June 30, 2022
It was February, 2022, and I was frustrated with my then Host Agency (HA). 

I joined that particular HA as a brand-new, hot-off-the-showroom-floor, certified Independent Travel Agent (IA). I was old to the travel business, but a new IA with my LLC. I didn’t have much money, so the $19/mo. (now$21) fee was attractive, but even MORE attractive was the 80-20 commission split, unheard of at other HA’s. This was, by far, the best draw of all! I did want a user-friendly Customer Relationship Management (CRM) system, and I especially wanted customers! I didn’t realize it then, but what I really needed was a reliable support system. 

My experience in choosing my first HA was in learning that specifics matter. I was general in my wants, and got exactly that. Every review in HAR has a “Program Details” section, and one of those details is ‘Lead Program’, indicating if that HA provides Leads or not.  I casually dismissed the fact that my HA choice did not offer Leads, because I intended on building my business by recruiting my family and friends. It also wouldn’t hurt to post on FB that I was now a IA, then maybe pass out a few business cards. I did not need Leads because every one I knew was now miraculously ready to travel, and would immediately become my customer! 

There were three. Three people. What I didn’t count on is that no one had immediate plans to travel. An 80% commission on nothing, is nothing. Avoya Leads do not pay 80% commission because they are Avoya customers, but these are actual Leads, not names off some outdated mailing list. They are vetted and real, and allow a new Avoya IA to earn income they would not have earned on their own. An IA is able to generate some income as they are building their own customer base at 80-20! 

I learned that ‘advanced’ CRM, but that does NOT necessarily mean user-friendly. That system was not intuitive. There were multiple pages to navigate for simple information, and entering info was quite time-consuming. On the other hand, Avoya’s CRM is quite intuitive. It is almost as if IA’s had a hand it it’s design. One of my favorite features is the tie-in with Outlook Office 365. Every e-mail between you and PAX is auto-saved in the record. There is also a ‘Conversation’ feature that allows you to chat with your PAX. Those chats are then a matter of record. Everything is documented.

When I chose Avoya, I had no idea what an ‘available’ support system looked like. I did learn that ‘reliable’ support does not mean expeditious, nor does it necessarily mean availability when you need it. Support is needed after 5pm, and on Saturday! There were those times, during 9-5, that I would receive an answer in a reasonable amount of time, but there were way too many times I would have to wait hours, or even a couple days to receive a reply for a problem in which I needed immediate help.    

Enter Avoya. In this industry, you are only as good as your access to correct information. Every IA is 100% dependent on access to the right suppliers, but we also depend heavily on a strong support system. Avoya has a very extensive, and easy to access Knowledge Base, but when additional support is needed, no support staff comes close to those at Avoya. They are always available, and they always respond. I have submitted a slew of Support Requests, and by far, the vast majority are answered within 10 minutes. This level of support is a crucial underpinning of every IA. You can be confident that Avoya support will not leave you floundering, or left in the cold. I did not know this level of support existed. 

If you are searching for your first HA, or are switching to a new one, please take time to review what Avoya has to offer. A user-friendly CRM and a solid support staff are crucial ingredients for an IA at any level, and when you add in Avoya’s access to all the top travel suppliers, you have the best recipe for the success!

John Walker

Teresa Holliday

Experience: < 1 year
Sales: < $149,999
Status: Currently with company

“Each Avoya team member I have had the pleasure of speaking to, has been knowledgeable as well as understanding..”

Colleen Baez

Experience: > 11 years
Sales: $500k-$999k
Status: Currently with company

Affiliating my agency with Avoya 4 years ago was truly the best decision I could have made, for a multitude of reasons: The educational opportunities are phenomenal, and endless, as are the vendor resources available to every independent agency. The support team is second to none and the technology available is top-notch and very user-friendly. Avoya's extensive marketing, as well as a constant array of exclusive promotions, gives us a competitive advantage in the industry and those are aspects I would not have available if I were operating on my own. The Live Leads program in and of itself is invaluable. No, not every lead is a good lead, but that's to be expected. Avoya provides the foundation for us and then it's up to each individual agency to build a relationship with each lead. This is especially true in this day and age when everyone owns a computer with access to many vendors and agencies. Of course there are leads who are just shopping but many can, and are, turned into loyal clients. Although each Independent Agency is different, I know for sure that my agency would not survive and prosper without the Live Leads program, and I'm very grateful for it. My commitment to Avoya has become even stronger during this pandemic - they have done all they can to support each and every agency and have gone out of their way to assist us. No doubt most travel agencies have struggled with all the suspended sailings & flights, as well as hotels being closed. Avoya has continued to be proactive and think outside the box, creating new avenues to assist not only the Independent Agencies, but the consumers as well. I don't hesitate to recommend Avoya to everyone looking to affiliate as there is simply no other host agency out there who compares.

Sheryl Jeffrey

Experience: 1-5 years
Sales: $150k-$499k
Status: Currently with company

I started new to the industry and have been with Avoya for nearly 2.5 years. As a new agency, their training and lead system is terrific for getting a foothold. As I got more traction locally, I moved away from using their Live Leads but still find their sales, promotions and administrative support to be outstanding. Avoya was very cruise-centric in the time I've been with them. As the pandemic hit, Avoya certainly didn't escape unscathed, but the company is agile and quickly changed course. The only reason I don't give Avoya five stars is the focus on their Live Leads. The commission split on them is not good, but I understand the money Avoya sinks into web presence and marketing.

Matthew Hill

Experience: 1-5 years
Sales: $150k-$499k
Status: Currently with company

We love Avoya. Their support is 2nd to none!

Kelly Haverlandt

Experience: 1-5 years
Sales: $500k-$999k
Status: Currently with company

When I started our new business, World Unleashed Travel, I carefully researched available host agencies to find one that would be a great fit for me. I was impressed by the education and support Avoya Travel provides to agencies and continue to take advantage of the continuing education offerings. Additionally, Avoya has a trip & customer managment system that is top-notch. The tech designers work behind the scenes to continually improve the platform and make it easy for people of all tech comfort levels to be successful. I will be starting my fourth contract with Avoya this summer and am so thankful and appreciative for the support and systems in place with this agency!

Carol Applebee

Experience: > 11 years
Sales: > $1 million
Status: Currently with company

Best of the Best. The entire family and Avoya team have always been here for me.
During this pandemic they really have our backs and are always developing new ideas and areas to help relieve the burden we are facing in the industry.
More than 40 years in this industry and the past 12 my best because I affiliated with Avoya and built a nice business.

Hilda Hernandez

Experience: 1-5 years
Sales: < $149,999
Status: Currently with company

because Avoya guys give us all the help we need and more, they are a great host company

Melody Vallieu

Experience: < 1 year
Sales:
Status: Currently with company

Everyone has communicated and been so helpful, I really appreciate it. I have learned a lot outside of AU.

DENNIS COLLINS

Experience: < 1 year
Sales: < $149,999
Status: Currently with company

I highly recommend Avoya Travel. Everyone is incredibly helpful and supportive. Even in this terrible COVID-19 environment. The professional development is top-notch. The support team is very responsive. I've got nothing but good things to say about Avoya Travel. If you are searching for a host agency you need look no further.

David Pearsall

Experience: > 11 years
Sales: $500k-$999k
Status: Currently with company

I have spent decades of my life in different parts of the travel industry. My first love has always been helping people plan their vacations. I researched home based agencies and found Avoya. It has now been nearly 4 years. I have not looked back. Very simply put "Avoya is technology, Avoya is intelligent, Avoya is employees, Avoya is support, Avoya is family !! "