What Is a Host Agency?
If you clicked on an article titled “what is a host agency,” you’re probably in one of two places:
- You’re excited to become a travel advisor… and then you ran into a wall of acronyms and industry jargon.
- You’ve seen the words “host agency” everywhere and you just want someone to explain it like a normal person.
I can do normal-person.
Here’s the short answer: A host agency is a travel company that lets independent travel advisors sell travel under the host’s umbrella (usually using the host’s industry accreditation and supplier relationships). In exchange, the advisor pays the host a commission split, fees, or both.
Also, you’re in good company. We surveyed thousands of advisors earlier this year, and the hosted model is the most common way advisors operate.
If you’ve already peeked at our host agency list, you’re ahead of the game. (And if you haven’t, it’s a great rabbit hole.)
As a new advisor, it's important to understand what a host agency is (and isn't) and the advantages of using a host agency.
What is a host agency? It's a a travel company that lets independent travel advisors sell travel under their host umbrella, usually using the host's industry accreditation and supplier relationships. In exchange, the advisor pays the host a commission split, fees, or both.
Table of contents
- What a host agency is (and what it isn’t)
- Why host agencies exist
- “Do I need one?” Your 4 main paths into the industry
- What you get from a host agency
- How host agencies make money (splits + fees)
- What “accreditation” means in real life
- A quick Canada/US note (licensing + registration)
- How to choose a host agency without losing your mind
- FAQs
What a host agency is (and what it isn’t)
A host agency is not a magical travel ATM. And it’s not simply a “training program,” though many hosts include training.
A host agency is essentially a business platform that provides some combination of:
- Industry accreditation/booking credentials (the “I’m legit” part)
- Supplier relationships (the “I can book this and get paid” part)
- Back-office support (the “I don’t want to chase commissions for fun” part)
What it isn’t:
- Not a travel consortium. A consortium is a collective of agencies that negotiates perks, programs, and relationships—typically for agencies that already have their own accreditation.
- Not a franchise (necessarily). Some franchises require you to get your own accreditation; others operate more like hosts and let you use theirs.
- Not your boss (usually). Most hosted advisors are independent contractors. You run your business; the host provides the umbrella.
In a nutshell: A host agency is a company that lets travel advisors sell travel under the host’s umbrella (typically using their accreditation and supplier relationships), so the advisor can earn commissions without holding their own accreditation. In exchange, the advisor pays a commission split and/or fees.
Why host agencies exist
Once upon a time, most travel agencies were storefronts. Then the internet showed up, flipped the table, and remote work became… a thing. Hot diggity.
Host agencies grew because they solved a real problem:
New and independent advisors needed a way to book travel, access suppliers, and earn commission without immediately building an entire accredited agency from scratch.
Your four main paths into the travel industry
When you start a travel business, you’ll generally land in one of these buckets:
- Independent agency (you hold your own accreditation) You’ll usually pair this with joining a consortium [Internal link: Accreditation number] + [Internal link: Join a consortium]
- Hosted advisor (you use the host’s accreditation) This is the most common starting point for new advisors.
- Franchise where you get your own accreditation (Think: you’re independent, but with franchise branding/support.)
- Franchise where you use the franchise’s accreditation (This can feel more host-like.)
None of these paths is “best.” The best path is the one that fits your business goals, risk tolerance, and how quickly you want to be operational.
What you get from a host agency
Hosts vary wildly, but here are the most common “host delivers / you run” categories.
1) Accreditation + booking credentials
You’ll hear acronyms like ARC, IATA, CLIA tossed around like confetti. The point is: suppliers want to know they’re working with a legitimate travel business. A host provides that umbrella so you can book and be recognized as part of an established agency.
2) Supplier relationships (and often preferred perks)
Hosts typically have relationships with suppliers (cruise lines, tour operators, hotels, DMCs, etc.). That may include:
- Commission agreements
- Preferred programs
- Amenities/perks
- Sales support
3) Commission processing + back office
This is the unglamorous hero stuff: tracking, receiving, and paying out commissions.
4) Training + community
Some hosts offer robust education, mentoring, and peer communities. Others… give you a login and a “good luck!” (You want to know which one you’re signing up for.)
5) Tech stack options
Many hosts provide (or discount) tools like:
- CRM
- Itinerary builders
- Invoicing/payment tools
- Marketing tools
- Commission tracking
6) Business support + guardrails
Depending on the host, you might get:
- Legal/operational guidance
- Templates
- E&O access (sometimes)
- Seller-of-travel compliance support (sometimes)
How host agencies make money: commission splits + fees
Hosts aren’t nonprofits. They keep the lights on through some mix of:
- Commission split: You earn commission; the host keeps a percentage.
- Monthly/annual fee: A flat cost to be part of the host.
- Per-booking fee: A flat amount per booking (or per segment).
- Hybrids: A little of everything.
This is why you’ll see commission splits that range from “wait, that’s amazing” to “wait, that’s… a lot.” The split only makes sense when you factor in what you’re getting.
And yes: comparison shopping matters.
What “accreditation” means (in plain English)
Accreditation/booking credentials are essentially the travel industry’s version of a license to drive.
A host’s credentials can allow you to:
- Book with suppliers that require an accredited agency relationship
- Earn commission through established channels
- Be recognized by suppliers as part of an agency they already work with
If you want to go deeper, we have a full breakdown here:
[Internal link: Accreditation number]
How to choose a host agency (without losing your mind)
Most new advisors feel overwhelmed here. That’s normal. You’re not behind—you’re just new.
Here’s a simple approach that works:
Step 1: Get clear on what you need (not what sounds impressive)
Ask yourself:
- Do I want training/mentoring or am I self-directed?
