The live event has ended but your access to Host Week is year round! Here's how you can best experience Host Week after the live event:
1) Register for Host Week 2025!
2) Scroll to the Schedule of Fun below. Decide which sessions you want to watch.
3) View the Host Week magazine.
4) Find the sessions you'd like to watch and click on the session's link in our handy excel sheet. It will take you directly to the session in the YouTube stream.
Grab your popcorn, get comfy and watch the full Host Week 2024 event playlist here.
Host Agency Reviews' fourth annual Host Week event is coming soon!
The crew here at HAR throws a party every January to celebrate the thing we're most obsessed with: hosted advisors. It’s a week-long celebration of hosted travel agents and the industry that supports them!
Pop in throughout the week to get to know host agencies and consortia better, access special deals exclusive to Host Week event participants, let industry leaders inspire you with their uplifting keynotes, and attend EduSpots from some of the most passionate educators out there!
We’ve carefully crafted an incredible lineup of presenters who are prepared to get you ready for an amazing 2024 and help you up your agency's game.
Best of all? It's free.
CoffeeSpot Sessions
Connect + Caffeinate with our partners! We'll be giving away $7 gift card for coffee each day (one per person). Join us for the pre-game. :)
during Host WeekIn this CoffeeSpot session, join Fora’s Co-Founders Evan Frank and Jake Peters alongside the Head of Advisor Experience Laura Kilberg for a digital coffee date to learn more about Fora. Founded in 2021, Fora is a modern travel agency with a tech-forward and inclusive approach. In this session, attendees will learn how Fora empowers anyone with passion for travel to earn flexible income, and gain a greater understanding of Fora’s training programs, marketing tools, integrated booking platform and global community.
75 attendees/session will get a $7 gift card for their caffeine product of choice! (one per person during Host Week)
In this session, Irving Betesh, CEO of Sion will reveal how effectively managing commissions with Sion is the game-changing strategy your travel business needs. Learn how transparent and efficient commission tracking is not just about financial clarity but a major growth driver. You’ll learn about tools and techniques for turning commission management into a powerhouse for financial clarity and business expansion. Plus, join us live and you’ll have the chance to win a $100 Amazon gift card!
75 attendees/session will get a $7 gift card for their caffeine product of choice! (one per person during Host Week)
Feeling like you need to get your tech in order to support your growing business in 2024? Join us! In this CoffeeSpot, David Shull, cofounder and CEO of Tern, will be showcasing the Tern product and how they're consolidating travel advisors' historically fragmented technology solutions to save you time! Founded in early 2023, Tern is revolutionizing the operating tech stack for travel advisors. We'd love to see you there to learn more!
75 attendees/session will get a $7 gift card for their caffeine product of choice! (one per person during Host Week)
What if travel insurance did more than wait for things to go wrong? What if it helped things go right?
We fundamentally view travel insurance differently than the rest, evolving it from a forgettable add-on to a must-have advantage. Learn more about what makes Faye different
75 attendees/session will get a $7 gift card for their caffeine product of choice! (one per person during Host Week)
Uniglobe Travel Center is a leading host agency that stands out for its professionalism and support for its members. We offer programs to meet all experience levels, as well as ongoing training & support, providing the tools and resources you need to grow. Through our commitment to success, and our partnership with Virtuoso, UTC empowers you to bring your travel business ideas to life. We understand the unique challenges you face and take pride in cultivating a collaborative and supportive community.
75 attendees/session will get a $7 gift card for their caffeine product of choice! (one per person during Host Week)
2024 SCHEDULE OF FUN
🍁= Canadian Advisors ⚾ = United States Advisors
Schedule may change as we've got a lot of moving parts. This scheduling thing is TOUGH!
Save Full Host Week Calendar:
Google Cal | ics
💬EduSpot
LGBTQ+ Travel Trends for 2024 and Beyond
—SCOTT WISMONT, CTA, Rainbow Getaways
This presentation is designed to equip travel advisors with invaluable insights into the evolving landscape of LGBTQ+ travel trends for 2024 and beyond. As the travel industry becomes increasingly attuned to diverse needs, understanding these trends is paramount. The session will delve into emerging LGBTQ+ travel destinations, shedding light on their unique attractions and inclusivity initiatives. It will also explore the evolving preferences and priorities of LGBTQ+ travelers, touching on experiential elements, sustainability considerations, and immersive cultural engagements. By comprehending these trends, travel advisors can offer tailored recommendations, enhancing the travel experiences of LGBTQ+ clients. This presentation serves as a compass, guiding travel advisors through the dynamic world of LGBTQ+ travel, enabling them to provide thoughtful, informed, and responsive guidance that aligns with the evolving preferences of this vibrant community.
