Because you are starting a new travel business in an unfamiliar industry, it is crucial to your success to gain the proper knowledge, skills and abilities. Our Travel Biz Program includes a entry-level, self-paced, travel industry standard training program utilizing The Travel Institutes Career Development books and workbooks covering the following 12 chapters (approximately 500 pages of information):

• Travel and the Travel Professional
• Using Technology
• Geography and International Travel
• Air Travel
• Ground Travel
• Accommodations
• Cruises
• Tours
• Marketing
• Making a Sale
• Specialized Sales
• Communications

Our online testing system covers individual chapters along with one final exam. A passing score is required for each test and your results are transmitted to TPI. Unlimited re-testing is allowed. Once you successfully complete the training program, you will be on your way to selling travel.

Based on our 20+ years of experience, we know that a textbook will only teach you fundamental travel knowledge.  In practicality, you need real-time, hands-on training and the guidance of a Mentor.  We also know that your first attempt at booking travel can be a real challenge - even intimidating to some.  As your Host Agency, we never want you to feel like you are alone and because of this, we have the TPI-Mentor Program.  This is what makes our program unique and better than all of the rest.  Once you complete the Entry-level Travel Agent Training, we immediately assign a Mentor to work with you.  Your assigned Mentor will guide you EVERY step of the way.  During the Mentor period, you also get the benefits to “Earn-While-You-Learn” which allows you to make bookings with the assistance of your mentor and earn 50% commission!  We don’t just toss you to any Mentor; we only assign you to an experienced and seasoned travel professional with at least 5 years of experience.  TPI has established the following training requirements that will guide you to becoming a travel professional.

During the Mentor period you will:

• Receive guidance on the creation of a business name and deciding on a business structure, to include obtaining the necessary licenses, seller of travel laws, domain registration and checking accounts
• Receive guidance on choosing a travel niche
• Develop a plan for learning and creating your travel niche
• Develop a business plan, which includes a marketing plan
• Receive guidance on utilizing TPI’s Logo Design Services
• Explore all TPI marketing and business development programs as available on www.tpimbd.com
• Explore other marketing opportunities
• Learn how to make a travel reservation using travel agent only booking tools including bookings via the telephone
• Learn how to qualify a client with a booking form in order to research and quote a price.
• Learn how to navigate the TPI-AgentRC
• Learn how to invoice your bookings through the TPI-AgentRC Trip Builder
• Discover the importance of booking with TPI’s Preferred Suppliers
• Learn about available Industry Certifications and affiliations, including CLIA cards and IATAN cards
• Navigate the various industry resources available to travel agents
• Discover the importance of offering Travel Insurance to each client
• Discover existing forms for clients to protect from potential waivers and disclaimers

*You will be required to successfully complete the Entry-level Travel Agent Training prior to entering the TPI-Mentor program. Upon entering the TPI-Mentor program you will be required to complete the above training requirements and 10 cruise/tour bookings through your Mentor.  Any and all services not mentioned above provided by the TPI-Mentor Program may have a nominal fee.

We’ve been hosting travel agents since our inception in 1988. Our support staff of over 30 business, travel, and marketing experts is here to support you every step of the way. And, with a total TPI team representing over 250 years (75 years combined for TPI owners and over 175 years for managers and staff) of travel agency experience, you can feel secure you’re doing business with a company that truly knows the travel business. Come experience the passion that we bring to our hosting business each and every day. Everything we do, everything we negotiate, every decision we make, is for the benefit of our travel agent partners. That’s why we’re the leader in travel agency hosting.

