Shout out to HAR first as they have been instrumental in me being educated about the industry from the start! I found Levarte from Host Week 2024 and immediately signed up for 1-year.
My Honest Review of Levarte Travel After a Year
Levarte Travel is an excellent host agency for new travel advisors looking for strong foundational training, access to respected suppliers, and a supportive community. From day one, I felt welcomed and valued, and I truly appreciated the training opportunities and the wealth of industry knowledge shared by the agency’s owner, Lori. She is highly respected in the travel industry, and I was proud to represent Levarte at events and conferences, where her name carried weight and brought credibility to my brand.
The supplier network is solid, and if a preferred supplier wasn’t initially available, there was a process to request additions. However, while "luxury" was frequently discussed, I didn't see it reflected in the overall agency structure. Attending their semi-annual Wave Camp reinforced this for me—while it was a well-organized event with engaging vendor presentations, I noticed that the primary supplier discussions centered around the Caribbean, which didn’t fully align with my long-term brand goals. I believe it is Lori’s intention to support a variety of travel niches, but the main focus leaned in a direction that wasn’t the best fit for me.
One major plus was their discounted rate on Travefy—it was the lowest I’ve seen in the industry. That kind of pricing says a lot about the relationships the owner holds, and I appreciated having access to such a valuable tool at a fraction of the cost.
Another area where I felt limited was the consortia. Compared to other consortia I've since researched, it seemed less involved and less beneficial to agents looking for a strong industry presence. I wanted to lean on the benefits of a consortia to gain leverage with my clients. They do have a lead program, but I found it clunky and difficult to use, as it often directed leads back to the host agency (if at all?) rather than the individual agent. Additionally, I struggled with the agent-branded sites—after multiple attempts to resolve issues in person and via email, I ultimately gave up on using it as a reliable tool for my business.
The CRM provided was also a challenge. While it did serve as a commission tracking tool (for agents, only the staff used Sion), it lacked effective client marketing automation, and the same 4 promotional offers remained unchanged for the entire year I was with them. While the system allowed for easy client quote requests, using it for more comprehensive business management was frustrating. Many of the agents use other tools but when you pay a monthly fee, starting out, you want to maximize what the agency provides. You are also unable to freely edit the "website" they provide. I did raise concerns, and while they were acknowledged, not all were resolved.
One of the agency’s strongest assets is its accessibility. There is a system in place where agents can ask questions and receive somewhat timely responses, whether from staff or fellow agents. This level of support was consistent throughout my time with Levarte, which was a major advantage as a new advisor.
However, one of my biggest disappointments came when I was preparing to transition to a new host agency. I had heard the owner state multiple times on Host Agency Reviews that agents are allowed to take their bookings with them when they leave. Unfortunately, that was not my experience. A personal booking I had brought to the agency before becoming an agent was denied transfer multiple times, which was disheartening.
Another aspect that ultimately turned me off was their recruitment incentive structure. Although they are far from an MLM, they offer a 5% override on sales from any agent you bring into the company. It was explained as a "thank you" for recruiting other advisors, but to me, it felt like something else entirely. I prefer a host agency model that focuses solely on supporting agents' businesses rather than offering commissions for recruiting others.
Ultimately, I would still recommend Levarte Travel for new advisors looking to gain industry knowledge and hands-on experience. It provided me with a solid foundation that allowed me to thrive. In fact, my first booking with my new host agency was an $11,000 multi-stop European trip, which I attribute to the skills and confidence I gained at Levarte. That said, for those building a long-term, specialized brand—especially in the luxury or non-Caribbean space—it may not be the best fit.
Leaving Levarte was a necessary step in aligning my business with my goals, but I remain grateful for the growth, training, and experience I gained along the way.
Thank you.