FAQS
Frequently Asked Questions
At KHM Travel Group, we want you to be informed so you can truly hit the ground running with your new travel business. Below are some of our most frequently asked questions.
If after reviewing this list, you still have questions, contact us or feel free to call our Membership Support Team at 1-888-611-1220.
What is a host agency?
What types of travel agents are there?
How do I become a travel agent from home?
How will I learn how to become a travel agent?
How long does it take to get started as a travel agent?
Where and how do I get customers?
How do I make money as a travel agent?
How much money can I make as a travel agent?
Will I be able to compete with online travel companies?
What are FAM trips and are they available to me?
Can I get discounts for my own travel?
Is KHM Travel Group like one of those MLM companies?
Do I receive an ID Card from KHM Travel Group?
How do I get an IATA ID card?
How do I get a CLIA ID card?
Can I sell airline tickets?
How do I get prices and make reservations?
Are there any additional costs that I will incur other than my membership fee?
Why do I need to pay a membership fee to own an independent travel agency?
When do you pay commissions?
What kind of support does KHM Travel Group offer to help you succeed in your business?
Do you need any certifications to become a travel agent with KHM Travel Group?
Why should people use a travel agent instead of just going to the internet?
Is KHM Travel Group a member of any professional organizations?
What is a host agency?
A host agency is an organization that provides independent travel agents with the tools and resources necessary to run their own travel business for a low startup cost. Some of these benefits include higher commissions, travel industry education, marketing/tech tools, and established relationships with top travel suppliers. The host agency also typically handles administrative tasks such as commission processing and booking support, while the independent travel agent operates their business and earns commissions on travel bookings they make. Host travel agencies are popular among home-based travel agents and are a great guide for those looking to start their own travel business. Top
What types of travel agents are there?
When you become a travel agent, you are not limited to one specific niche within the travel industry. Of course, there are plenty of travel agents who do decide to focus on these specific niches. Some of these agents include cruise specialists, group travel agents, luxury travel agents, and so much more. Top
How do I become a travel agent from home?
We make it easy for you to start your own travel agency from the comfort of your own home. Our education programs are designed to teach you everything you need to know to book travel and build your business in the travel industry. We’ll also provide you with easy-to-access marketing tools and supplier resources for you to support your travel business. Additionally, no certificate or prior travel agent education is required. Top
How will I learn how to become a travel agent?
Our Learning Management System (LMS) lets you control your travel agent education. Accessible 24/7 from any device, the LMS is an online classroom accessible to all KHM Travel Group Agents through MyTravelAgentPortal. The LMS is structured and broken down into courses, and each course is divided into lessons. It covers the basics of how to become a travel agent, like getting your business set up, working with clients, compliance, and simple marketing techniques. You’ll also gain a better understanding of all the tools and resources you have available to you as a KHM Travel Group Agent. Top
How long does it take to get started as a travel agent?
Getting started as a travel agent can take between 24-48 hours. After you complete your enrollment and New Agent Forms, we begin setting up your accounts in MyTravelAgentPortal and myTravelCRM. Once you are set up, we will send you a confirmation email with your username and log-in instructions. Once you log into MyTravelAgentPortal, you can begin Agent Orientation and learn how to book travel!
Online enrollments on holidays and weekends are typically processed by the end of the next business day. Top
Where and how do I get customers?
While we do not give customers or leads to new travel agents, we teach you, (as part of the marketing resources we offer agents) how to find and connect with potential clients. Through our education programs, we cover how to find and build a clientele on a small-business budget. Most new agents begin by selling to their friends and family, and then build out from there to neighbors, co-workers, clubs and organizations, and other community members. Top
How do I make money as a travel agent?
When you make travel bookings for yourself or your clients, our travel suppliers will pay a commission on the travel sale amount. The exact commission percentage can vary between 3% and 20%, with the average being around 14%. Whatever commission we receive, we pay you 80% of that amount, or 90% if you’ve earned $5,000 in paid commissions within a calendar year. For a more detailed explanation of our commission plan and an example, go to our travel agent commissions page. Top
How much money can I make as a travel agent?
