It’s one of the most important decisions you make when starting a home-based travel agency—which host agency or consortium should you join. Or do you need one at all?

Obviously, you do research. “An expert agent should research all of the viable options before jumping in with any host agency,” cautioned Drew Daly, general manager of network engagement & performance for Cruises Inc., CruiseOne, and Dream Vacations. “Even though there are similarities with all host agencies, the end product we each provide to our customer [the agent] varies.”

For more advice, we talked to several executives at host agencies and consortia for our cover story on page 20.

A related story on page 24 takes a look at the special programs Avoya Travel, OASIS Travel Network, and Travel Leaders Group offer independent contractors who are just starting out.

This month’s Selling Cruises article, on page 26, features an interview with Ted Sykes, president and COO of American Queen Steamboat Company. Business is booming for the three Victorian replica riverboats, so a fourth, American Countess, will join the fleet in 2019.

Next, we offer advice on how to sell RIU Hotel & Resorts’ 35 upscale, all-inclusive properties in the Caribbean. Turn to page 30 to learn what kind of client would love a RIU vacation and how you can sell it.

We then talked to Michael Goren, founder and CEO of Group IST, about his small-ship division called Beyond Cruises. The vessels—the biggest one carries 72 passengers—go places large ships can’t, immersing guests in the destination. Read more about that on page 32.

Our expanded Places section this month features Switzerland, which is increasingly popular with U.S. travelers (page 36) and exotic Dubai, which presents a dazzling skyline emerging from the desert (page 38). Our Mexico story on page 42 features a review of the Grand Fiesta Americana Coral Beach Cancun.

That’s it for now. Hope it’s warm and springy where you live!