Host Agency Reviews

Buzz Session #1 (02/13/2023) - DMC Relationships, Consortia/Host Relationship, Creating Custom FITs, SOT Regulations, Vetting Hosts, Industry Events

Buzz Session #2 (2/27/2023) - Featuring Guest Chris Buseman speaking on E&O Insurance; Itinerary Builders, Hotel Representation, Host Agency Contracts

Buzz Session #3 (3/13/2023) - Collecting Signatures, Industry Publications, Tech Walkthrough, Seller of Travel, Packaging Groups, Travel Tech, Reporting Credentials

Buzz Session #4 (3/27/2023) - Featuring Marnie Brown speaking on DMC Relationships; Host Agency Training, Paying Net

Buzz Session #5 (4/10/2023) - Tech Needed to Start Up, Custom Agreement Forms, Consultation Fees, Seller of Travel, Website and Branding Designers, Starting from Scratch, Hotel Groups, FAM Trips

Buzz Session #6 (4/24/2023) - Featuring Stephanie Cannon speaking on all things Finances including Taxes, FAM Trips, Bookkeeping, Preparing for Profit

Buzz Session #7 (5/8/2023) - Forming an LLC, Viewing Trips with the TA Lens, FAM Trip Marketing, Stock Images, FAM Trip Checklists, Organizing Business Cards, Working with Suppliers, Email Marketing

Buzz Session #8 (5/22/2023) - Featuring Tom Carpenter speaking on Legal Issues for Travel Advisors: Travel Insurance License, Types of Terms and Conditions, New Advisor Bare Minimums, Adventure Travel Risks, Accepting Fees, and more!

Buzz Session #9 (6/5/2023) - Places to Network, Getting Comfortable with Bookings, Experiences with Hotel Suppliers, Dealing with Family and Friends, TravelJoy/CRM, Calendar Scheduler, Email Marketing

Buzz Session #10 (6/19/2023) - Featuring Jackie Williams of NuVibe Travel speaking on Different Business Models, Luxury Market, FAM Trips, Right Client Right Product, Knowing your Capacity, Considering Consortias, and more!

Buzz Session #11 (7/3/2023) - Charging Fees, Working with FIT Suppliers, Workflows and Processes, Generational Travel, Marketing Messaging

Buzz Session #12 (7/17/2023) - Featuring Korrine Johnson of Travel Biz Boss speaking on All things TravelJoy :) , Setting up CRM Systems, Project Management Tools, Selecting a CRM, Host Agency Reporting, Email Marketing Platforms, and more!

Buzz Session #13 (8/7/2023) - California Licensing, SquadTrip, Struggles with Custom FITs, Galapagos Cruising, Getting out of Learning Mode, Group Travel, Booking with/out a GDS

Buzz Session #14 (8/21/2023) - Featuring Kate Thomas of Travel Pro Theory speaking on all things DMCs, working with them, finding them, host agency approval, and starting a DMC

Buzz Session #15 (9/11/2023) - Word of Mouth Marketing, Narrowing Down Business, Supplier Relations, Documenting/Organizing Research, Travel Tech, Charging Fees, Working with Clients, River Cruising

Buzz Session #16 (9/18/2023) - Featuring Guest Kara Brown of Experience Culture Travel touching on cultivating a DMC Network, choosing between tour operators and DMC's, real-life clients stories, planning fees and consults

Buzz Session #17 (10/2/2023) - Offering unique experiences, narrowing your host options, CTA certification, narrowing down your niche, websites and branding, CRM/one-stop shops, promoting the Mexican Caribbean

Buzz Session #18 (10/16/2023) - Featuring Guest Kristen Richards of Girlboss Designer touching on all things branding and web design

Buzz Session #19 (11/6/2023) - AmaWaterways Groups, Time Management, Travel Tech, Working with Tour Operators, Fee Structure, Cyber Security

Buzz Session #20 (11/13/2023) - Featuring Guest Omar Banihani of Visit Jordan touching on all things working with a tourism board and visiting the country of Jordan

Buzz Session #21 (12/4/2023) - Preparing for the CTA Exam, FAM Trip to Thailand, Changing Hosts, Comparing CRMS, To Niche or Not, Marketing Yourself and not Suppliers, Gaining Confidence as a Travel Advisor, European Cruise Ports, and more!

Buzz Session #22 (1/8/2024) - Word of the Year, Taxes for Travel Expenses, Switching Host Agencies, Booking Cruises without a BDM, MLMs, Windstar Cruises, Working with influencers, Hotel Room Blocks, Creating Databases, Domain Providers

Buzz Session #23 (1/15/2024) - Featuring Guest Debbie Horrilleno of Globus Family of Brands touching on all things working with a BDM and river cruising

Buzz Session #24 (2/12/2024) - What we're loving in the travel industry, Working with DMCs for FITs, Getting Paid, Dealing with Fraud

Buzz Session #25 (2/19/2024) - Featuring Guest Dina Farmer of Spectrum Getaways touching on Special Needs Travel, Niching your Business, Working with Influencers, Blogging, FITs vs Packaged Trips, Social Media, Lead Magnets