Building a travel business requires hard work and time, but it can be very rewarding and profitable. KHM Travel Group has agents that book travel for themselves and family members and make a few hundred dollars of extra income. We also have travel agents that work full-time and make over $10,000 a month. There is no standard, as each agent has their own goals, priorities, and schedule. The sky is truly the limit. Top
Will I be able to compete with online travel companies?
Usually this question is phrased as “Are your prices competitive?” and the answer is “of course!” Our company and business model is one of the fastest-growing segments of the travel industry. In fact, according to the American Society of Travel Advisors, the share of home-based travel agencies has grown over the past decade and surpassed the share of retail location agencies. Our agents have access to everything that any other agent or company would have, plus so many more additional resources. Many of our travel suppliers will price match and you will have access to rates that are not available to the public. While our prices are definitely competitive, it’s important for travel agents to set themselves apart from online booking sites through exceptional service, personal relationships, and their travel expertise. Top
What are FAM trips and are they available to me?
A FAM (familiarization) trip is usually sponsored by a particular supplier for the purpose of agent education. A FAM trip allows you to tour popular resorts and visit destinations at some of the lowest prices available. These trips often help our agents increase their sales because after they have visited a particular resort or destination, they are able to share their firsthand experience with their clients. Because of KHM Travel Group’s strong relationships with our Preferred Suppliers, we frequently offer FAM opportunities to our agents.
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Can I get discounts on my own travel?
As a travel agent with KHM Travel Group, you will have access to information that is not necessarily available to the general public. If you are flexible on your dates and destinations, you can travel at very affordable rates. These types of savings are generally associated with FAM trips and are made available to agents for the purpose of learning and networking. In order to receive some discounts and participate in certain FAMs, you need to have either a CLIA or IATAN identification card. Both cards are available to KHM Travel Group Agents who qualify.
While discounted travel is one of the many perks of being a travel agent, KHM Travel Group does not permit individuals to participate in our program solely for the purpose of obtaining discounts on personal travel. Top
Is KHM Travel Group like one of those MLM companies?
Absolutely not! KHM Travel Group is a full-service host travel agency dedicated to supporting and developing our network of professional travel agents. All of the tools, resources, and support are designed to help our agents become successful travel agents, not recruit other agents. Top
Do I receive an ID card from KHM Travel Group?
We DO NOT issue a travel agent ID card because these cards are not recognized by travel suppliers. Instead, we work closely with each agent to help them obtain their IATAN and CLIA ID cards. These are the ONLY truly recognized ID cards in the industry. Keep in mind that an ID card is not necessary to sell travel as a travel agent. Top
How do I get an IATA card?
The International Air Transport Association (IATA) card is a true identifying marker of a producing travel agent. To be eligible to receive an IATA identification card, you must meet certain criteria. You must be paid a minimum of $5,000 in earned commissions within a 12-month period to be added to KHM Travel Group’s IATA list. Once this is met, you can complete the application in your Portal and submit to KHM Travel Group for approval. You then must maintain earning a minimum of $5,000 in earned commissions each year to requalify for the travel agent ID. Since our agents earn some of the highest commissions in the industry, they are able to earn their IATA cards much faster. Top
How do I get a CLIA card?
The Cruise Line International Association (CLIA) is the industry identifier for agencies booking cruise lines. KHM Travel Group is a Premier Agency Member. To qualify for a CLIA membership and the EMBARC ID you must have completed CLIA’s State of the Industry Course located on the CLIA site. You also must have completed KHM Travel Group’s Agent Orientation – Destination 1 in the Learning Management System and be in good standing with KHM Travel Group (your membership with KHM Travel Group has not been in decline for the past 6 months.) Top
Can I sell airline tickets?
