Last Updated : Jan 29, 2026  |   Author : Tanya Prasad   |   View Count : 210   |   Read Time : 7 min

How to Become a Travel Agent From Home?: A Comprehensive Guide

Are you the friend everyone reaches out to whenever they need help with their vacation planning? If you’re great at finding the best flight deals, researching the best places to stay and always keeping yourself up-to-date with travel trends, becoming a travel agent is the perfect move for you, and it might be more accessible than you think. 

The travel industry has completely transformed in the past few years– you no longer need your own office, expensive certificates or even past experience to become an advisor. With so many host agencies offering a partner program, it can get overwhelming to choose the right one. This guide will equip you with just the information you need to make a decision. 

How to become a travel agent from home?

A: There are multiple ways to become a travel agent from home. The best of all is to connect with a host travel agency. They provide you with everything that’s required to establish yourself as a travel agent— an IATA accreditation number, a complete CRM tool, support team & training resources.

What does a Travel Agent do?

A travel agent typically does everything planning a vacation requires– from hotels to flights to activities & ground transportation. And for high-end travelers who want customized itineraries, agents go further to become advisors who design the experience from scratch based on the client’s needs. They provide support before, during & after the trip. Aside from being a helping hand in planning, people prefer to book via a travel agent to get access to their expertise of the destination & even their industry partnerships, which often mean access to perks such as hotel upgrades. As part of their role, agents are also required to stay up to date with major travel trends & policies.

TL;DR: A travel agent handles all aspects of vacation planning from booking flights & hotels to suggesting activities for your itinerary.

What Education & Qualifications Are Required to Become a Travel Agent?

There are no required education or qualifications to become a travel agent. As long as you are adhering to the “Seller of Travel” regulations, you’re good. However, tour operators prefer partnering with agents who have completed some sort of training or certification. Doing these courses establishes you as a professional travel agent in the eyes of both the company and clients. You can opt for travel agency courses at two-year colleges or pursue a bachelor's or graduate degree in travel & tourism. This can also lead to a better future scope for your career in the industry. These courses typically cover topics such as computerized reservations, marketing/sales & air, rail, and road travel.
 

What are the Pros & Cons of Becoming a Travel Agent?

Pros of Becoming a Travel Agent

1. No necessary education or qualifications: Unlike most career paths, you are not required to hold experience in the field, a specific degre,e or certificate to be a travel agent. Your host agency will most likely provide you with training,an  IATA number & any other necessary tools to become a travel agent.

2. Flexibility: One of the biggest draws of becoming a travel agent is the flexibility of working from anywhere & having your own work hours (besides the unexpected client calls here and there) This is great if you’re a parent or someone wanting to have a side gig.

3. Growing Demand: Despite the presence of booking & planning tools, the demand for travel agents doesn't seem to stop growing. Group & hosted travel sees the most demand for agents, and they pay more than a standard itinerary as well.

Cons of Becoming a Travel Agent

1. Calls at Odd Hours/on Holidays: Clients usually like to connect when they’re available, which happens to be on weekends, public holidays & mostly during non-traditional work hours.  

2. Commission-based income: Your income depends on the number of bookings you close, and can easily be reduced if there’s a cancellation. Some hosts don’t let you cash out until you reach a certain threshold. Seasonal fluctuations hit your earnings too.

3. High Competition: In most places, you’ll find the competition in this industry to be steep. You’ll need to master marketing & sales to stand out from the rest, even when you’re working with a host agency.

TL;DR: The main draws of becoming a travel agent are no experience or degree required, flexibility of the work and exclusive rates when you travel yourself.

Top 5 Host Agencies for Travel Agents

1. The Most Tech-Forward Host– FORA
Considered the easiest way to build your travel business, FORA equips you with a complete digital dashboard that makes being an agent a breeze. It includes an all-in-one booking platform, invoice tracking & client management tools. They also provide you with exceptional marketing resources & shareable assets for your own social media.

Joining Fee: $299 per year or $99 per quarter

Avg. Earnings: Fora Advisors earn 12% on average, ranging from roughly $25,000 to over $95,000 a year.

How to Join?

• Apply online through their website with a quick 10-minute form
• Complete their interview process
• Attend their comprehensive onboarding training
• Get access to their platform and start booking

Support: Agents claim their support team delivers resolutions promptly & they ensure your onboarding process goes smoothly.

Perks Offered: Besides their extensive training program, you also get access to exclusive supplier rates, marketing resources, a professional website of your own, and invitations to FAM trips and industry events.

