I am a brand new agent and just launched my in home agency 3 months ago. I did quite a bit of research on host agencies and had narrowed it down to a few.

I chose ICT because the cost to get started was low and they have a wonderful program where you can learn Sabre for free and there is an easy way to get the software for free as well, at any time. I currently don't use Sabre, but I looked to the future of my business and thought this was the way to go, as most other hosts charge hundreds of dollars for Sabre access.

The other reviews are correct. ICT is a FAMILY RUN business. The part I didn't expect was that the President of the agency would personally be responding to every single question and concern I have as a new agent. I figured it'd be designated to some office staff, but no. Even when he is supposed to be on VACATION, Robert answers e-mails and FB messages. He is kind, patient, encouraging and so very knowledgeable.

This is not a hold-your-hand agency. They make it clear in their intro paperwork that YOU are an Independent Contractor and it is YOUR business to run, not theirs. As such, it is up to you to FIND training and to figure out your specialty and create your own marketing plan. In short, you are a business owner and you need to act like a grown up and do the work it takes to make your business succeed.

Some might not appreciate this. I, myself, was very tentative and nervous in the beginning, but I have come to understand that this philosophy is the best for my business. It felt a bit like being thrown out to the wolves at first...but ICT was never more than a phone call or FB message away if I had questions. They were never annoyed or put off by my questions, but they were realistic and honest with their answers. They have given me the courage and the confidence I need to succeed in this business.

There is also a wonderful Facebook group with so many helpful, more experienced agents that will answer questions within minutes. Such a great resource.

So, in summary, if you want to run a solid business for yourself, alongside a family-like team and earn some of the best commissions in the industry (always paid on time), ICT is the host for you.

New Agents - if you are willing to be courageous and put yourself out there, we are here to help you. And we believe in you. You will feel that camaraderie here.

I am a newbie in the industry as a travel agent, but I do have a lot of personal travel experience and still do work as an Executive Assistant who does a lot of travel for executives. I've only been with them for the past month, but I am excited and learning fast. This agency isn't for everyone. You have to go get it if you want it and use a lot of initiative. They are not ideal for people with little or no experience who needs someone to hold their hands constantly, but they do support your business with tips and tons of learning opportunities through Ensemble and various suppliers. You have to take the initiative and take all the opportunities presented to you and learn as much as you can. I like the fact that you can move at your own pace and do not have the pressure of sales goals and deadlines. I find them very responsive to my emails and supportive in their own way. They have a great FB chat, which is very helpful. I intend to stick around and learn as much as I can from the seasoned members of ICT. They are very responsive too. So far so good!

After retirement I was looking for something to fill my days. I joined my son who has his agency with ICT. I found all the support for a job I am new at, I never had to wait for answers to my questions. The ICT agent website is also packed with info and reports that help with running our home agency. Providing online webinars, which we can attend from home is another great bonus. Thank You ICT for helping to make my new career an enjoyable one.

Best host agency ever! I am so happy joined Incentive Connection Travel.Amazing support and great great commission.This is my host agency for lifetime.

I recently joined this host agency and wish I would have found them sooner! They are just wonderful to work with and provide excellent support. Every host agency is not for everyone but I found that this agency has been a great fit for my business and I'm very happy to have found them! Both Corporate and Leisure travel professionals can benefit from joining ICT so I highly recommend them to anyone who is a professional in the industry. They are a family run business but they are extremely competitive with the big guys, in my opinion, so do your homework! Independent travel agents should really see past the simplicity of their website and look at what they offer behind the scenes.

This is not the host for a new agent, as the reviews above clearly illustrate.

3 days after joining ICT, I received an email with RED letters in it, headed "YOU DID NOT ANSWER MY QUESTION."

"we are reluctant to give Sabre access to new agents. We usually ask for 6 months experience with ICT before we open the portal."

I regret not verifying the "78 reasons to join ICT" on the website, what I saw is not what I got.

As well, many of the links and information on preferred suppliers are broken or outdated, making independence impossible within all the restrictions...AFTER YOUR PAYMENT HAS CLEARED.

If you are an "old boy" looking for a network, this is it.

Good Luck.

I have been in the business for 34 years, right out of Travel School, and did the 9-5 thing, working for a few different Travel Agency's where I could be face to face with the excited honeymooners and the like .... well, as some of you could probably guess, when the opportunity arose for me to work from home as an alternative.... I jumped !! I opened up the back of a Travel magazine and saw Incentive Connection Travel's ad for agents looking for a Host Agency. I called and spoke with Robert for a very long while ... I was onboard before the end of the day.

May 18, 2012 was my first paycheck and the rest is history !! It did not take long at all to climb the very fair commission-split ladder ! They start you off at a much better percentage than that of any other Host Agency out there and in no time you can count on the final 80/20 split ! It's incentive enough for me to keep plugging away and building my business !!

The entire Siamon Family is amazing ! Always happy and willing to assist with just about anything ! I read on these reviews where someone posted he wonders if Robert ever gets any sleep .... I have to agree !! I'm on the East Coast and he is up and at em bright and early every morning checking his e-mails !! Working with Incentive Connection Travel has been nothing but a pleasure !! Pretty much you handle your own business and have access to a lot of tools and contacts to keep your business going smoothy and productively !!

I will work for them until my fingers cannot type any more ... or until my eyes stop working ! I'm in it to win it !! In for the long haul !! You would NOT be disappointed with making Incentive Connection Travel YOUR choice for a Host Agency .....
Best of luck to you !!!!
Sincerely,
Doreen Cappellini Bonczek

Words can not express how wonderful Robert, Harvey, and all the staff at ICTravel are. I was with another host agency before this one and I felt like I was an afterthought. Since joining ICTravel I feel like I am part of a family. When I did something wrong instead of being scolded about it, I was called by the office and was walked through, step by step, the proper procedure. Anytime I have a question, day or night, it is answers promptly. I sometimes wonder if Robert ever sleeps.

Robert truly is in business to support his agents and you can feel the respect he has for us in everything he does. Joining ICTravel was the best move I ever made.

I am probably the newest member to join ICT, but I have 22 years industry experience, from inside travel agent working for someone else, to Director of Operations for a multi-location Travel Agency, to Owner/Operator of my own Travel Agency/Tour Company. Today..."times they are a-changing"! So I set out in search of a host agency. After a great deal of searching, I was personally invited to the Annual Incentive Connection Travel Family Convention this year, and I just returned. I did a lot of research prior to landing on ICT as my choice, but the "deal was sealed" after attending the Convention.

ICT hosted the most professionally orchestrated function, spanning a 4 day period, at a great Scottsdale Resort, featuring a plethora of industry speakers, filling us all with wonderful food and drink, allowing us to learn and experience new and profitable tools of the trade, making everyone involved feel like the "family" that they treat you as......and all this to help their hosted agents learn, grow, and succeed.

I look forward with great anticipation to the new experiences I will have as a hosted agent with Incentive Connection Travel. I have full and complete trust in this company to provide everything they promise, and it will help me to continue to be the travel professional that I have invested so many years in.

I will post again a year from now, and give you an update!

Incentive Connection Travel is a great host agency. They are easy to work with, provide agent support and tools to help grow your agency. The costs associated with being a member are reasonable and the commission split is fair. They are a family-owned business and treat their agents like family. They are always available and ready to assist. They have a chat forum via email as well as a Facebook page for agents to help each other, provide reviews on properties/destinations, etc. They pay commission on time. I've been very happy with this agency and highly recommend them.