budget while specializing in certain destinations or forms of travel. Taking the time to find and build a relationship with a reliable travel agent could save you money on your next trip even if there’s a fee involved. But it’s still important to weigh the pros and cons to know if hiring a travel agent is right for you.

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travel agent commission on hotel bookings

Which purchases count as travel with Chase Sapphire Preferred and Chase Sapphire Reserve?

Benét J. Wilson

Editor's Note

Thanks to its plethora of premium travel perks, the Chase Sapphire Reserve® is well-known in the travel credit card space. The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card is the Sapphire Reserve's mid-tier sibling that features a $95 annual fee — which is also the more affordable card considering the Reserve's annual fee is $550 — and remains a top pick, winning Best Travel Rewards Credit Card for the sixth straight year at the 2023 TPG Awards .

No matter which Sapphire card you have, Chase clearly defines what counts as travel. Both cards generously award for travel booked through Chase Travel℠ and all other travel purchases.

We'll go over the purchases that count (and don't count) toward earning bonus points in this guide.

How many points do the Chase Sapphire Reserve and Preferred cards earn on travel?

The Chase Sapphire Reserve awards 10 points per dollar on hotels and car rentals booked through Chase Travel and 5 points per dollar on flights booked through Chase Travel.

But suppose you're looking to book directly with the airline, hotel or another company or get awarded for other travel purchases like taxi rides and parking fees. In that case, you'll still earn 3 points per dollar on these purchases.

travel agent commission on hotel bookings

The Sapphire Preferred earns 5 points per dollar on all travel purchases booked through Chase Travel and 2 points per dollar on other travel purchases.

You'll also earn a boosted rate of 10 and 5 points per dollar spent on Lyft rides on the Reserve and Preferred, respectively (through March 2025).

'Travel,' according to Chase

The Chase Travel portal allows you to book various types of travel. For "all other travel purchases," here's how Chase defines it:

Merchants in the travel category include airlines, hotels, motels, timeshares, car rental agencies, cruise lines, travel agencies, discount travel sites, campgrounds and operators of passenger trains, buses, taxis, limousines, ferries, toll bridges and highways, and parking lots and garages.

Compared to bonus categories from other credit cards, Chase's travel category is extremely generous.

While cards such as the American Express® Gold Card and The Platinum Card® from American Express offer bonus points for airfare purchases made directly with the airline (with a spending cap of $500,000 on the Amex Platinum per calendar year, then 1 point per dollar), the Sapphire Preferred and Sapphire Reserve cards let you earn a bonus on virtually every trip-related charge.

travel agent commission on hotel bookings

The travel category encompasses a wide variety of purchases, from hotels and airfare (which doesn't have to be booked directly with the airline) to cruises, tolls and even parking fees. Uber and Airbnb purchases count as travel as well.

The following purchases do not apply toward the 2 or 3-points-per-dollar bonus categories on these cards, but most of them shouldn't be a huge surprise or disappointment:

Merchants in this category include airlines, hotels, motels, timeshares, car rental agencies, cruise lines, travel agencies, discount travel sites, campgrounds and operators of passenger trains, buses, taxis, limousines, ferries, toll bridges and highways, and parking lots and garages. Some merchants that provide transportation and travel-related services are not included in this category; for example, real estate agents, educational merchants arranging travel, in-flight goods and services, on-board cruise line goods and services, sightseeing activities, excursions, tourist attractions, RV and boat rentals, merchants within hotels and airports, public campgrounds and merchants that rent vehicles for the purpose of hauling. Purchases from gift card merchants or merchants that sell points or miles will not qualify in the travel category.

A few notable travel-related charges that have not been posted as travel for the purposes of bonus points with Chase for TPG staffers in the recent past include an RV rental as well as some vacation rentals via Vrbo and similar services. Whether a vacation home rental automatically codes as travel depends on whether an individual or a conglomerate operates it. In the latter case, that charge may code as "professional services" instead of travel.

If you're ever unsure whether a given purchase counts as travel, it could be worth making a small charge and checking whether it earns any bonus points on your online Chase account.

Additionally, suppose you feel like a travel purchase should have earned bonus points but didn't. In that case, you can always try calling or secure messaging Chase and requesting consideration for that charge to be awarded points as a travel charge. Even if you don't get the outcome you're looking for, you'll at least get some clarity on how certain charges are coded and can plan future spending accordingly.