Take away:
1. What the LGBTQ+ Community is, diving in the complexity of the community and exploring the subgroups within it
2. Exploring the unique travel styles of each subgroup within the community
3. Challenges faced by the community when traveling and how to help overcome them.
4. Popular and emerging destinations for the community
5. Where to find resources when working with travelers within the community
Sponsored by:
💬EduSpot
5 Critical Systems for Scaling Top Performing Teams
—CYNDI WILLIAMS, Wanderlust Campus
The reports are in and our industry is in need of more skilled travel advisors to meet consumer demand. This is great news if you've been considering scaling your operation or growing a team. Before you start running hiring ads there are a few important things you should know first. Having a solid structure in place before you scale is critical for a proper start up and long-term success. In this session you'll learn from Cyndi Williams who is the behind-the-scenes consultant to travel agency owners that have scaled their teams from zero to 500+ agents. Learn about the foundational systems you'll need as you prepare to grow your very own profitable team.
Take away:
1. Creating a scalable operation
2. 5 Critical Systems you need to support your new team
3. How to build an employee pipeline
4. Cultivating a performance-based culture
💬EduSpot
Jet-Set with ChatGPT: Elevate Your Travel Agency in 20 Minutes!
—TAMAY SHANNON, W2S Marketing
Ready to revolutionize your travel agency in just 20 minutes? Join us for 'Mastering ChatGPT for Travel Agents,' a turbo-charged workshop designed to fast-track your customer service and operational efficiency. Learn how to train ChatGPT, a state-of-the-art conversational AI, to tackle tasks like itinerary planning and customer queries. This session offers a quick dive into evaluating and refining the AI's performance, all while providing you with a take-home worksheet for continued learning. Perfect for busy travel professionals, this workshop is your ticket to leveraging AI for standout service in a crowded market. Don't miss this quick but impactful journey into the future of travel tech!
Take away:
- Understanding of how to train ChatGPT for tasks specific to travel agencies, like itinerary planning and customer service.
- Learn a streamlined approach (STAR Method) to assess the quality and relevance of ChatGPT's responses, ensuring they meet the unique needs of travel clients.
- Get quick hacks for tweaking ChatGPT's performance, making it a more effective tool for their travel agency operations. (Think integrations etc)
- A worksheet that extend the learning with suggested prompts and things they can do to extend what they learned in the 20min.
💬MiniSpot
HAR's 7DS ACCELERATOR!
— STEPH LEE, Host Agency Reviews
— MARILYN FAY LEMUS, World of Wonder Travel Co.
— JUDI LOMBARDI, Memories on the Move Travel
We'll walk you through what's involved with our 7DS Accelerator program and how it can help you get your agency set up the right way the first and help you get started selling faster!
You'll also hear from some advisors who have gone through the course. We'll save some time for questions for the audience so write those babies down so we can answer them!
Take away:
* You'll be dazzled with one of HAR's favorite resources.
* Don't forget to check out the Host Week specials --- we have one for $100 off the Accelerator course for Host Week registrants!
💬EduSpot
The right questions - Identifying leads worth your time
—BETSY GREBINOSKI, Pique Travel Design
At a time when travel demand is record high, it’s tempting to help every person who comes knocking. But you quickly find yourself up to your eyeballs with unlikeable clients whose budgets are lower than anticipated. Wouldn’t it be nice if you could know you are building your book of business with the best clients? You can! Learn how we’ve tweaked and re-tweaked our webform and onboarding process to identify clients who have great budgets and and are a joy to serve.
Take away:
1. The right length to gather necessary information but avoid unwanted bounce
2. Setting client expectations on process and budget
3. Identifying red flags
4. The mix of automation and human assessment
5. Directing all new leads through webform
Sponsored by:
💬EduSpot
Working While Caregiving: How Do We Manage Our Work Life While Caregiving Needs Increase at Home?