2. The Oldest Pioneer– Brownell Travel
Founded in 1887, Brownell is a premier hosting agency for luxury travel advisors. It is a top 5 producing Virtuoso agency. Bringing over 135 years of experience to the table, they offer the best resources to help you grow & establish yourself as an agent. Being top of line, their advisors have access to strong relationships with top-tier hotels, cruise lines, and tour operators worldwide.

Joining Fee: Varies; fill their inquiry form for details

Avg. Earnings: approximately $74,855 per year ($36 per hour), with salaries usually ranging from $65,841 to $84,845. Top travel advisors can make significantly more.

How to Join?

• Submit an application through their website
• Complete an interview and vetting process
• Undergo background checks
• Complete their onboarding and training requirements

Support: Brownell claims to have one support member for every 5 travel advisors, making their support team exceptional with 24/7 availability.

Perks Offered: Training is provided by Brownell University, which covers luxury travel sales, destination knowledge, and client relationship management. Advisors also enjoy exclusive FAM trips, strong supplier partnerships, marketing support, and errors & omissions insurance.

3. For Those Who Value Freedom– Nexion
Standing out as one of North America's largest travel agency consortia, Nexion is perfect for those wanting more freedom while still being backed by a supportive host agency. They work with thousands of advisors & offer override opportunities besides some of the best supplier relationships in the industry. Their model is particularly appealing if you value independence but don't want to be completely alone in it. 

Joining Fee: Apart from the one-time activation fee of $199, their membership tiers are based on the percentage of commission. The plans range from $15 to $159 for the first member. 

Avg. Earnings: While 19% of Nexion advisors report over $100,000 in annual revenue, earnings are commission-based, with agents often keeping 70% to 100% of commissions depending on the plan.

How to Join?: Complete their online application & select your preferred tier. Once you’ve submitted the required documents, you can start attending their orientation & training sessions.

Support: Comprises a dedicated staff of over 60, a help desk, and an online social community for sharing best practices.

Perks Offered: Aside from a robust training program through their University, perks include marketing tools, a personalized website, access to exclusive rates, co-op marketing funds, and networking opportunities with fellow advisors.

4. The Enterprise-Level Host– Travel Leaders Network (TLN/Unigroup)
TLN is one of the largest and most established host agencies in North America. This means you can benefit from their incredible buying power & supplier relationships, which can take decades to build on your own. They are operating under the Unigroup umbrella, perfect for those wanting a more corporate-level environment or enterprise-level resources. 

Joining Fee: $399 for the Premier program. 

Avg. Earnings: Agents earn through a mix of commissions (10%-30%) and service fees. It can range from $48,000 to $100,000 for top performers.

How to Join?: Research on their different affiliation options and then reach out to them via their inquiry form. Once you’ve discussed your business plans with their team, you can complete onboarding & training requirements.

Support: Comprises a dedicated staff of over 60, a help desk, and an online social community for sharing best practices.

Perks Offered: Aside from a robust training program through their University, perks include marketing tools, a personalized website, access to exclusive rates, co-op marketing funds, and networking opportunities with fellow advisors.

5. With a Boutique Approach— Gateway Travel
This host agency has been supporting independent travel advisors since 1988, famed for its personalized approach. Their work shows their genuine care for agents’ success, unlike massive corporate hosts. They have succeeded at maintaining a more boutique feel while still offering competitive commissions and strong supplier relationships.

Joining Fee: Around $495-$695 annually, depending on the program level

Avg. Earnings: Commission splits generally range from 70-85%, with opportunities for higher splits based on production

How to Join? After you complete their online application, a member from their recruitment team will reach out to you for a conversation. You will then have to provide the necessary documents & credentials before joining their orientation program.

Support Team? Yes! Gateway prides itself on responsive support with a team that knows your name and understands your business goals.

Perks Offered: Their training programs include insightful webinars, supplier training sessions & even mentorship opportunities for those who are experienced. You also get access to marketing materials, a website which you can customize, and invitations to educational FAM trips and industry conferences.
 

Quick Comparison Table

FAQs

1. Do I need an IATA number to join a host agency?
The biggest perk of joining a host agency is that they provide you with everything you need, including an IATA number. The agency already has the accreditation and you work under their umbrella. This saves you thousands of dollars and a lot of paperwork.

2. Can I become a travel agent from home?
Absolutely. In fact, most travel agents working with host agencies operate entirely from the comfort of their homes. All you really need is a laptop, a reliable internet connection & a phone. 

3. Which are the best courses or certifications to become a travel agent?
While you don’t require a certification to become a travel agent, they are always beneficial for your business. Some of the best courses available include Certified Travel Associate (CTA) and Certified Travel Counselor (CTC) programs from Travel Institute certifications & IATA training. Host agencies provide great training courses too.