Buzz Session #26 (3/4/2024) - Passive income opportunities, meeting clients' needs, building momentum in your business, naming your business, consulting services, affiliate links, lead magnets, travel advisor mindset

Buzz Session #27 (3/18/2024) - Featuring Guest Daniel Santiago of Regal Wings and Koveli touching on commercial and private air and the Maldives

Buzz Session #28 (4/1/2024) - Q1 Review, Planning Group Travel, Picking a Name, Future Buzz Session Ideas, Increased Pricing

Buzz Session #29 (4/15/2024) - Featuring Guest Chi Lo of Chi Lo Sustainability touching on all aspects of sustainability in the travel industry

Buzz Session #30 (5/6/2024) - Planning and goals for Q2 and Q3, Vetting host agencies, Tech to start off with, Workflows, Alternate income streams, AI

Buzz Session #31 (5/20/2024) - Featuring Guest Jackie Roby of Inspired Journey Consulting touching on all aspects of wellness travel

Buzz Session #32 (6/3/2024) - Choosing your host agency, hosting and building tours, finding your niche, trialing tech, working with DMCs, "free" layover programs

Buzz Session #33 (6/17/2024) - Featuring Guest Casey Hanisko about preparing for a team, working with a virtual assistant, writing job descriptions, mission/vision/values, pros and cons of websites, operational costs,

Buzz Session #34 (7/1/2024) - Making travel accessible for everyone, booking travel/insurance for a trip far in advance, deciding factors on a host, eclipse travel, the new luxury traveler, Puerto Rico travel

Buzz Session #35 (7/15/2024) - Featuring Guest Tom Carpenter about all things legal in your travel agency like high-risk, duty of care, fraud, technology tools, customizing T&Cs, ASTA Membership, E&O Insurance, Seller of Travel Laws

Buzz Session #36 (8/5/2024) - Host agency provided websites, Olympics chit chat, Selecting a new host agency, Working with an agency in the beginning, Cash Flow, Group/Retreat Travel, Host and Consortia Offers

Buzz Session #37 (8/20/2024) - Featuring Guest Whitney Shindelar about all things working with supplier partners, articulating your brand, increasing your speed to put packages together, tech tools, structuring fees, revenue goals

Buzz Session #38 (9/3/2024) - Traveling with Disabilities, Flight Codesharing, Switching CRMs, Checking in on Clients, Managing Different Inboxes, Paid Consultation Calls, Booking Cruises, Designing your Logo, Website Domains

Buzz Session #39 (9/17/2024) - Featuring Guest Lori Gold about all things Mexican Caribbean including Tours, Private Excursions, Upselling Room Categories

Buzz Session #40 (10/15/2024) - Featuring Guests Jennifer Jacob and Robin Bradley about all things Client Experience, Workflows, Branding, Charging Fees

Buzz Session #41 (12/17/2024) - Taking time off, clients finding you through SEO, selling gift certificates for services, travel tech updates

Buzz Session #42 (1/7/2025) - Cruise business resources, clearing out your inbox, setting up your CRM,

Buzz Session #43 (1/21/2025) - Making investments in your business, Industry Certifications, Host Week Overview, Naming your Business, Ship Inspections, Perfect Day at Cococay, Cruising

Buzz Session #44 (2/4/2025) - Supporting a Travel Advisor during Tough Times, Ship inspection experience, Joining Different Industry Groups, Navigating Tech

Buzz Session #45 (2/18/2025) - Choosing a host agency, Naming your agency, Terms and Conditions, Website Templates, Booking direct vs supplier, Working with clients

Buzz Session #46 (3/4/2025) - Host agency training, Niching down, Retraining after an MLM, What to have in place before selecting a host, Virtual mailboxes, Having E&O Insurance, Vetting DMCs, Industry Events

Buzz Session #47 (3/25/2025) - Starting your agency, River Cruise Expo recap, Website terms, and Creating a logo

Buzz Session #48 (4/1/2025) - Difference with email and web hosting, AI coding apps, Website options, Email marketing, Operating your business in the beginning

Buzz Session #49 (4/15/2025) - Everything CRM, Finding unique destinations/experiences

Buzz Session #50 (5/5/2025) - Creating a workflow, Supplier training, Theme parks

Buzz Session #51 (5/12/2025) - Cruise 360 Recap, Phone Numbers, Tern updates, Air travel updates, Cruise vs FIT, Tips for selecting a host

Buzz Session #52 (6/3/2025) - Business Activity and Workflows, AI Tools, ASTA Conference, Tech and Storage Options, Hiring Help, Cruise and Air Polici

Buzz Session #53 (7/15/2025) - Host Agency Commission Structures, Start Up Expenses, Transitioning from One Host to Another, Overcoming Overwhelm, Web Platforms and Branding, AI and Marketing, Copyright Concerns, Terms and Conditions, etc.

Buzz Session #54 (7/22/2025) - Business Cards and Promotional Items, Client Gifting and Mailing Services, Travel Advisor Resources and Niches, RV Trip Planning, Website Image Copyright

Buzz Session #55 (8/5/2025) - Keeping Files and Photos Organized, Work-Life Balance, Client Proposals and Setting Boundaries, Group Travel and Differences with a Tour Operator, Future Planning and Personal Goals