Host Agency Comparison Guide
A side-by-side comparison of 22 of the most-cited US host agencies, organized into three buckets so you compare like with like: broad-market and entry-friendly hosts, luxury and premium hosts, and franchise or hybrid models. Hosted advising is now the dominant entry path for new advisors, with HAR reporting that 93% of new advisors chose a host in 2024 at a median startup cost of $1,500.
Every row was last reviewed on May 15, 2026. Where official pages do not publish a stable answer, the table says verify with host rather than guess.
How to read this guide
The biggest mistake new advisors make is comparing hosts on commission split alone. A 90/10 host with weak infrastructure can pay you less in real dollars than a 70/30 host with stronger supplier access, faster commission recovery, better tooling, or a coaching program that actually moves your bookings forward.
Hosts also differ structurally. Pure host agencies charge fees plus a commission split. Franchises and hybrids charge an upfront franchise fee and ongoing royalties instead. Forcing them onto the same comparison row is misleading, so this guide separates them into three buckets:
- Broad-market and entry-friendly hosts. Good starting points for most new and generalist advisors.
- Luxury and premium hosts. Higher-touch support, preferred partner programs, and (often) less transparent public pricing.
- Franchise and hybrid models. Turnkey brand and systems packages with royalty economics instead of a host split.
Fees are shown as startup, monthly, and annual when public. Commission models use the host’s own plan language (ranges, thresholds, or “royalty model”) rather than a fake single number. “Independent branding” reflects whether you can build your own brand under the host, where this is publicly stated.
Host agency comparison
A direct host agency comparison of the travel advisor host agencies most often shortlisted by advisors in the US, drawn from the same public sources travel agent host agency reviews aggregators (like Host Agency Reviews) use to track the market.
The tables below are grouped into three buckets so you compare like with like. All rows were last reviewed on May 15, 2026.
Broad-market and entry-friendly hosts
These are the most common starting points for new and generalist advisors.
| Host agency | Best for | Fees | Commission model | Training + technology | Community / support + affiliations | Independent branding | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Avoya Travel | Lead-driven leisure and cruise sellers; advisors who want an inbound-lead ecosystem. | Startup $495 or less; $79/mo; $150 annual renewal. | Varies materially under Avoya’s Shared Success model. Official public pages do not publish one universal split, so verify with host. | Strong. Avoya University, Foundations for Early Success, Agent Power SaaS, Live Leads, and TAEC education bundles. | Agency support emphasized publicly. Logos show CLIA, PATH, and IATAN/IATA-family affiliations. Agreement is described as non-exclusive. | Yes | Strong fit for advisors who prioritize lead flow as a major part of their economics over a higher headline split. |
| KHM Travel Group | True beginners, broad leisure sellers, and cruise advisors. | $149 + $64.95/mo, or $50 + $649/yr depending on plan. | 80% until the first $5,000 in commissions, then 90%. | Strong. Coaching, ongoing education, portal tools, supplier access, myTravelCRM, and website tooling inside KHM’s ecosystem. | Public FAQ lists IATAN, CLIA, ARC, Travel Leaders Network, PATH, and ASTA. Support is a major part of KHM’s public positioning. | Yes | One of the clearest starter options for new advisors who want a large support structure and broad supplier access. |
| Outside Agents | Cost-conscious beginners and general leisure sellers. | Public package page shows $26 or $46/mo. Startup not separately emphasized publicly. Verify with host if needed. | 80–95%, productivity-based. | Strong. Award-winning training, managed website solution, managed marketing system, and group tools. | Support positioned as owner/staff-accessible and community-oriented. Use verify with host for accreditations unless a separate public page is cited. | Yes | Attractive low-cost option for self-starters who want subsidized training, content, and marketing help. |