While you can sell airline tickets as a travel agent, we don’t encourage you to focus your business on selling air. In May of 2002, the airline industry stopped paying commissions to travel agents. Most companies now charge a small service fee on all airline tickets. You are able to add a service fee to the price of your client’s ticket. This applies to both domestic and international air travel. Top
How do I get prices and make reservations?
Once you are on board with us, our team will help you get registered with our top suppliers. There is no additional cost to get registered; however, we do have procedures to follow. This registration will give you access to the suppliers’ travel agent-only websites where you can research itineraries, prices, and promotions. Many of these suppliers allow you to book your clients’ travel directly through their websites. In addition, you will have access to many third-party booking engines like VAX VacationAccess. We encourage you to establish relationships with these travel suppliers and expand your education through their online and in-person educational programs. Top
Are there any additional costs that I will incur other than my membership fee?
We realize that many of our new agents are joining our company to earn additional income, so we don’t want our agents to spend any more than is absolutely necessary. As such, we have designed our system to include everything you need to start and run your travel business. Other than the monthly (or annual if you choose that option) membership fee and your initial registration fee, there are no other costs to join our program. Additionally, all of our online education is included in our program at no additional cost. If you choose to attend an in-person event with us (and we hope you do!), those events are an additional cost. Certain items like business cards, internet access, and international telephone charges are the responsibility of our agents. Top
Why do I need to pay a membership fee to own an independent travel agency?
As a KHM Travel Group Agent, your membership fee covers all the education, tools, credentials, and technology that we provide to help you start and run your travel agency. We are constantly providing our agents with updated technology and new agent support resources that you can use to be profitable. As with owning any business, you need to invest time and money in order to be successful, and your membership fee allows us to build, maintain, and enhance what we can offer you as a travel agent. For a complete list of the benefits we offer, check out our Benefits page. Top
When do you pay commissions?
KHM Travel Group pays out commissions each week on Fridays. Once we receive the commission from the supplier (which is generally after the client has traveled), we find the booking you have entered in myTravelCRM and direct deposit the funds into your account. Our travel agents are able to continuously check the status of their commissions in myTravelCRM. Top
What kind of support does KHM Travel Group offer to help you succeed in your business?
We realize that the majority of individuals joining our company have little, and in some cases, no experience in the travel industry. For that reason, all of our systems, processes, procedures, education, and support have been designed with that in mind. We begin by familiarizing you with our internal systems. The Agent Orientation courses, which are web-based, allow you to learn the essentials of booking travel and running a business at your own pace. At any time, our dedicated team is standing by to assist you with any questions. Top
Do you need any certifications to become a travel agent with KHM Travel Group?
We do not have any formal education qualifications to join KHM Travel Group and we do not require new agents to complete our custom-designed online courses. However, we encourage all agents to complete these courses to gain a full understanding of KHM Travel Group and what new agents need to know to get their business up and running. The courses will give you an introduction to the travel industry, help you become familiar with myTravelCRM and the Agent Portal, keeping compliant as a travel agent, branding your business, and other essentials.
KHM Travel Group Agents are encouraged to continue their education through programs offered by CLIA, ASTA, and the Travel Institute. Top
Why should people use a travel agent instead of just going to the internet?
We get asked this all the time. Our business model is growing for a reason. Unlike travel booking websites, home-based travel agents are able to connect clients with the best vacation experiences and provide personal customer service from start to finish. This is especially true on more profitable, complex travel like cruises and vacation packages. Top
Is KHM Travel Group a member of any professional organizations?
Yes. We are members of:
- IATAN – The International Airlines Travel Agent Network
- CLIA – Cruise Lines International Association
- ARC – Airlines Reporting Corporation
- Travel Leaders Network
- TPOC – Travel Professionals of Color
- PATH – Professional Association of Travel Hosts
- ASTA – American Society of Travel Advisors
- Better Business Bureau
- Brunswick Ohio Chamber of Commerce