Corporate to Leisure? DMC Services? Destination Weddings?

This week’s Friday 15, we're welcoming Jennifer from Dugan’s Travels! Let’s have some fun, plus some questions to discuss this Friday at 12 pm CST. Join us!

1. I love your podcasts and have been a loyal listener for over 3 years. In 2023, I trained and started working as a Corporate Travel Advisor for a small agency, remotely. I took the job because thought I needed training in GDS platforms but my true desire is to run my own leisure travel agency. I work full time, have great benefits and have mastered two platforms. My question is, is there a conflict in joining a host agency to start a leisure business, while still working with a corporate agency? I spoke with one of the host agencies on HAR and got pretty far but was then told since I would have 2 IATA numbers, I couldn’t move forward. My employee handbook at work does not cover anything about other work in the travel business and I can sign up for my own personal IATA since I am an employee. I still really want my own leisure business but need the security of another income while I build my own business. I haven’t spoken with other host agencies since I was deterred by the first one. Do you have any thoughts? Thank you for your insights. - Michelle
2. I am based in South Africa/Namibia, specialising in travel and safaris in Southern Africa. Since 2018, I have been working directly with FIT clients (many of them from the USA), creating highly personalised tours and safaris for them. Recently, I have been considering offering my services to other travel advisors outside Africa (I guess that would be acting as a DMC). My question is: how does such collaboration work regarding fees and commissions? I charge my FIT clients a planning fee, and I know that many travel advisors, especially those based in the USA, also charge fees. Do DMC/travel specialists in the destination also charge fees to advisors, or would advisors prefer to work with DMCs that do not? Also, would I need to be associated with any of the hosting agencies (I am myself an independent operator), or how do advisors find their DMSs? Thank you in advance for sharing any insight into how such collaboration works. - Lenka
3. Can you give any insights on how commissions work as it relates to destination wedding bookings? I’m still new the travel [advisor] industry and curious if there are any general thoughts or advice on how this might work (especially for destination weddings booked outside of DMCs). Thank you! - Joy

RESOURCES:

1. https://hostagencyreviews.com/blog/what-is-dmc-destination-management-company