| Fora Travel | Modern digital-first advisors, part-timers, boutique and luxury-curious sellers. | No startup fee; $299/yr or $99/quarter. | 70/30, increasing to 80/20 after $300k in annual bookings. | Strong. 500+ training modules, live sessions, tiered certification, AI-powered platform, partner portal, Fora Flights, and automated commission visibility. | Community is heavily emphasized. Major preferred programs include Virtuoso and CLIA membership for advisors. | Varies / verify with host | Strong choice for advisors who value an integrated modern tooling stack over training structure or a high headline split. |
| Nexion Travel Group | Advisors who need air/ticketing options, corporate potential, or multi-agent flexibility. | Experienced plans public at $0/mo, $15/mo, $39/mo, or contact for 100%. New-advisor programs public at $790 or $1,900 depending on track. GDS add-ons cost extra. | 70 / 80 / 90 / 100 depending on plan. Air commissions vary. | Strong. NEXstart and NEXstart Lite, five-day Essentials, coaching, tools, plus GDS and ticketing options. | Public site emphasizes support, events, coaching, and Internova ownership. | Yes / varies by structure | Especially competitive for advisors who want to scale, add subagents or grow into corporate or air-heavy travel. |
| WorldVia Travel Network | Solopreneurs, new advisors who want transparency, and teams. | Public plans: $99 activation + $9/mo, $99 + $29/mo, $99 + $79/mo, or $199 + $299/mo at the enterprise tier. | 70%, 90%, or 90–97% by plan. Some air bookings via specific tools pay 50%. | Strong. WorldVia Academy, a 12-week Foundations orientation with group coaching, PRO Suite, Sites website builder, loyalty marketing, and lead generation. | One-on-one support and Member Success are explicit. Logos show Travel Leaders, CLIA, PATH, ARC, and ASTA. “Your Site, Your Brand” is public messaging. | Yes | One of the most transparent public membership grids currently available. |
| OASIS Travel Network | Experienced advisors, advisors comparing 80/90/100 structures, and Signature-minded sellers. | Public build-a-plan page shows 80% at $0–49/mo, 90% at $0–69/mo, and 100% as request info. Some plans can become fee-free based on preferred-supplier volume. | Up to 100%. OASIS Academy for new-to-travel advisors publicly advertises 90% first year. | Strong. OASIS Academy, commission tracking, websites, CRM, and booking engines. | Public pages reference one-on-one onboarding, community, annual conference, Signature Travel Network education, and CLIA / IATAN card availability. | Yes | Particularly attractive to experienced advisors who want flexibility without moving to a franchise model. |
| Travel Planners International | Generalist or luxury-leaning advisors who want their own brand. | Public fee page lists $0 host initiation, $295–$895 training, and $240–$840 annual commitment. | Public materials describe 70–90%, with advisors able to reach 100% as they grow. | Strong. Travel Planners Academy, daily Facebook Live and Zoom events, supplier videos, and other business tools. | Public FAQ and marketing state advisors can use their own branding. | Yes | Good for advisors who want an independent look and feel for their business with a more traditional host structure. |
| Legato | Self-directed advisors who want simple economics and strong independence. | $595 one-time enrollment. No monthly or annual fees. | 90/10. | Yes. Six-phase onboarding, supplier and partner training, Montis PRO business software, and partner ecosystem. | Public pages show ARC, CLIA, and IATA. Community, weekly ACH payouts, and supplier openness are central to the pitch. | Yes | One of the clearest public pricing propositions for advisors comfortable being self-directed. |
| Envoyage US | Advisors who want a more traditional host plan structure with weekly payouts. | $200–$250 startup. $600–$1,200 annual. No public monthly fee on HAR. | 70–90%. | Publicly visible training and tech details are less transparent than the hosts above. Use verify with host in a strict comparison. | Weekly direct deposit is public on HAR. Support reputation appears positive in member reviews. Public affiliations should be shown as verify with host until confirmed against official pages. | Yes / verify with host | Viable mainstream option, but its public data footprint is not as transparent as KHM, Fora, WorldVia, or Legato. |
Luxury and premium hosts
Luxury hosts emphasize brand quality, preferred-partner access, mentoring, and white-glove support. Exact pricing is often partly absent from official public pages, which is why “verify with host” appears more often here.