- Do I want a niche-focused community?
- Do I want leads? (Careful: “leads” means very different things at different hosts.)
- Do I need hand-holding on operations and compliance?
- Do I want a low monthly cost or max commission split?
- What suppliers/products will I sell most?
Step 2: Ask hosts the questions that actually matter
A starter list:
- What’s the commission split and what does it include?
- What are the monthly/annual/booking fees?
- How do you handle commission tracking and payout timing?
- What training is included for new advisors (and how is it delivered)?
- What are your expectations for production minimums (if any)?
- What tech tools are included or discounted?
- Do you support fee-based planning (process, tools, policy)?
- What does support look like—email only, phone, community, mentoring?
Step 3: Read reviews (and read them like an adult)
Go beyond star ratings. Look for patterns:
- “Support is amazing” from 20 people means something.
- “Commissions were messy” from 20 people also means something.
[Internal link: Host agency list]
Step 4: Use our Q&A feature to ask hosts directly
You can go to a host profile and ask questions publicly—so you’re not the only one learning from the answer.
Step 5: If you want structured help, we’ve got it
If you want a shortcut to get set up and choose a host confidently, check out our 7 Day Setup options (including free ways to try it).
[Internal link: 7 Day Setup course options] + [Internal link: Free mini course]
FAQs
What is a host agency?
A host agency is a travel company that allows independent travel advisors to sell travel under the host’s accreditation and supplier relationships, in exchange for a commission split and/or fees.
Do I need a host agency to become a travel advisor?
No. But it’s the most common starting point because it reduces cost and complexity early on. Many advisors later move to their own accreditation once they have volume and systems.
How do host agencies make money?
Typically through commission splits, monthly/annual fees, per-booking fees, or a combination of those.
What’s the difference between a host agency and a consortium?
A host agency provides an umbrella you operate under (often including accreditation). A consortium is usually something an already-accredited agency joins for preferred programs, perks, and relationships.
Can I be hosted if I’m in Canada?
Often yes, but provincial requirements may apply. Ontario and British Columbia, for example, have specific registration/licensing rules. tico.ca+1
Questions? Ask away.
If you still have questions, drop them in the comments, contact us, or connect with us on Facebook, Instagram, or LinkedIn. And if you want to start researching hosts immediately, head to the host agency directory and start comparing!
The truth is your travel agency can go a few different routes when they join the industry:
- You could get your own accreditation number (we call them independent agencies when they have their own accreditation number) and you'd most likely join a travel consortium.
- You could go with a host agency, using their accreditation number.
- You could go with a travel franchise that requires you get your own accreditation number like Travel Leaders franchise
- You could go with a franchise where you use their accreditation number, like Cruise Planners.
In the end, understanding what makes a host agency different than a travel franchise or what the heck a travel consortium is will help make sure you're making the right choice for your agency.
What is a host agency? A host agency is a company that lets travel advisors sell travel under the host’s umbrella (usually their accreditation and supplier relationships), so the advisor can earn commissions without holding their own accreditation. In exchange, the advisor pays a commission split and/or fees.
What is a Host Agency?
Whatever the size, the basic business model is the same. The host agency acts as an umbrella for travel agents that belong to their organization. All agents under the host will use the same booking number (ARC, IATA, CLIA, etc.) and will be seen by the vendors as one agency instead of a conglomeration of agencies.
The most common business model is for the host agency to offer a commission split with the agent. There may or may not be fees attached with it, and the commission level splits vary drastically so make sure you do some comparison shopping. Examples of other business models include a one-time fee and no commission splits thereafter, or a fee for each booking and no commission split.
By far, the majority of the agents that belong to host agencies are home-based travel agents but it's not unheard of for a storefront to belong to a host agency.
Finding a Host Agency
If you're looking for a host agency, this site will provide a vast amount of information and expertise about the industry for you to soak up. The best place to start is on the resources page and read the most popular articles.
Connecting with host agencies can't be easier! You can go directly to their profile to write them via Host Agency Reviews' Q&A feature. The beauty of this is that tons of agents will also get to learn from your question too!
Finding a host agency isn't easy. Most agents feel confused and overwhelmed—rest assured, that's totally normal. We're not able to walk everyone through how to find a host agency, so we've created a video on what we'd tell you if we could!
A great next step is to check out this spiffy worksheet that will help agents know what questions to ask when looking for a host. This will help narrow down options of what you are looking for in a host agency (frankly, I can't recommend it highly enough).
Once you've watched the video and checked out the worksheet, you'll be chomping at the bit to find a host! The last step is to check the most comprehensive host agency list on the web. There's no better way to learn about a host than through those who've worked with them directly, so each profile includes travel agent reviews.
Want to Fast-Track Your Travel Agency Setup?
Finding a host a big decision but it shouldn't be keeping you up at night if you're doing your due diligence. While you may think there is one best host agency for you, the reality is there are many great host agencies out there. If you do the proper research, chances are there are quite a few host agencies that you'd be very happy with!
If you want more help finding your forever host and getting your agency off the ground, check out HAR's 3 different 7 Day Setup course options. The courses are written and facilitated by yours truly (Steph!) and Bridget Lee, a professional educator with deep roots in the travel industry. Maybe you notice a last name similarity? We happen to be sisters! We had a blast teaching the course, we think you'll love taking it too. With a free mini course and/or free trial of HAR's Accelerator All-Access Pass, there's a little something for everyone! Check out your options here!
Editor's Note: Originally published January 3rd, 2022. Fully rewritten and republished December 15, 2025.
FAQs
