Finding the Best Travel Host Agency at Host Week with Steph Lee – Episode 47
Estimated Reading Time: 5 minutes
If you’re searching for a travel host agency or want to level up your travel business, Host Week is where you need to be.
This free virtual event brings together host agencies, industry leaders, and travel advisors at every stage for honest conversations, practical training, and exclusive promotions.
I recorded this conversation with Steph Lee from Host Agency Reviews back in 2022, but the format and value remains just as relevant for the 2026 event and beyond.
Whether you’re becoming a home based travel agent for the first time or you’re an experienced advisor looking to switch hosts, this event delivers.
I registered for Host Week myself expecting nothing but host agencies pitching their programs for days.
What I found was completely different and way more valuable.
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Why This Travel Host Agency Event Exists (And Why You Should Care)
Host Agency Reviews gets about 70,000 site visits monthly.
About 80% of those visitors are new to the industry researching how to become a home based travel agent.
That remaining 20% represents thousands of experienced advisors looking to switch host agencies or wanting better training.
Last year’s inaugural Host Week (2021) leaned heavily toward new advisors.
This year (2022), they expanded programming to serve travel advisors of all experience levels. “We wanted to add a lot of trainings and education, as well as keynote speakers,” Steph Lee told me. “Something that would be of interest to both new and experienced advisors.”
The goal isn’t just showcasing host travel agencies, though.
It’s recognizing the hosted travel advisor community while providing top-notch education that makes your business better.
Listen to the episode on YouTube
What Makes Host Week Different From Other Industry Events
Host Week isn’t boring because the team at Host Agency Reviews doesn’t do boring. (I would know, as I do work with the team on many of their projects.)
Instead of letting each host agency deliver the same tired pitch about commission splits and booking platforms, they ask every host the same set of questions.
These aren’t your typical corporate questions either.
They’re designed to give you a real feel for the culture and personality of each host.
When I watched the candidate interviews they did for the ASTA Board of Directors last year (2021), I could immediately identify who I’d want representing me and who I absolutely would not.
The same principle applies here.
You can watch a quick maybe 15-minute interview and know within the first five minutes whether a host agency is way too corporate for you or if they’re your people.
This matters more than you might think.
One of the main reasons I selected my current host is because they’re as kooky as I am.
You need to find your people in this business.
The commission structure and preferred supplier relationships matter, but if the culture doesn’t fit, you’re going to be miserable.
Host Week lets you figure that out before you commit.
The Host Agency Showcase: 25+ Agencies, One Format
Twenty-five plus host agencies participate, representing the full spectrum of what’s available.
You’ll find a mix of larger hosts, as well as smaller, boutique operations.
Some specialize in luxury travel, while others focus on mainstream bookings.
If you see a baseball emoji and maple leaf next to a host’s name, they accept both U.S. and Canadian advisors.
Steph grouped agencies serving Canadian advisors into one day so Canadian travel advisors don’t have to pop in and out throughout the week.
The host agency interviews are pre-recorded but stream live, with both host representatives and the Host Agency Reviews team active in the comments answering questions in real time.
EduSpots: The Real Game-Changer
The think tanks (now known as EduSpots) are where Host Week proves it’s not just about finding a travel agency host.
These sessions cover topics that every travel advisor needs, regardless of whether you’re hosted, independently accredited, or working with a consortium.
Some of this year’s topics include:
- Legal aspects of running a travel agency
- How to tell your story effectively
- Blogging strategies for travel advisors
- Sustainable and equitable travel practices
Since the 2022 event, these have grown to about 15 EduSpots during the event, or 3 per day, and they are perfect for helping travel advisors build better businesses.
Keynote Speakers Who Actually Get It
Every day also features a keynote speaker addressing real issues travel advisors face.
Steph kicks off sharing trends from Host Agency Reviews data, covering shifts happening in the hosted advisor channel.
Other keynotes for this 2022 event include:
- Mark Meader from ASTA discussing what the association accomplished for travel agents and what’s on the agenda. The pandemic made it clear how important lobbying power on the Hill is for our industry.
- Vicki Fried and Anthony Meloro from Royal Caribbean Cruises presenting “Be a Value Interpreter,” addressing why now is actually a great time to be in the travel industry despite negative headlines.
- Shannon Stowell, president of the Adventure Travel Trade Association, discussing sustainable travel and preventing over-tourism.
The Practical Benefits: Exclusive Promos and Awards
If you’re looking for a travel agency partner, Host Week delivers exclusive promotions you won’t find at any other time to join one.
These specials launch on Sunday before the event officially starts and often extend beyond the week.
Host agencies offer special incentives for advisors who join during Host Week, plus you’ll find membership deals from ASTA, ACTA, and other industry organizations.
Friday features the Luminary Awards ceremony, where Host Agency Reviews announces the best of the best host agencies across various categories.
The participating hosts lean into the fun with creative submission photos and team celebrations.
When and How to Attend
Host Week goes live the last week in January every year, starting on a Monday and running through that Friday, beginning at 12pm Central Time each day.
There are some pre-recorded sessions, but when those go live, team members or presenters will be active in the comments.
Best part?
It’s completely free.
Just RSVP at https://hostagencyreviews.com/hostweek.
When you RSVP, you’ll get daily emails with the agenda, session links, and details about the exclusive deals and giveaways.
Can’t watch something live?
Everything gets recorded and posted to the Host Agency Reviews YouTube channel under the Host Week playlist.
Who Should Attend (Spoiler: Probably You)
If you’re researching how to become an independent travel agent or searching for the best host travel agency, this event is made for you.
Host Week delivers value for:
- New advisors figuring out how to be a travel agent from home
- Hosted advisors considering a switch
- Experienced advisors wanting fresh training on marketing, legal issues, or storytelling
- Independently accredited agencies who can skip the host showcase but benefit from EduSpots and Keynotes
- Canadian advisors who appreciate dedicated programming
The EduSpots alone make it worth attending, even if you’re perfectly happy with your current setup.
This is practical training from industry experts who understand the specific challenges travel advisors face.
I learn something new from industry experts every single time I tune into these kinds of events.
Tom Carpenter always teaches me something about the legal side of our business that I didn’t know before.
The storytelling and marketing sessions directly impact how I connect with clients.
And the Keynotes remind me why I chose this industry in the first place, especially when the news headlines make it feel like the travel world is falling apart.
But beyond the education, there’s something valuable about seeing the personalities behind different host agencies.
Whether you’re actively looking to switch or you’re just starting out and need to find your people, those 15-minute interviews tell you more than any website ever could.
Finding the right travel host agency is about more than commission splits (even those are SUPER important), and a lot about culture fit.
Host Week recognizes that the hosted travel advisor community is strong, diverse, and constantly evolving.
Whether you need training, you’re comparison-shopping for hosts, or you just want to feel more connected to other independent travel agents doing this work, it’s worth the time investment.
Head on over to https://hostagencyreviews.com/hostweek to register for the next event. I’ll see you there 🙂
Resources Mentioned
Related Episodes
About our Guest
Steph Lee is the founder of Host Agency Reviews, a former host agency director who traded spreadsheets for a mission- helping travel advisors find their perfect fit in the industry. When she’s not decoding the host agency universe, Steph can be found wrangling her mischievous dog, planning her next bike adventure, or inventing new ways to make data surprisingly fun.
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