The Team program for groups of three or more advisors offers a bundled fee structure, shared system access and improved internal permissions.
WHY IT RATES: The new Team Membership Model is an excellent example of how Travel Experts continually creates innovative strategies and programs to help its independent advisors thrive and grow. — Claudette Covey, Executive Retail Editor
Travel Experts, the premier Host Agency with more than 600 independent advisors, has introduced the next evolution of what a Host Agency can be for ICs with the launch of its innovative Team membership option.
The Team program for groups of three or more advisors operating collaboratively offers a bundled fee structure, shared system access, and improved internal permissions, while maintaining individual accountability through separate logins. Teams remain optional and all solo advisors retain existing arrangements.
“We’ve always believed that independent doesn’t mean alone,” said Sharon Fake, Travel Experts Executive Director, adding: “The new Team program is designed specifically for advisors who are building, leading, or envisioning teams of advisors, and who want the flexibility to grow while staying aligned with the values, standards, and support of a luxury brand host agency.”
The new optional Team program was developed by Travel Experts in response to advisors growing into larger teams where they are now functioning as small agencies rather than traditional hierarchical structures.
The Team membership format recognizes the differences inherent in the individual development of any business. Fake noted: “Some of our advisors are scaling thoughtfully, some are mentoring emerging advisors, and some are creating boutique brands within our larger ecosystem at Travel Experts. This option was built to support all of that, and always without sacrificing independence, culture, or excellence.”
With Team membership, comprising a minimum of three individuals including the Team Leader, advisors will have:
1. A clear structure for team growth within Travel Experts
2. Enhanced support and resources for team leader
3. Alignment that protects both the advisor’s brand and Travel Experts.4. The freedom to build intentionally, with guardrails, not red tape
Fake added: “This is not about changing how advisors work. It’s about supporting how they are already working and where they’re headed next.”
Travel Experts emphasized that this new Team membership is simply one new option, not a change to the current membership structure. All current membership categories remain firmly in place, fully supported, and equally valued.
“Each path within Travel Experts reflects a different vision of success by the advisors and this has been developed as an additional way to build a thriving, luxury travel business at Travel Experts,” said Fake.
Team membership exists alongside Travel Experts’ existing options, not instead of them. “It is designed for a specific stage and style of growth, just as our other membership categories are designed to support different goals, business models, and definitions of success,” Fake added.
Susan Ferrell, Founder and President of Travel Experts added: “Our commitment remains unchanged: to honor independence, protect choice, and support excellence, no matter which membership path best fits the advisor’s business today or in the future.”
Heather McIntyre, Director of Technology & Finance said: “Teams are seen as business units where members delegate tasks internally; there may be no hierarchy of boss/assistant. Roles can be specialized within a team such as cruise specialist, Caribbean specialist, skiing specialist, etc.”
The Team program offers a group discount, addressing the increasing cost of individual ICs (Independent Contractors) and BAs (Booking Assistants) as teams grow. The Team program views all members as part of a business unit in which they can engage with clients and suppliers.
Sales reporting and marketing also differ significantly from the typical IC/BA model where a BA's sales roll up to the IC, and BAs cannot have their own clients or do marketing under their name. In the team version, each member's sales are attributed individually, not rolled up to the lead, and any team member can have clients and conduct marketing under their own name using Virtuoso marketing tools.
Advisors utilizing the Team program can decide on how they want to split fees with their Team members or put them on an individual commission split.
Team leads are responsible for training, compliance, and professional standards of their members.
“The program is designed to support modern advisor business models, retain talent at different career stages, and enhance competitiveness with other host agencies,” added McIntrye.
SOURCE: Travel Experts press release.
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