Our TPI-AgentRC was designed to put you in complete control of your travel business, fully loaded with management tools and all the bells and whistles to fully transact with your customers and TPI. With our TPI-AgentRC Commission Manager, you can view your day-to-day commission earnings right up to the day we deposit your earnings directly into your checking account. Click here to watch a quick video demonstration of our TPI-AgentRC.*

Vacation.com Engagement Program (Direct Mail/Email Marketing Program) is a targeted direct mail campaign where Vacation.com produces and mails 60+ personalized mail pieces (post cards, flyers, destination magazine, etc.) per year to your customers. In addition, they offer 50+ e-Engagement email ready promotions that can be sent to your entire customer list at no additional cost. These marketing tools enable you to compete with travel sellers (Expedia, Travelocity, AAA, etc.) who spend big bucks on consumer promotions. All direct mail and email promotions are designed with Vacation.com/TPI negotiated value added benefits for your customers promoting a preferred supplier. A quarterly Destination magazine can be customized with a personal letter to your customers printed on the inside cover! Click below for information and product samples:

• Engagement Information Sheet - Click Here
• DV (Destination Vacation) Magazine SAMPLE - Click Here
• Promotional Flyer Classic Hawaii SAMPLE - Click Here
• Promotional Flyer Holland America SAMPLE - Click Here
• Promotional Getaway Guide SAMPLE - Click Here

Enrollment with the Engagement program requires that you submit a minimum of 150 valid names and addresses. The Enrollment fee is only $35.00 and includes 150 free customer prospect names and addresses to help jump-start your marketing.  Compared with the cost of designing, printing and mailing these quality pieces, you will save more than 50% than doing it yourself.  If your customer list qualifies (*based on demographics and spending patterns matched with preferred suppliers), you will receive up to 4500 free pieces per year (based on 60+ mailings and 150 free pieces per mailing) - a $2250.00 value! (more)

TPI provides you with a free consumer website which can be customized with your logo and personal contact information - plus, you get optional pages for promoting your own groups or special trips. It is powered with content from hundreds of suppliers and an easy-to use TPI Email Marketing system and a new Viral Marketing System called TripBlip. Optional air/car/hotel/cruise engines can be easily turned on or off putting you in control of your booking automation.

Having sub-agents allows you to retain a portion of commission that is generated through your mini network of Independent Contractors working for you. Most likely, this additional business comes from customers that you probably could not obtain yourself, so having sub-agents allows you to penetrate additional markets.  Additional sub-agents are only $10.00 per month each.  In addition, we provide your sub-agents with full access to our TPI-AgentRC giving your sub-agents the same tools, technology and support we provide you. Not only will you have full control of your sub-agents using our management tools, you can also designate different commission levels for each sub-agent. We may limit the Marketing support or training (seminar space, FAM’s, conference call space) to your sub-agents as our first priority is you. A $99.95 setup fee applies for registering and setting-up each sub-agent.

• Earn 70%, 75% or 80% Commission With Our Travel Biz Program - All commission is fixed at the designated commission level. Upgrade your hosting plan to a higher commission plan after 6 months to any of TPI's Hosting Plans paying up to 100%. All commission is based on the full commission received by TPI. Example: $2000.00 cruise booking @ 16% TPI Commission = $320 Gross Commission x 70% = You Earn $224.00. Choose from 3 different commission levels.
• TravelBiz70 Program - Earn a Fixed 70% Commission
• TravelBiz75 Program - Earn a Fixed 75% Commission
• TravelBiz80 Program - Earn a Fixed 80% Commission
• Top Tier Commission (up to 21%) on Major Suppliers Including Royal Caribbean, Celebrity, Globus, Carnival, Holland, FunJet, Costa, Classic, NCL, Princess, GoGo, Apple & More (more)
• Competitive Pricing Advantages with Key Preferred Suppliers
• Your Commissions Paid Promptly and Electronically Twice Per Month (on 10th and 25th) Direct To Your Checking Account
• Dedicated Support by Phone, Email and Live Chat
• $1,000,000.00 E & O (Errors and Omissions) Insurance Coverage Included
• Free Booking Tools Included - Vacation.com EZguider (more), Amadeus Cruise, Sabre Cruises, Consolidator Shopper, VAX (Vacation Access), Amadeus e-Retail Air/Car/Hotel Booking Engine, Galileo Neat Agent, FareBuzz & More
• FREE Consumer Website (more)
• In-House Design Services Logos, Banner Ads and More (more)
• FREE Vacation.com Email / Direct Mail Program - Vacation.com Engagement Program (more)
• Low Cost TPI Direct Mail Programs (more)
• TPI's MyVacationExperts.com Lead Generation Program - We spend money on advertising (newspaper, magazine, direct mail, email, tags, etc) to attract the best qualified clients and then match these travelers with the knowledge and expertise of one of our “Vacation Experts” (that’s you) and you earn your full commission and keep the client for life. (more)
• Book Your Customers Into Thousands of Blocked Cruise Cabins through TPI and Vacation.com (more)
• Group Sales Coach - to help you with planning your cruise group - including blocking space, flyers, payments, invoicing, and finalizing (more)
• Block Your Own Cruise & Tour Groups Using Our Negotiated Rates and Exclusive Offerings (more)
• Weekly Webinars with Preferred Suppliers and on Growing Your Business (more)
• Come Sail and Learn on One of Our Seminars-at-Sea (more)
• Ongoing Continued Education and Training Programs (more)
• TPI Communicator - Daily Email Update (more)
• IATAN and CLIA Cards When Qualified (qualifications determined by IATAN and CLIA rules)
• Review our TPI Fee Schedule for all mailing fees, ticketing fees, etc. - click here
• Health Benefits Program (more)

