Advisor Resources
Everything you need to build your advisor business.
Certification, commissions, client selling, and lead gen. Straight answers, no fluff.
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Free travel agent certification online: which programs are really free
Free travel agent certification online is mostly supplier badges. Which programs are free on their own pages, what you get, how badges differ, and scams to avoid.
Is being a travel agent worth it? Pros, cons, perks and costs from named sources
Is being a travel agent worth it? Sourced pros and cons, BLS pay and outlook, perks like agent rates and FAM trips, start-up costs, and a checklist to test your fit.
Travel agent certification programs compared: cost, time and who they suit
Travel agent certification programs compared on cost, time, prerequisites and renewal: CTA, TRIPKIT, ASTA VTA, CLIA, IATA diploma, supplier and host training.
What is ARC? The Airlines Reporting Corporation explained
ARC is the company that accredits US travel agencies to ticket flights and settles their sales with airlines. What it costs, how weekly settlement works, and ARC vs IATAN.
What is attrition in group travel? Attrition clauses explained
Attrition is the gap between the hotel rooms a group contracted and the rooms it uses. See how attrition clauses, damages and cutoff dates work, and how to cut the risk.
What is a PNR? Passenger name records explained for travel agents
A PNR (passenger name record) is the booking file behind a reservation. What it holds, who creates it, how record locators and splits work, and who sees the data.
What is a room block? Hotel group blocks explained for travel agents
A room block holds hotel rooms for your group at a group rate until a cutoff date. Courtesy vs contracted blocks, pickup, comp rooms and how to book one.
What is an NCF? Non-commissionable fares in cruise pricing
An NCF is the part of a cruise price that earns no commission. See ASTA's worked example, which lines dropped NCFs, and how an NCF differs from a net rate.
Part-time travel agent: jobs, side hustle setups and what to expect
Part-time travel agent jobs vs selling travel on the side under a host agency: where roles exist, hours, taxes, state rules, a 90-day plan and mistakes to avoid.
Travel agent salary: BLS pay by percentile, state, metro and industry
The median travel agent salary was $50,160 in May 2025 (BLS). See percentiles, hourly pay, pay by state, metro and industry, and how base plus commission jobs work.
What is a markup in travel? How agents price net rates
A travel markup is what an agency adds to a supplier's net rate to set the traveler's price. See how to calculate markup vs margin and when markups are allowed.
What is an agent rate? Travel agent discounts and who qualifies
An agent rate is a supplier discount for a travel agent's own travel. See what Hilton, Hyatt, IHG, Marriott, Wyndham and Explora publish, and who qualifies.