Sign up for our newsletter
Get expert travel industry insights, host agency information and success tips - straight to your inbox
INDUSTRY
I'm five months into my journey with Outside Agents. I chose them because they were the best value as far as I could tell, and the woman who inspired me to pursue this career recommended them after doing her research after having started with another company that was an MLM that she doesn't want to be affiliated with. I'm taking her to lunch tomorrow in appreciation for the recommendation, I feel like OA was a good fit for me. So far they've been pretty hands off with me, but that's kind of what I wanted while I got the business parts completed ... setting up the business, figuring out how to organize things, getting the inital training done and getting familiar with everything, getting my website set up, the whole nine yards, dang no wonder I'm tired, lol. I kid. Not really but OA made it so much better than it could have been. They will not hold your hand, don't expect that, I didn't even want that and suspect you don't either. But as you have questions, they will answer the ones related to their business. If it's related to YOUR business, that's all you. You are assigned a mentor after your initial training and because I'm still pretty early, I'm trying to get a feel for how that works. It's pretty incredible what a great system they have set up, for so many agents from so many backgrounds with such different levels of knowlege and experience. And they make it work. Oh, you need to know, they have a great system for handling pretty much any question you have that you can't find yourself. MOST of it is already documented and it's pretty easy to find your way around after you get the hang of it. But when you can't find the answer or you need something, you just submit an SOS ticket. Their SOS team is on top of it, they're quick with a response! I'm coming from a corporate background and am super impressed with their SOS team in comparison to the responses I've seen in the corporate world. I'm super early in and will come back and update later on. My advice so far would be to bet on OA and go for it!
Outside Agents is amazing in so many aspects, from the first phone call to the mentoring to the training. I’m starting out as a newbie and have been directed in the right direction from the very beginning. OA has great training from on demand to live in person trainings. The staff is always on hand if we need anything as well as active in our online group. If you want to feel like part of a family then this is where it’s at, here with Outside Agents.
I have been an agent with OA for about 3 years and I have nothing but positive things to say The customer service is great. The training is wonderful and I have not had any issues with getting my commissions. I actually recommended a new agent to OA and she has signed on as well. I am also pleased with what you get in your package for the price. I would highly recommend this Host to new and seasoned Agents that want a Host that really cares and are there for you.
I entered the travel business about nine years ago with a local travel agency that had decided to start its own hosting program. After a brief training with the first group of future agents, the entire program basically collapsed within three months. I stuck with what was left for a year or so and finally started looking for another host. My original move was driven by the host being local; I was not really aware of the larger world of host agencies. I did plenty of online research, including HostAgencyReviews.com, FindaHostTravelAgency.com, and a variety of individual host agency websites. I narrowed my choices to about three hosts and ultimately decided on Outside Agents. I have been happy with that decision ever since. I was looking for the best value at the lowest cost and consider OA an extraordinary bargain for the service and help you get. This was especially clear after attending their New Agent Boot Camp a couple of years ago. Great people. Great host. Great choice, especially for anyone just entering the business on a tight budget. Thank you to Steve, Chad, Dan, and the entire team.
I think this is a awesome agency to be a part of, training and support is great. Never a problem with commisson payments. Staff is very professional always willing to help with any problems you may have. The other agents are very helpful with new ideas and sharing their experiences. If you are new to travel, the training and support is awesome
Here's my take on Host Agencies. Outside Agents is my 3rd host agency after the first one which was IMO a lot of "rah-rah-rah" let's sell travel, to the second which was IMO lacking in the technology to help me with my work, and now Outside Agents which feels like family, is on top of the latest technology, and offers the best service that I've ever seen. Here's the thing...If you want an agency that tells you the reality of the travel industry and offers a lot of support when needed. This is it. I've been an agent for over 25 years, and although I don't work full time, OA is always there for me.
I am so happy that I chose Outside Agents when I started in travel, one year prior to the pandemic. I have attended 4 of their on-site trainings in almost 3 years, which have been an awesome investment in my business. The online training and support from this family-owned and oriented business are top notch. You are not left out to dry, they always have your back as long. There are unlimited opportunities to learn more and to increase your knowledge base. After almost three years, I can look back and know that I have chosen the best host agency I could have. Their support is incredible. Thank you, OA for always being there for us!
This company is great!! There is so much training available (I will say that a lot of the training is self exploration). If you have a question you can always reach out to someone. The tools thst are available are a great value for the cost. There is no pressure to sell. I have reviewed other companies and found none to compare.
Outside Agents is the perfect fit for entrepreneurs considering a career as a home office-based travel advisor.
Outside Agents is a 5,000+ independent contractor ‘Host Agency’ with an extremely low cost of admission as opposed to a ‘Franchise’ with costs of admission in the $10,000+ franchise fee range.
OA and travel vendor ‘product knowledge training’ coupled with ‘marketing campaigns that work,’ helped propel this humble OA travel advisor into a top 2% monthly sales producer position out of 5,000 advisors twice this year. OA tools and support systems work.
A tip to newbies! Find a niche market that interests you – destination weddings, reunion groups, religious trips, or golfers, etc., and use the plethora of GROUP marketing resources provided by Outside Agents to build your business.
And you really do get to engage with the OA owners when you reach out to them for help or advice!
Outside Agents is my second experience with a host agency. Let me just say that not all host agencies are created equal. My experience with OA has been nothing short of phenomenal. A family owned business that treats everyone like they are part of the family. A great CRM, amazing SOS support and commissions always on time. During the beginning of the pandemic when most host and companies found themselves downsizing to cut expenses and stay in business, OA was offering it's agents extra commission and keep commission levels from the previous year to keep it's agents in business.
About a year ago, I found myself in a tough spot with my former agency. The owner had decided that she didn't want independent contractors anymore and if I wanted to continue in the industry I would need to figure it out on my own. I did extensive research into hosts and landed on Outside Agents. I was so impressed that the owner was the one who called me when I asked to talk with someone before coming onboard. I've had a wonderful experience and feel incredibly supported. The technology took some work to learn and I agree that the website isn't my favorite but I've doubled my sales from my former agency and I have access to so many learning opportunities. I cannot recommend OA enough!