What does Chase typically count as travel purchases?

  • Campgrounds
  • Car rental agencies (excludes RV and boat rentals)
  • Cruise lines
  • Discount travel sites
  • Parking lots and garages
  • Passenger trains
  • Toll bridges and highways
  • Travel agencies
  • Vacation rentals (including some VRBO rentals operated by an individual )

What does Chase typically not count as travel purchases?

  • Educational merchants arranging travel
  • Gift card merchants
  • Inflight goods and services
  • Merchants that rent vehicles for the purpose of hauling
  • Merchants within hotels and airports
  • Onboard cruise line goods and services
  • Purchasing points or miles
  • Public campgrounds
  • Real estate agents
  • RV and boat rentals
  • Sightseeing activities
  • Tourist attractions
  • Vacation rentals ( some VRBO rentals operated by a conglomerate rather than an individual )

Bottom line

Cardholders of the Chase Sapphire Reserve and Chase Sapphire Preferred have plenty of opportunities to earn 3 or 2 points per dollar spent, respectively, on "other travel purchases." Based on TPG's valuations , that means you could be getting a return of up to 6.15% on these purchases, and you can put your points to use with Chase's airline and hotel partners .

On top of that, these Chase cards have some of the most generous travel and purchase protections on the market, making either card a valuable addition to your wallet.

Apply here: Chase Sapphire Reserve with a 75,000-point sign-up bonus after you spend $4,000 in the first three months of account opening. Apply here: Chase Sapphire Preferred with a 75,000-point sign-up bonus after you spend $4,000 in the first three months of account opening.

THE 10 BEST Hotels in Elektrostal 2024

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2. Apelsin Hotel

thomas M

3. MTM Hostel Elektrostal

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7. Hotel Djaz

8. park hotel bogorodsk.

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Search Elektrostal Pet Friendly Hotels

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Top 4 Pet Friendly Hotels near Elektrostal, Moscow Oblast, Russia

Country Hotel Aniva

Country Hotel Aniva

Village Zhilino-Gorki, 142402 Noginsk, Russia

Apelsin Hotel

Apelsin Hotel

Noginskoye Shosse 36B, 144008 Elektrostal, Russia

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Bogorodsk Ekotel

Bogorodsk Ekotel

Tihaya street 1A, 142400 Noginsk, Russia

Goosi-Lebedi Wellness Centre

Goosi-Lebedi Wellness Centre

Ulitsa Sanatornaya 7, 142403 Noginsk, Russia

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COMMENTS

  1. Explaining Travel Agent Commissions [Infographic + Charts]

    Here are a few types of vendors with a flat rate commission: → Hotel-only bookings and car rental companies: These types of bookings typically pay travel agents 10% commission and that's that. There are small variances but car and hotel-only bookings are probably the most predictable commission level in this whole mess.

  2. Travel Agent Commission: How Does it Work?

    Flat commission rates are set amounts that hotels and other suppliers pay travel agents for bookings. These rates are independent of the total cost the client is paying, so regardless of when the service is provided, the agent is earning the same amount. This essentially negates any potential boost to the commission if the client is staying ...

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    Non-Hilton Honors Bookings: Select Find a Stay. Hilton Honors Bookings: Call Hilton Honors reservations 1-800-446-6677. Must have the confirmation number, phone number on reservation, credit card type along with last four digits, email address and travel agency name. Additional resources:

  4. Complete Guide to Travel Agent Commissions

    Supplier: The vendor or business that provides travel services. Suppliers could be airlines, hotels, rental car companies, tour guides, cruise lines, etc. Host Agency: Many independent agents may prefer to work under the umbrella of a larger organization to earn higher commissions and benefit from better contracts, relations, and marketing assets. . These organizations are referred to as host ...

  5. How much commission do travel agents really make?

    Typical Commissions: The standard commission rate for hotel bookings falls in the range of 8% to 15% of the total room cost. This means that for every dollar the client spends on accommodation, a travel agent may earn anywhere from 8 to 15 cents as a commission. ... Travel agents' commissions reflect the effort and expertise they invest in ...

  6. Hotel Booking for Travel Agents

    Show your clients the world and reap the rewards of commissions and exclusive offers with Hilton. Check out our offers, rewards, and tools for travel agents.

