Experts weigh in on the issues (Mar 1, 2008 - Home-Based Travel Agent)
Mar 1, 2008
By: George Dooley
Home-Based Travel Agent
“The Internet has encouraged MLM/card mill organizations and offers. Many are knowingly fraudulent. Consumers must be wary. They simply don’t know how to separate legitimate offers from hosting agencies and the online scams,” he argues. While the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) can help, it’s up to the travel industry to regulate itself.
The scams also impact legitimate host agencies. The host agency seeking qualified independent agents faces the challenge of how to weed out the hobbyist and perk-driven from those who want to build a career or a business. The appeals of a YTB with 135,000 referring agents are substantial-at least to the outsiders.
The Value of Hosts
Although card mills and MLMs are “hot button” issues, what is now driving the legitimate host agencies in a highly competitive industry is sound economics and developing viable hosting programs.
True, “hosting” has been around a long time, but what is happening now is expansion of hosting networks to increase sales, deliver client services and expand markets. Productive and professional “hosting” is widely viewed as a key to future growth.
But host agencies face real challenges, including recruitment and training of agents, developing compensation plans, applying technology to enhance communications and productivity, maintaining service standards and performance. While there are no accurate figures, collectively, host agencies have made a multimillion-dollar investment in new technologies and marketing to ensure members’ success.
Another major host agency is MTravel, the home-based division of Montrose Travel. Andi McClure-Mysza, who is president of MTravel and newly elected chair of PATH, is an articulate champion of host agencies and independent agents. Like other major host agencies, MTravel sets an aggressive pace in innovative marketing and technology programs that assure MTravel and its members of responsible growth.
But host agencies face real challenges, including recruitment and training of agents, developing compensation plans, applying technology to enhance communications and productivity, maintaining service standards and performance. While there are no accurate figures, collectively, host agencies have made a multimillion-dollar investment in new technologies and marketing to ensure members’ success.