All agreements are for one (1) year with an auto-renew option. Monthly fees are based on the plan selected. Annual renewal fee $119.95.

• TravelBiz70 Program: Setup/Training Fee $495 (normally $745 - SAVE $250), Monthly Fee $19.95

• TravelBiz75 Program: Setup/Training Fee $495 (normally $745 - SAVE $250), Monthly Fee $29.95

• TravelBiz80 Program: Setup/Training Fee $495 (normally $745 - SAVE $250), Monthly Fee $39.95

Our sign-up process is online. See online agreements below. For joining TPI, we do require the following:

• Proof of U.S. Citizenship or Residency - TPI only accepts U.S. Citizens or U.S. Residents residing in the 50 U.S. States including Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. At time of sign-up, you will be required to submit a copy of a valid U.S. state issued driver’s license or identification card, U.S. Passport or U.S. Resident Alien Card.
• Valid Taxpayer Identification Number - You must possess a valid Taxpayer Identification Number (TIN) - consisting of a Social Security Number (SSN) or Employer Identification Number (EIN).
• Meet our Acceptance Standards (Pre-Acceptance Process) - To ensure the highest standards in our newest Independent Contractors and to uphold our professional reputation with our suppliers and associations, you must undergo an approval process for joining TPI. TPI has the sole discretion to accept or decline any Independent Contractor for any reason whatsoever.  As a general guideline, we do not approve Independent Contractors with any financial criminal background history including, but not limited to, writing worthless checks, embezzlement, credit card fraud, identity theft, or grand theft. If you have any special circumstances that we should consider when reviewing your application, please feel free to make your comments accordingly in the space provided.

If you are accepted, TPI will immediately charge the applicable $495 setup/training fee to your credit card and proceed to fully setup and issue a Welcome/Instructions/Training letter within 3 business days of you submitting the online Agreement as long as we are in receipt of all required security items (copy of your driver’s license, passport or resident alien card, and Credit Card Authorization Form).  Additionally, within 5 business days, you will receive your books for the Entry-level Travel Agent Training Program by USPS priority mail. If you are denied, TPI will email you a denial letter within 3 business days.  If denied, the Agreement and all submitted items will be deleted from our systems and shredded.

TravelBiz70 Program (70% Commission) - Click Here to Sign-up By Completing Online Agreement

TravelBiz75 Program (75% Commission) - Click Here to Sign-up By Completing Online Agreement

TravelBiz80 Program (80% Commission) - Click Here to Sign-up By Completing Online Agreement

To review the agreement terms and conditions prior to signing-up, click here: TravelBiz70 Program, TravelBiz75 Program, Travel Biz80 Program