  7. Hotel Bookings

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  8. Can Travel Agencies/Advisors Earn a Commission?

    Yes, travel agencies can earn Commission on Commissionable Rates when booking Reservations on the Marriott website and the IATA number is listed in the Reservation. To Make a Reservation with the IATA number and to determine if a rate is Commissionable or Non-Commissionable when booking via Marriott.com: Enter the search criteria on Marriott ...

  9. Travel Agent Commissions

    Typical Travel Agent Commissions. We cover this in more detail in our training, but commissions differ from vendor to vendor. The average commission you earn is called your "yield" - you want this to be above 10%, which is easy to do in this industry unless you're booking frequently with vendor that has an increidbly low commission payout.

  10. How Travel Advisors Can Secure Hotel Commissions

    The core principle is that an agent is entitled to the supplier's announced commission when she delivers a customer ready, willing and able to take up the supplier's offer as made. So, in its ...

  11. Marriott Commissions Policy

    Marriott Commission Policy. Marriott International serves as a central processor and facilitator of consolidated commission payments for more than 8,500 hotels globally, providing you with one weekly payment and statement in your choice of more than 35 currencies. Marriott centrally processes, on behalf of participating Marriott-branded hotels ...

  12. Travel Suppliers With the Best Commissions for Travel Advisors

    Collette. The tour operator offers up to 15% commission some advisors said, noting that they also pay upfront well too. "Collette Vacations pays $100 per person at time of booking and deposit and then remaining commissions when people travel," said Hansen. For the latest travel news, updates and deals, subscribe to the daily TravelPulse ...

  13. Centralized Commission Processing

    Note: Hilton and the hotels reserve the right not to pay commissions on bookings made through non accredited online travel agencies. While Hilton facilitates the payment of travel agent commissions through a central payment system on behalf of hotels operating under the Hilton brands, Hilton is not a guarantor of payment.

  14. Travel Agent Affiliate Program

    Earn commission on total booking value inclusive of taxes and fees. Exclusive rates for travel advisors Offer travelers package rates at 350,000+ properties with an average 20% off consumer rates.

  15. Travel Agent Information

    Simply enter your IATA number into the "Travel Agent Number" field on our web site's booking screen and you will receive commissions for each qualifying rate you book on omnihotels.com. If you have questions regarding commissions, please call 1-800 TA4-OMNNI or email [email protected]. If you are tracing a commission payment ...

  16. When to Use a Travel Agent

    As travel has come roaring back, an agent's superpower is now their access to the best hotel rooms, most in-the-know guides, free amenities, and more, says Cory Hagopian, senior vice president ...

  17. Hotel Booking for Travel Advisors

    Commission Help Desk. [email protected]. Hyatt Customer Service. (800) 634-3839. Travel Agent Support. (800) 634-3940. Meeting Connection. (800) 522 1100. We invite you to explore the brand bar below to learn about each of our brands.

  18. What is My Commission as an InteleTravel Advisor and When Am I Paid?

    Supplier commissions range anywhere from 14% to 28%. This is important to keep in mind because you start off earning 70% of those supplier commissions, so there is a little math involved. For example: Your parents book a vacation package so the entire family can go away together. This costs them $5,000.

  19. New solutions introduced to help travel agencies collect commissions

    Travel advisor Irving Betesh co-founded Sion in an attempt to solve what was a frustrating part of his business. The platform enables users to track and manage commissions, helping advisors ...

  20. PDF The Online Hotel Booking Market Federal Trade Commission Report to

    Commission submits this report in response to that Congressional direction. II. Background Information technology has transformed the way travelers search for and book travel, including hotel rooms. In the 1990s, travelers seeking a hotel room had limited information available with which to make their booking decisions. A consumer might consult ...

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    Fricke, who previously spoke to Explore about fake AI-generated travel guides, spoke exclusively to us again and shared some insight to consider when booking a hotel room and one of her best tips ...

  22. Do I still need a travel agent?

    I f you've planned a vacation before, you know firsthand how stressful the planning process can be. Between booking hotels, flights and excursions, planning a vacation can feel like a full-time ...

  23. Is Envoyage a host or consortium? Both

    ICs will see a commission split of 70% to 90% depending on annual production levels, while accredited agencies will receive 100% commission. ... the center is supporting hotel and air group ...

  24. Booking.com

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