—ALLISON BREININGER, The Negative Space
One quarter of US adults are part of the "sandwich generation" of caregivers, caring for children and aging parents while also managing a career. Join Allison Breininger, caregiver and creator of The Negative Space, as she covers the unique challenges and benefits of working while caregiving and shares strategies and resources to help balance it all.
Take away:
- Benefits of working while caregiving include: maintaining a sense of self, enjoyment of the work, compensation, benefits
- Challenges of working while caregiving include: balancing the hours, demands, schedules of two demanding "jobs"
- How to use the flexibility of being self-employed to your advantage as a caregiver
💬EduSpot
Sales Process Pro Tips To Boost Sales
—SCOTT RUTZ, Travefy
This session will provide key insights for travel professionals on enhancing sales fundamentals, streamlining workflows, and scaling sales teams. Attendees will learn essential sales principles and best practices. We will also look into the creation of efficient sales workflows. An lastly, strategies for scaling sales teams through effective hiring, training, and management. Join us to equip yourself with the tools needed to boost sales and drive efficiency in the future of sales.
Take away:
- Learn key sales fundamentals and best practices
- Learn to build a sales workflow to increase sales and efficiency
- Learn how to scale a sales team of travel advisors
- Learn tips on effective hiring, training, and management
💬EduSpot
8 Things to Ask a New-To-You DMC (don’t make the mistakes I did)
—WHITNEY SHINDELAR, Undiscovered Sunsets, Masters in Travel, The Hive
Crafting custom, high touch trips around the world most often includes collaboration with a DMC partner in destination. These partners have their pulse on everything that's going on in their destination, from hotel openings and management changes, to creating new and unique experiences for clients, and knowing who's who in the bar and restaurant industry in their top cities, among so many additional details.
So, in a "new to us" destination, how do we as travel advisors gather a list of DMCs that we can potentially work with? And once we have a short list, what questions do we ask and how do we decide who is ultimately the best fit for our trip design style and for the client's specific interests and preferences?
Join me to learn how we can source, vet, and collaborate with DMCs around the world in a way that leads to the wow factor trips for clients and repeat and referral inquiries for us that push our travel businesses to new heights. We'll dive into 8 questions you should ask all DMCs prior to working with them on a new trip design and so much more!
Take away:
- How to gather a list of DMCs that operate in a destination
- How to organize these research notes in a way that will support your business today and in the future
- What questions to ask to narrow down a potentially long list of partners we can work with
- How to collaborate with a DMC to lead to the best possible outcome for clients and for your travel business
- How to most effectively share your experience with fellow travel advisors to support the advisor community and learn from colleagues along the way
Sponsored by:
💬EduSpot
Reels Blueprint: Create 30 reels in 20 minutes (No dance moves required)
—CHRISTINE HARDENBERGER, Modern Travel Professionals
Conquer the world of Reels without uttering a word or striking a dance move.
In this session, I will reveal an incredibly easy Reels creation method that will unlock your ability to create scroll-stopping content that resonates and converts. And you never have to speak on camera!
By the end of this session, you will be able to create 30 days worth of Reels in 20 minutes!
Take away:
1. Create Reels that connect without ever speaking on camera
2. Conquer your fear of Reels
3. Create 30 Reels in 20 minutes
💬EduSpot
Data-Driven Growth: Tips on Using HAR's Research Reports to Benchmark and Grow Your Biz
—STEPH LEE and MARY STEIN, Host Agency Reviews
How is HAR survey’s data meaningful to the growth of your travel business? We have a few ideas for that! During this session, we’ll offer a bird-eye view of HAR’s research reports, then highlight practice strategies for practical uses of the data on-the-ground in your business. We’ll offer a few concrete ways to use the data to set or assess business growth goals, conduct impactful competitive analysis, and evaluate or establish fees.
Take away:
1. Discover what "normal is" when it comes to agency performance metrics
2. Understand the ways you can use HAR's reports to grow your agency in the most impactful ways
3. Gain a better understand of the world of travel agencies!
💬EduSpot
Beginning with the End in Mind: Building a Future-Ready Travel Agency for a Successful Exit
—MARC CASTO, MVC Solutions
—STEPH LEE, Host Agency Reviews
In the dynamic world of travel agencies, envisioning the future and planning for it is essential. Join us for an enlightening conversation where Steph Lee and Marc Casto will share their insights on how to build a travel agency with an eye toward future exit strategies. They will guide you through the things you need to be thinking about to craft a travel agency that not only thrives in the present but also sets the stage for a seamless and profitable exit down the road. Come join the fun!
