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
Backend business organization? Contracts? Fraud Risks? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 26:51
Steph and Shayna welcome Sheila Folk of Travel Industry Solutions to cohost the Friday 15 this week! You can check out TIS’s profile here on our brand-new travel tech software profiles.Here are the juicy questions they’l…
Commission Splits? Selling Myself? Group Booking Contracts? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 20:55
Shayna Zand and Steph join forces with Vacation Planners and Travel Planners International to host this week's Friday 15 to celebrate the beginning of the long weekend in the USA. You can check out their HAR profile HERE…
Investing in my website? Do I really need an SEO strategy? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 18:01
Shayna Zand and Steph join forces with Solstice Collective to host this week's Friday 15 to celebrate the beginning of the long weekend in the USA. You can check out their HAR profile HERE! Also, we have a veritable barr…
Group Travel Niches? Preferred Supplier Networks? Boutique Suppliers? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 22:44
Shayna Zand and Steph cohost with April Swales of Uniglobe Travel Center to host this week's Friday 15 to celebrate Travel Advisor Day/Month. You can check out their HAR profile HERE! You can scope out our questions belo…
How To Trademark Your Agency? Interested in Multi-Gen Niche! [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 16:45
Shayna Zand and Steph join forces with Fora Travel to host this week's Friday 15 to celebrate the beginning of May. You can check out their HAR profile HERE! Also, we have a veritable barrage of questions this week, whic…