Protection for Wedding Coordinator? Selling Merch as Agent? Franchise vs. Own Brand?

Protection for Wedding Coordinator? Selling Merch as Agent? Franchise vs. Own Brand?

Author: Host Agency Reviews June 13, 2025 Duration: 25:48

Steph teams up with Eric & co. of Cruise Planners to cohost the Friday 15 this week! You can check out CP's profile here. Here are the awesome questions they’ll tackle this Friday at 12 pm CST! 

  • If you plan a destination wedding just as a coordinator - client pays vendor directly - how can you protect yourself? —Lenora D.
  • I attend market festivals as a vendor advertising my travel business between the spring and fall. This year, I have added some physical items to sell that are related to a few countries that I advertise. Because these are physical products and not travel, can I still sell them under my business name at these fairs? My host agency allows me to charge service fees, so I thought it would be ok to do this. Thanks! —Marc C.
  • I am an experienced agent (going on 6 years) but looking to switch hosts (participated in Host Week and have been researching since). I recently met and have been speaking with a travel company franchisee about joining them as an associate with 90/10 commission split (which is much more than my split now) and approximately $40/month fee. However, my hang up is I would have to operate under their brand (when I've done the HAR 7-day Accelerator course and researched and picked the name I want to operate under and domain is available) and after royalties and the franchisee taking their 10% it appears that I would actually end up with approximately 73%. They do have amazing tech, training, and support. Trying to figure out if that is worth it or a host agency that isn't a franchise. I'm having analysis paralysis with all the info available and want to make a good choice! Help! —Layne B.







RESOURCES:


➡️Submit questions, sign up for reminders for the F15, along with that week's questions we'll be covering! https://hostagencyreviews.com/friday15 


➡️ Your Midyear Gut Check (No Judgment, Just Real Talk) - Jenn Myers! 


➡️ Take HAR’s advisor survey – get a free 80+ page report! 


➡️ Watch Host Week — join us for free, the last week in January every year! https://hostagencyreviews.com/page/host-week


➡️ Travel Agency Franchise or Host Agency? A breakdown. (https://hostagencyreviews.com/blog/travel-agency-franchise-or-host-agency)


➡️ HAR’s 7 Day Setup Accelerator course on how to start your travel agency! https://hostagencyreviews.com/7-day-setup-accelerator

➡️ Travel market research report with data on travel advisor commission splits 



Hosted by the team at Host Agency Reviews, this audio channel blends two distinct formats into one practical resource. The first is Travel Agent Chatter, a quarterly series of spotlight interviews that dive deep into the experiences of working travel advisors. These longer conversations explore the real stories behind the careers, covering the nuances of building a business, personal client triumphs, and the cultural insights gained from a life in travel. The companion series, Friday 15, operates on a completely different rhythm. Every week, a focused fifteen-minute episode tackles specific questions from the travel industry, offering direct advice and timely insights that are both concise and immediately useful. Together, this podcast creates a balanced mix of inspirational narrative and actionable strategy. Whether you're seeking motivation from peer journeys or need quick answers to pressing professional questions, the channel is designed to support the daily realities of travel entrepreneurs. It’s a resource that understands the industry's blend of passion and pragmatism, delivered through the authentic voices of those who are deeply embedded in this world. Tune in for thoughtful perspectives that are as varied and dynamic as the travel profession itself.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 100

Travel Agent Chatter | Friday 15
Podcast Episodes
My own brand? Multiple hosts? Choosing the right host? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 20:06
This week for the Friday 15, Shayna co-hosts with Jennifer Dugan of Dugan’s Travels! This week we’ve got a bunch of great questions to discuss this Friday at 12 pm CST, and you know it’s gonna be good. Join us! I don’t w…
Hosts for cruising? Overwhelmed at the beginning? FAM etiquette? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 24:28
This week for the Friday 15, Shayna co-hosts with April Swales of Uniglobe Travel Center! This week we’ve got a bunch of great questions to discuss this Friday at 12 pm CST, and you know it’s gonna be good. Join us! -Wha…
Travel Insurance? Cancel for any reason? New trends? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 17:32
This week for the Friday 15, Shayna and Steph are thrilled to join forces with the Arch Roamright team. They'll take on a slew of questions about travel insurance this Friday at 12 pm CST, so don't miss this one! Sometim…
Tech Trends? AI Practical Use? Staying Current? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 29:40
This week for the Friday 15, Shayna and Steph are thrilled to join forces with Dan Christian, fellow podcaster and host of the excellent Travel Trends podcast. They'll take on a slew of questions about tech and AI this F…
Tech tools? Last minute changes? Tech Stack? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 24:22
Shayna and Steph team up with Stephanie Gries from Travefy to cohost the Friday 15 this week! You can check out Travefy’s profile here: Travefy | Host Agency Reviews. Here are the awesome questions they’ll tackle this Fr…
Marketing my agency? Working with DMCs? Franchise vs Host? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 22:31
Shayna and Steph team up with Jenn Lee from Vacation Planners to cohost the Friday 15 this week! You can check out Vacation Planners profile here: Vacation Planners | Host Agency Reviews. Here are the awesome questions t…
Hiring an agent for my agency? Selling other products? FAMs? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 19:32
Shayna and Steph team up with Jennifer Dugan from Dugan’s Travels to cohost the Friday 15 this week! You can check out Dugan’s profile here: Dugan's Travels LLC | Host Agency Reviews. Here are the awesome questions they’…