Take away:
- Strategic Business Planning: Learn the art of envisioning your agency's future. We'll discuss the importance of planning early on for your exit to ensure every decision and action contribute to your ultimate success. It's never too late to start planning for your exit!
- Building + Defining Value: Discover how to create tangible and intangible value within your agency. From optimizing your operations to locking in your agency's intellectual property assets, you'll gain valuable insights on building assets that not only drive revenue today but also increase your agency's appeal to potential buyers in the future.
- Maximizing Exit Opportunities: When the time comes to transition, having a well-structured agency can significantly impact your exit options. We'll dive into various exit strategies and how a well-prepared agency can attract investors, buyers, or successors.
- Financial and Legal Considerations: We'll touch on the financial and legal items to consider that can help your agency prep for an exit. From financial health assessments to legal frameworks, you'll gain insights to ensure a smooth transition.
- After the Sale: We hate to break it to you, but once the funds land in your bank account, that doesn't mean you're off the hook. You'll walk away understanding the after-sale plans every owner should be thinking about. And no, it's not just which destination to jet off to after the sale, although that should definitely be part of it. :)
Sponsored by:
💬 Get to Know a Host
Travel Edge ⚾🍁
Incentive Connection Travel ⚾🍁
Nexion Travel Group - Canada ⚾🍁
TL 365 ⚾🍁
Independent by Flight Centre 🍁
💬EduSpot
From Manual to "Magic" - Leveraging Tech As Part of Your Financial Routine
—STEPHANIE CANNON, With Stephanie Cannon
Ready to ditch the "once-a-year" manual number crunching and leave the mounds of paper behind?
Technology can transform manual financial tasks into efficient, automated processes saving time, increasing accuracy, resulting in less hair-pulling, and seeing your financial results (aka profit) with a few mouse clicks.
In this session, I'll share the first steps to transitioning from manual to 'magic'!
Take away:
- The challenges and potential errors with manual methods
- The advantages of transitioning to digital and incorporating this into your routine
- Briefly discuss popular, user-friendly apps and software available for travel advisors
- Expert tips to determine the right tools that are a good fit your business
Sponsored by:
💬EduSpot
Travel Lessons Learned from NASCAR and Concert Tours
—PATRICK REYNOLDS, PRemcee
Prior to my current public speaking and concert management roles, I had a career as a NASCAR pit crew member. Both experiences submerge one into the business and the time away from home exceeds the time at home. Traveling is a major part of getting the jobs done- and not just traveling but traveling right. Transporting multiple personnel and millions of dollars of equipment night-to-night and pivoting with unexpected changes are everyday tasks. Comfort, budget, the calendar, weather, and site promoters are just a few hurdles that must be handled at each stop. The lessons learned working in these industries can train someone to work with much of the general public.
Take away:
1. Organizing travel for a large group of people.
2. How to arrange travel for additional equipment
3. What to do when weather or an unforeseen circumstance forces last-minute travel changes
4. Balancing comfort & amenities within a budget.
5. Scaling million-dollar teams & musicians to the family vacation.
💬EduSpot
Newsletters: Cultivate Your Ideal Clients with 3 Simple Steps
—MIMI LICHTENSTEIN, Truvay Travel
How do you demonstrate your authority and expertise with your clients and stay top of mind even when they aren’t in a booking-travel mode?
If you are like most advisors, you post on social media. But when you do, you give all of the power to them – to decide who to show your content to and when.
Staying top of mind with travelers via a newsletter that shows up in their inbox consistently is the best way to stay engaged with your clients.
If the idea of creating weekly content feels overwhelming, you are not alone.
You have questions…
WHAT do I write about? After all I don’t write for Conde Nast and AFAR, I’m a travel advisor.
WHEN will I find the time? My week is already overfull.
WHO will I send it to? I don’t have a big email list.
HOW do choose a platform? I have no idea.
WHERE do I begin such an overwhelming task? I can’t possibly add another thing to my plate.
I have the answers and I will teach you how to create an engaging newsletter that is targeted to your ideal client, guarantee that you get it sent out every week and has travelers thinking of you the next time they want to plan an adventure.
I have written a weekly newsletter to my clients since Feb 2021 without ever missing one.
