Travel Experts Advisors Focus on Luxury Travel, Win 3 of 5 Top Producer Awards With Virtuoso

Image: Travel Experts Executive team (left to right) Claire Canady, Director NC Operations, Matthew Upchurch, CEO Virtuoso, Sharon Fake, Executive Director, Heather McIntyre, Director of Technology & Finance. (Photo Credit: Travel Experts)
Image: Travel Experts Executive team (left to right) Claire Canady, Director NC Operations, Matthew Upchurch, CEO Virtuoso, Sharon Fake, Executive Director, Heather McIntyre, Director of Technology & Finance. (Photo Credit: Travel Experts)
by Guest Author
Last updated: 6:00 AM ET, Mon April 14, 2025

Travel Experts, the premier Host Agency with more than 500 independent advisors focusing on the luxury market, prides itself on its relationships, especially its connection to Virtuoso, the leading global network specializing in luxury and experiential travel.

“We have found that next to providing our affiliates with 100 percent of their commissions, our partnership with Virtuoso is a close second listed by advisors as their reason for joining Travel Experts,” noted Sharon Fake, Executive Director of Travel Experts, adding: “Our advisors utilize the Virtuoso connection to help promote, sell and book the clients, making Travel Experts one of Virtuoso’s top producing companies.”

Travel Experts was recently among Virtuoso’s most esteemed travel agencies that were honored at Virtuoso’s second annual Regional Awards during its U.S. Forum in Ft. Lauderdale, FL, receiving three of the top five production awards. The regional recognitions were given to Virtuoso members and preferred partners within the United States that set the standard in their given category based on sales performance within the network.

Travel Experts received awards for Top Producer Tour, Top Producer On-site, and Top Producer Specialty Products. These awards are Virtuoso’s way of honoring members and partners with the highest overall network sales within the U.S. in each respective category. The awards celebrate Travel Experts’ success and the value the firm contributed to the Virtuoso network, recognizing the host agency’s commitment to exceptional travel experiences and alignment with Virtuoso’s ethos.

“It was an honor to accept these awards on behalf of our advisors, further acknowledging to the entire network that Travel Experts advisors are the best,” said Fake. “We were competing with other large agencies, but our incredible advisors came out ahead,” she proudly added.

The affiliation with Virtuoso allows Travel Experts to offer exclusive services and resources to member travel counselors and their clients.

Travel Experts has been a premier travel design firm since 1989 made up of only the industry’s premium travel counselors focusing on luxury travel. Travel Experts members are experienced professionals who operate as independent contractors, fully embracing the entrepreneurial spirit of their individual businesses. They have the travel expertise and business acumen needed to enable them to work independently, while at the same time enjoying the advantages of associating with a nationally recognized premier agency

“There are great opportunities for those independent advisors who are struggling to keep their commissions and earn higher revenues,” says Susan Ferrell, Founder and President of Travel Experts, adding: “With the right Host Agency, advisors can rise above other travel counselors and often earn more money; and they don't have to lose their independence if linked with the right Host Agency.

But Ferrell warns: “"Do your homework. Not all Host Agencies are alike. Choose wisely. We are here for you to help."
Travel Experts, which is celebrating 35 years in business, remains an independently owned and operated Host Agency serving some of the travel industry's most highly respected luxury travel advisors. Founded in 1989 by Susan Ferrell, the agency and its programs are even more relevant today as more and more experienced travel advisors become independent contractors.

Why Travel Experts? The answer is simple according to Ferrell: “You get to do what you love, sell travel and keep 100% of what you earn. There are no start-up fees, no transaction fees, only a single monthly flat fee and only a month-to-month contract to make life easy.”

Some of the amenities of affiliation include

  • Bonus commissions from suppliers that work with Travel Experts and Virtuoso
  • Access to Virtuoso, which includes personalized marketing materials.

 

Through Virtuoso, the Travel Experts’ advisor's clients get exclusive amenities, upgrades, access and experiences that cannot be found anywhere else

Travel Experts has a management team that has been with the firm for more than 20 years and a support staff of 26, all focused on supporting member travel advisors. The support team offers a concierge level of service to all affiliated independent travel professionals. As a result, Travel Experts lives in the best of two worlds; “We are large enough to be an industry leader, while remaining nimble and responsive, and evolving with the times,” says Ferrell

Travel Experts, by design, does not add hundreds of members each year. Ferrell says: “Our model attracts independent travel professionals who are true entrepreneurs with the business acumen needed to work independently while enjoying the advantages of associating with a nationally recognized premier Host Agency.

For more information contact Travel Experts at 800-274-2544, [email protected] or visit Travel-Xperts.com.


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