Host Roundtable Part I: Hosts Upbeat on Biz, Home Based Growth (3/20/09, Travel Trade)

In the following Roundtable discussion, some of the industry’s leading host agencies talk about trends in the Host/Home Based segment of the industry, including: a growing number of Home Based agents, both with retail travel experience and new entrants; a thumbs up for their relations with suppliers; a very positive outlook about the future of the travel industry and surprising optimism about the business this year, even in the current downturn.

Given the Joystar bankruptcy and the never ending roster of card mill/MLMs, the Host agents discuss how Home Based agents should go about vetting Host agencies before deciding on an affiliation.

In the following Part 1 of the Roundtable, Host agents discuss the growth in Home Based agents and how they work with suppliers.

In Part 2, they talk about current business, their outlook going forward and how to select a Host.

Is the Home Based sector growing, and if so how?

Andi McClure-Mysza, President, MTravel.com:

Yes, the segment is definitely growing and by various means:

A. Brick and mortars closing and just moving their businesses home;
B. Brick and mortars laying off experienced agents who are now starting up as Home Based agents to continue to take advantage of their skills;
C. New entrants, part-timers - people looking to start up a business prior to retiring (they want it to be established by retirement) OR people with honest travel sales potential brought in initially by the MLMs who have since learned the MLMs are not what they are looking for.

Do suppliers deal effectively with Hosts?

McClure-Mysza: Interesting question. Many suppliers are getting better at dealing with Hosts as they better understand the needs and potential of the emerging Home Based agent market. There still are some issues that need addressing, one of the biggest being local BDM support for agents outside of the Host’s “territory.”