Be a Travel Agent
New to the travel industry? Choose your path — extra income part-time or a full-time travel career. We place you with the right major host agency, and our network of travel websites sends leads to agents who earn Specialist status.
Choose your path »Selling travel is one of the most rewarding ways to earn a living — or a second income — doing something you already love. But getting started alone is confusing: which host agency, which training, where do the clients come from? We answer all three. We match you with the host agency that fits your goals, point you to the Specialist training that qualifies you for our leads program, and guide you with 52 years of experience.
Two Paths Into the Travel Industry
Both paths are built for people who are new to travel. Pick the one that matches your goals — you can always grow from one to the other.
Additional Income
For people who want extra income selling travel — around a job, a family or retirement.
- Placement with a major host agency matched to your goals
- Your host agency services your bookings, pays your commissions and trains you
- Leads from our network once you earn Specialist status
- A free listing on our consumer travel directories
Career Fast Track
For people who want to make travel their career — and get there faster.
- A personalized domain and an established website with existing traffic
- Host-agency placement, with your host’s first-year fees covered
- Entry into our leads program (upon Specialist status)
- A Showcase listing on every one of our consumer travel directories — direct leads, full commission
- A full year of personal assistance from Peter Coloyan
How Placement Works
- Tell us your goalsApply for the path that fits you: what you want to sell, the destinations you love, and how much time you have.
- We match your host agencyWe choose, from the leading host agencies we partner with, the one that fits your goals — and introduce you.
- Train and earn Specialist statusYour host trains you. Specialist certification from major travel suppliers or destinations qualifies you for our leads.
- Receive leads and growOnce you are a Specialist, you can receive leads from our network of travel websites.
Important: we do not hire you, and you do not work for us. We place you with a major, established host agency — one of the leading host agencies we partner with. Your host agency services your bookings, pays your commissions and provides your training. Our role is to match you with the right host, open the door to our leads program, and guide you.
Why a Host Agency — and Why We Match You
The host does the heavy lifting
Your host agency services your bookings, pays your commissions and provides your training — so you can focus on your clients.
No single host fits everyone
Host agencies differ in what they sell best, how they train and how they support new agents. The right fit depends on your goals.
We’ve done the comparing
Peter Coloyan has owned a host agency. We know which host fits which goals, so you don’t have to compare them yourself.
Our Leads Program
Most new agents struggle with one question: where will my clients come from? Our answer is a network of travel websites that generates consumer inquiries every day.
In a single year, our network generated more than 68,000 cruise leads and more than 30,000 other travel leads — all-inclusive resorts, tours and escorted tours, and business- and first-class airfare.
Agents receive leads from our network once they earn “Specialist” status — completing the training and certification offered by one or more major travel suppliers or destinations. Every designation is verified. Specialists know their product — in our experience they close up to six to seven times more often — and that is who our travelers deserve.
Keep 80% of the commission on your own bookings; leads we send you are shared. Agents placed through our program are on an 80% commission plan with their host agency. In your first year you keep the full 80% on bookings you generate yourself; on bookings from leads we send you, you keep 50% (we receive 30% and your host 20%). How commissions work »
Your Listing in Our Consumer Directories
Beyond network leads, our agents are listed where travelers look for specialists: the Official Travel Directory, Official Cruise Directory and Official River Cruise Directory — plus the Official Vacation Directory and Official Tour Directory as they launch.
Additional Income
A free listing on our consumer travel directories.
Career Fast Track
A Showcase listing on every one of our consumer directories — more than $3,000 in value on our live directories alone. See the feature »
Direct leads, full commission
Inquiries from your own listing come straight to you, and there is no lead share on them — you earn your full commission.
The Career Fast Track
A personalized domain and an established website with existing traffic, host-agency placement with first-year fees covered, our leads program, a Showcase listing on every one of our consumer directories, and a full year of personal assistance from Peter. After the year, the website is yours.
See the Career Fast Track »Learn From “Mr. Cruise”
Be a Travel Agent is led by Peter Coloyan — “Mr. Cruise.” Peter is a 52-year travel-industry veteran who sold his first cruise in 1974. He has sold more than half a billion dollars in cruises, has trained more than 500 travel agents, and has owned a host agency himself.
That last point matters to you: Peter knows how host agencies work from the inside — what they offer, how they differ, and which kind of agent thrives with which host. And now we’re back, with one mission: training the travel-industry community to be better prepared for the future.
By the Numbers
Our Network
Be a Travel Agent is part of the Smart Traveler network and its Official directories — the trade directory for the travel industry and the consumer directories where our agents are listed:
Becoming a Travel Agent — Frequently Asked Questions
Will I be working for you?
No. We place every agent with a major, established host agency — one of the leading host agencies we partner with. The host agency services your bookings, pays your commissions and provides your training. We match you with the right host, give you access to our leads program once you qualify, and guide you along the way.
What is a host agency?
A host agency is an established travel agency that independent agents work under. It handles the business side of your bookings, pays your commissions and trains you, so you can focus on your clients. Nearly every new independent travel agent starts with a host.
Why not just pick a host agency myself?
You could — but no single host agency is best for every new agent, and comparing them takes time and inside knowledge. Peter Coloyan has owned a host agency, so we know which host fits which goals. We have done the comparing for you.
What is the difference between the two paths?
Additional Income is for people who want extra income selling travel part-time: we place you with the right host agency and, once you earn Specialist status, you can receive leads from our network. The Career Fast Track is for people who want to make travel their full-time career. It adds a personalized domain and an established website with existing traffic, your host agency’s first-year fees, and a full year of personal assistance from Peter.
How does the leads program work?
Once you earn “Specialist” status — completing the training and certification offered by one or more major travel suppliers or destinations — you become eligible to receive leads from our network of travel websites. In a single year, our network generated more than 68,000 cruise leads and more than 30,000 other travel leads — all-inclusive resorts, tours and escorted tours, and business- and first-class airfare.
Will I be listed in your travel directories?
Yes. Additional Income agents receive a free listing on our consumer travel directories. Career Fast Track agents receive a Showcase listing on every one of our consumer directories — the Official Travel Directory, Official Cruise Directory and Official River Cruise Directory, plus the Official Vacation Directory and Official Tour Directory as they launch — worth more than $3,000 on our live directories alone. Inquiries from your own listing come straight to you, with no lead share: you earn your full commission.
What does the Career Fast Track cost?
The Career Fast Track is a serious investment in your future. Pricing is provided after a consultation, once we understand your goals and the website that fits you. Installment plans may be available.
Do I need travel-industry experience?
No. Both paths are designed for people who are new to the travel industry. Your host agency provides your training, and Specialist programs from travel suppliers and destinations build your product knowledge.
Who is behind Be a Travel Agent?
Peter Coloyan, “Mr. Cruise” — a 52-year travel-industry veteran who sold his first cruise in 1974, with more than half a billion dollars in cruises sold, more than 500 travel agents trained, and experience owning a host agency.
Ready to start?
Choose your path and tell us your goals. We’ll match you with the right host agency and show you the way to our leads program.
Career Fast Track »