It has been a year since I signed up with OA. Now is a great time to share my experience with you if you looking for a new host ( like I was) or are a new agent looking to join the tourism trade.
OA is a GREAT host. No doubt. Before joining them, I simply picked up the phone and called them to speak with the owner. I had zero expectation of this actually happening but was pleasantly surprised when Chad Burt came on the line and spent a good half an hour speaking with me and answering all my questions. I signed up the same day. It didn't take me much time to understand their systems and if I had a question, the OA staff was very quick with their email replies. Best way to communicate with them. They have brilliant internal systems set up for just this purpose. Agency staff and higher-ups are almost always available for insight and help as and when needed. They are highly professional ( yet super funny on socials). I had a chance to meet most of the staff at one of their TA conferences and the vibe is that of one big family. For new agents, they have mentors for initial support. Though I have industry experience, I still set up a call with a mentor just to test the new waters. It was a lovely call.
They have great contracts with vendors, resorts, and consolidators across the world. Their payment system is top-notch with very little room for confusion. Payments have been on time on expected dates. The split is also one of the best ( that I know of) ( Ex host had a terrible split and I wish I had known of OA before).
All in all, I highly recommend Outside Agents. It has been a great year with them.
Happy Travel!
Outside Agents is a fantastic Hosting Agency. Their training is second to none. The support is just amazing. If I ever have a question or concern, they are there to help. I worked with two other Host agencies in the past and nothing compares to Outside Agents. I just cannot say enough about this company. When I was unhappy with another Host agency, I found Outside Agents and signed up. It is free to join. The commission is 80% to start.
The day I joined, I called and spoke to the owner of Outside Agents and he was so supportive. I told him the tour operators I used and he got me my own logons that same day as I had a new booking. I just cannot say enough about this company. The support they provide is the best out there. I like the personal touch as well as we have access to phone numbers and email addresses for the management and they are there for us. In addition, this company has a fantastic community. There are over 3,000 agents and we have access to a great social media just for us. It resembles that of Facebook and we all communicate together. The message board is extremely helpful and I made some nice friends using this tool.
Overall, Outside Agents is #1 in my book and I am proud to be a member!!!
I have been with Outside Agents for a little over a year now. I don't think I could've chosen a better host agencies. They are a really good host for someone who is new to the business because they don't make money unless you make money. There are no fees upfront or annually. They only make money when you make a sale. I love the forum because you can get so much information from those that may have more experience in certain products. Everyone is very willing to help on the forum. And the owners are always available to take any questions you may have as well. I'm very pleased with choosing Outside Agents as my host agency.
After over 25 years or so in the industry, I have found Outside Agents to be one of the best Host Agency's I have worked through. What is most important to me is, there are no commission surprises. You earn it, you get it. No playing around, no games.
Another attribute with Outside Agents is the communication. I like to know what's going on in our industry, and I also like knowing you are dealing with LIVE people, not a call center that is just there to answer phones and take messages.
For any new agent coming aboard or seasoned professionals looking to make a change, Outside Agents has been great to work with and I encourage you to take a look. This hands on, not to big for their britches work ethic, is a real pleasure.
I can't speak highly enough about this company! They are very helpful through the learning/education process, they are quick to handle any issues and the tools that they offer are unmatched. The sky is the limit with this host! I have no idea whyI didnt go to them earlier.
I like working with a family business like Outside Agents. They strive to get to know you personally. They welcome you to visit their office. They always take the time to respond promptly to my questions. They are eager to provide expert advice to help you with your business. I went from zero sales to Master Cruise Counsellor in less than two years thanks to their help and support. You cannot go wrong associating yourself with an outfit like this.
On a scale of 1 to 5 give Chad, Steve, Marty, Heather, Sheryl, Allison and the rest of the Outside Agents team a 10 - yes a TEN! or a 20... Really what else can be said about such a helpful staff that provides the tools an agent needs to be successful without the nickle and diming that can be common in this industry. From paying commissions on time, which is big when you are self employed, to always answering the phone when questions come up, the the community they've built this is a great host to land.
This agency has been a God send! I worked for a cruise line years ago and last year lost my job. Knowing that I wanted to start my own agency, I was ready to put in the time and willing to work hard at making a go of it. Then I stumbled onto OutsideAgents. They were the only one out of several agencies that I inquired about that actually answered my emails, responded quickly, and personally took my calls. The other agencies told me that "I was not what they were looking for" or didn't even bother sending me an email regarding my inquiry. Any time I have felt lost, not sure how to move forward, or just needed to know a procedure, OutsideAgents has been right there with me! I am now going into my second year as a Travel Agent with more confidence due to the invaluable training, the ease of setting up vendor contacts, and receiving tremendous tips from OutsideAgent colleagues through our Forum topics. The support and "phone call away" attitude has allowed me to grow my business, take bigger steps towards bigger commissions, and made me feel like someone has my back. Oh, and the friends I have made! Everyone is willing to share their personal tips, stories, and "years of experience" knowledge. No one feels the need for secrecy or to hold things close to their chest because we are a "family". At the end of the day we all want to grow, prosper, and continue to move forward; OutsideAgents helps you do just that! Thanks OutsideAgents!
Great agency ! No fees of any kind and they are there to help you and the commission structure is better than other agencies. They have a great "home page " that is very user friendly. I'm glad I found them and highly recommend them !
I have my good friend, Kathy W., to thank for referring me to OSA. It has been GREAT! The agency is a "package" of REAL PEOPLE, doing hands-on work on personal levels; not computer-generated voices having us push buttons to keep us busy until we give up trying to get answers. Steve, one of the owners, even gave me his cell phone number in case I had issues outside of normal business hours. Neither Steve nor Chad are strangers to making the personal phone calls to ensure they understand the situation and give the correct answer(s), guidance, and support. All the ladies in bookkeeping/accounting are very helpful and willing to work out any kinks we may experience. I am VERY happy with the company and proud to be affiliated with such fine people.
I love Outside Agents. I love the fact that I get paid 80% of my commissions with the travel vendors and DO NOT have to pay any monthly fees! They have wonderful training and a wonderful forum to talk to the other home-based agents, similar to a social networking/blogging platform. I searched and searched for a host agency with a good reputation who had the home-based agents best interest at heart and this is what I found with Outside Agents. They teach you how to succeed at the rate you are comfortable with, whether you are part-time or full-time.