| Host agency | Best for | Fees | Commission model | Training + technology | Community / support + affiliations | Independent branding | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gifted Travel Network | Luxury entrepreneurs and advisors building a higher-touch, fee-friendly business. | Official hosting page shows 80/90/100% options. HAR lists $0–$10,000 startup and $0–$2,500 annual across programs. Verify with host for row-level exact pricing. | 80–100% for experienced advisors meeting the public threshold. Lower-sales advisors are routed to Travel MBA. | Strong. Travel MBA / Ascend ecosystem, weekly partner training, Sion, Travefy, and luxury-oriented professional development. | Publicly emphasizes Virtuoso, elite hotel programs, twice-monthly direct deposit, and a highly collaborative advisor community. | Varies / verify with host | Excellent luxury proposition, but public pricing is programmed and layered rather than beginner-simple. |
| Brownell | Experienced luxury advisors who want deep host support. | HAR lists $950 startup. No public annual or monthly fees. | 70–90% depending on annual income. | Strong. Onboarding, TripSuite, Axus/Travefy support, TravelJoy-related operations, and dedicated air and insurance desks. | Public pages emphasize a very high support-team ratio plus Virtuoso and luxury hotel partner programs including Ritz-Carlton STARS, Four Seasons Preferred Partner, and the Bellini Club. | Yes | One of the clearest luxury options for advisors who want high-touch back-office help, even if the split is not the market’s most aggressive. |
| Andavo Travel | Luxury advisors who want Virtuoso access and their own company name. | Public snippets clearly state zero monthly management fees. Startup is verify with host. | Public messaging promises up to 95% for qualified advisors. | Yes. Professional Development Manager and Advisor Advantage positioning, marketing support, and host infrastructure. | Public FAQ says advisors may operate under their own personal or company name. Long Virtuoso relationship is highlighted. | Yes | Strong luxury-independent option when brand autonomy matters. |
| Departure Lounge | Luxury advisors comparing split vs flat-fee 100% models. | Public HAR profile shows either a 70–95% split model or a $650/mo flat-fee 100% model. | 70–95%, or 100% on the flat-fee plan. | Public tech and training detail is lighter than peers. Show yes / verify with host. | Publicly identified as a Virtuoso-member luxury host agency. Community and support language in reviews is strong. | Yes / verify with host | Worth comparing as a high-production bucket because the 100% flat-fee plan only makes economic sense at meaningful volume. |
| Montecito Village Travel | Luxury leisure advisors who want independent branding. | HAR lists $125 startup. No public monthly fee. | 60–90%. | Public and review sources point to a notable in-house system for commissions, invoicing, brochures, and advisor workflow. | Official site explicitly says advisors can maintain their own brand while benefiting from the host’s luxury relationships. | Yes | Strong brand freedom in luxury, with comparatively low visible startup costs. |
| Travel Edge | Luxury advisors with some production and affluent clientele. | HAR lists $299 startup. No public monthly fee. | 70–95% on HAR. | Strong. ADX platform, finance/IT/air desk support, training, knowledge trips, and advisor programs. | Official pages position Travel Edge as a premier North American luxury host with a strong advisor community and recognition structure. | Yes / verify nuances | Better thought of as a luxury growth platform than a raw beginner host. |
| Global Travel Collection | Elite luxury, entertainment, and corporate advisors. | HAR lists $0 startup and no public annual/monthly fees, but split is undisclosed. | Verify with host. No public payout range was visible in sources reviewed. | Strong. Dedicated learning platform, weekly webinars, and broad tools and services. | Official pages emphasize Internova scale, global reach, and high-level partnerships. | Varies / verify with host | Clearly a top tier, but public commercial terms are intentionally sparse. |
| Travel Experts | Experienced, entrepreneurial luxury advisors comfortable with a flat-fee 100% structure. | Startup and monthly amount are not publicly stated in sources reviewed. Public messaging says 100% commission for a flat monthly fee. | 100% commission with a flat monthly fee. | Strong. Sabre, TravelWits, Sion, TRes, Virtuoso access, two-day in-person onboarding, and summits. | Public positioning stresses entrepreneurial independence and ongoing supplier training. | Yes | A competitive high-end option, but verify exact fees from an official pricing or recruiter source before joining. |
| Direct Travel | Experienced premium advisors in leisure and corporate-adjacent models. | HAR lists $250 startup and $0–$900 annual. | 70–95% on HAR. | Public product detail is lighter in sources reviewed. Use yes / verify with host for tech specifics. | Large-agency infrastructure is implied, but public affiliation detail should be verified row by row. | Yes / verify nuances | Viable premium platform candidate, but less transparent publicly than Brownell, GTN, or Travel Edge. |
| Avenue Two Travel | Experienced luxury advisors. | HAR lists $500 startup and $900–$1,200 annual. | 60–95% on HAR. | Public training and tech detail is sparse in reviewed sources. Use yes / verify with host unless verified against official pages. | Premium-fee profile suggests it belongs in a luxury or experienced bucket rather than a beginner bucket. | Yes / verify nuances | Reasonable luxury inclusion, but run an official verification pass before joining. |
Franchise and hybrid models
Listed separately because the economics are not directly comparable to pure hosts.
| Brand | Why it is separated | Economics | Independent branding | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cruise Planners | Franchise / host-hybrid rather than a standard host split model. | Publicly shows a standard franchise fee of $10,995, with discounted categories also listed. Royalty examples show 3% of commissionable revenue, with the royalty percentage dropping at higher sales tiers. Training, websites, and technology are positioned as included. | Limited | Strong option for advisors who want a turnkey brand and systems package, but it should not sit in the same comparison bucket as pure hosts. |
| Dream Vacations | Franchise rather than a standard host split model. | Public pages show standard franchise cost around $10,500, with discounts and financing available. Older press and current materials describe 1.5–3% royalty fees and 100% commission less royalty mechanics, plus included training and technology. | Limited | Good comparison candidate for users deciding between “own a franchise brand” and “build an independent agency under a host.” |
More hosts to evaluate
We are actively expanding this guide. The hosts below are well-known additional names worth researching as you build your shortlist. Most are listed on HAR's host directory with current pricing and member reviews.
- LuxRally Travel
- The Holiday Travel Agent USA
- Trevello Travel Group Inc.
- Uniglobe Travel Center
- Yeti Travel Co
- Incentive Connection Travel
- 1000 Mile Travel Group
- Cruise.com Host Agency Division
- OAL Travel Network
- Travel Agent Pro
- Travel Leaders—Market Square
- AMT Travel and Platinum Journeys
- 1923 Travel
- ATHome by Atlas Travel
- Atlantic Pacific Travel / A World of Travel
- Authorized Agents
- Cadence
- Capital Area Travel Leaders
- Carlisle Travel Management (a branch of Tzell Travel Group)
- Centre Holidays
- Cruise Brothers
- Cruise & Travel Experts
- Expedia Cruises
- Frosch Travel Group
- Casino World Travel
Reliable sources for host agency research
These are the public sources we cross-reference when building and updating this guide. They are also the right places for you to do your own due diligence.
Host Agency Reviews (HAR)
The most complete public directory of US host agencies. Includes pricing snapshots, commission ranges, and member reviews. Best starting point for any expansion of this comparison.
VisitCLIA — Cruise Lines International Association
The primary accreditation for cruise-selling advisors. Confirms which hosts hold CLIA membership and what level of certification advisors can access through them.
VisitIATAN — International Airlines Travel Agent Network
Industry credentialing for travel agents. Useful for verifying which hosts can sponsor an IATAN card and what eligibility requirements apply.
VisitARC — Airlines Reporting Corporation
The ticketing settlement system used for air bookings in the US. Relevant when comparing hosts that support air sales, GDS, or corporate work.
VisitASTA — American Society of Travel Advisors
Industry advocacy and certification. Many established hosts hold ASTA membership and reference it on their public pages.
VisitHow to research more
A short field guide for narrowing from 200+ public hosts down to the one you actually sign with.
Start with HAR’s host directory and reviews.
Host Agency Reviews is the most efficient single source for narrowing from 200+ hosts down to a shortlist. Read the host profile, then read at least 10 member reviews. Pay attention to commission-recovery comments and support responsiveness more than star ratings.
Pull the host’s public pricing page directly.
Always confirm fees and splits on the host’s own site, not just a comparison page. Hosts update pricing frequently. Bookmark the official join, pricing, or build-a-plan page so you can spot changes.
Ask for the exact plan you would join, in writing.
Most hosts have multiple plans with different fee, split, and feature combinations. Get the specific plan you would join named in an email so you have a record of what was promised at the time you committed.
Confirm accreditations and supplier programs.
CLIA, IATAN, ARC, ASTA, and consortia memberships like Virtuoso, Signature, and Travel Leaders Network are public on most hosts. If a host emphasizes a partnership, verify it on the consortium or association’s site, not only the host’s.
Talk to at least two current advisors.
Reviews are a starting point. A 20-minute call with a current advisor at the host typically tells you more about commission recovery speed, support quality, and day-to-day platform reliability than any public page.
Re-check your shortlist within 60 days of joining.
Host programs change. Re-read the join page, the FAQ, and any plan-comparison page right before you sign. If something has shifted, ask the recruiter to put the discrepancy in writing.
Once your host is chosen, the real work is client workflow
- A host gives you accreditation, supplier contracts, and a back office. It does not run your day-to-day client work.
- Most advisors end up juggling email, a CRM, a spreadsheet, and a notes app to manage even a few active trips.
- Follow-ups slip when no one system reminds you they exist.
- Commissions get untracked, and you spend weekends reconciling instead of selling.
Voyagr is the client-workflow side of your business.
Once you have chosen a host agency, Voyagr keeps client profiles, itineraries, bookings, and commissions in one workspace, designed specifically for travel advisors.
Frequently asked questions
What is a host agency?
Is the host with the highest commission split always the best choice?
Why do some rows say “verify with host”?
How often is this guide updated?
Why are franchises like Cruise Planners and Dream Vacations in a separate bucket?
What does Voyagr do once I choose a host?
The all-in-one platform for travel advisors
Pick the right host. Then let Voyagr handle client workflow, bookings, commissions, and itineraries from one workspace.