Follow two rules:
1. start small
2. be consistent
Take away:
1. An action plan
2. A newsletter framework
3. A scheduling plan
4. A short list of the best email platforms
💬EduSpot
Curating a Loyal Fanbase: Creating Meaningful Connections
—JENN LEE, Travel Planners International
“Have you ever seen one of your friends, family members or clients post fabulous pictures about the amazing adventure they just took, but they didn’t hire YOU to craft the experience? It happens. Jenn Lee, VP Industry Engagement and Support with TPI, knows EXACTLY why this happens and will share what you should start and stop doing to ensure you have clients for a lifetime.
Take away:
- Understand what actions you are taking that “push” people away.
- Understand what motivates people to stay loyal to your brand.
- Strategies to leverage loyal clients to gain more clients.
- Strategies to create true connections with your clients.
💬EduSpot
Storytelling to Sell
—AUBREY JACKSON, Bespoke Bookings Co.
Aubrey Jackson's 10 years of journalistic experience and love of travel serve as the perfect ingredients for content creation success. The TV news anchor turned luxury travel specialist discovered organic marketing success by creating content that "tell stories" of destinations she highlights, further educating her online audience while enlightening her clients.
During this Host Week workshop you will learn how to utilize storytelling to create content that informs your audience and inspires them to complete an action like "book a call" with you and leave the session with actionable steps to begin creating content today and the best apps to use and download right to your iphone, to create 30 to 60 length video content that converts!
Take away:
•- Identifying "your go to platform" short form content is everywhere and though you may feel like you have to be, I advise choosing a platform to master and in this session I will share why Tiktok became my "platform of choice"
- What type of storyteller are you?
Story Type #1: Educational Story. ... (inform and educate)
Story Type #2: Entertainment Story. ... (sell a dream)
Story Type #3: Vulnerable/personal Story. ... (share a relatable experience)
- Best apps to download to and use for editing on your phone
Sponsored by:
💬EduSpot
Shifting Identities: Making Travel More Accessible
—DE'ANDREA MATTHEWS, National Diversity Council Certified Diversity Professional
When most people think about accessibility, the first thing that comes to mind are mobility challenges. According to the Center for Disease Control (CDC), approximately 61 million adults across the United States identify as having a disability of some kind. Some disabilities are not visible or obvious, like sensory or dietary needs. About 10% or 6.1 million people have hidden or invisible disabilities. People with hidden disabilities are protected by the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) which includes being entitled to accommodations in lodging. What does this mean for our international travelers, though? How can travel advisors continue to provide stellar service through accommodations, amenities and cultural experiences as the country’s aging population grows at a rapid rate? These and other questions will be explored in “Shifting Identities: Making Travel More Accessible”. This presentation will focus on five aspects of diversity – language, dietary restrictions, transportation, religion and technology – to share the impact of accessibility in travel.
Take away:
1. Learn the accessibility features (and new logo) to highlight with travel amenities as a new approach to meeting the needs of your client.
2. Hear relevant examples of “travel gone wrong” to avoid.
3. Simulate how to ask the uncomfortable, but needed questions so your client enjoys the best travel experience from beginning to end.
4. Incorporate immersive cultural experiences for an inclusive travel itinerary while promoting repeat business. (They will tell their friends!)
Sponsored by:
💬Closing & Giveaways!
VIA TRAVEL'S AUSSIE 4-DAY TOUR GIVEAWAY
—VIA Travel: Daintree Rainforest & Port Douglas, Australia - 4 Day Boutique Tour
Quick question: Where did Sir David Attenborough describe as “the most extraordinary place on earth”. If you said Queensland’s Daintree Rainforest give yourself a pat on the back. Discover exactly why the legendary biologist describes this lush vegetation as “quite unlike any other rainforest in the world” on this short but epic adventure. You’ll explore the rainforest with the help of a passionate local guide – expect to see crocodiles, birds and other amazing local wildlife on a trip tailor-made for nature fans. ($1623 value)
HILTON'S 2-NT STAY GIVEAWAY
2-nt stay at one of the following brands: Hampton Inn, Hilton Garden Inn, Home2 Suites, Tru by Hilton, Motto by Hilton or Homewood Suites. ($1000 value)
BARCELO MAYA GRAND FAM GIVEAWAY
Barceló Maya Grand Resorts invites you to participate for a chance to win a spot in a Hosted FAM. During our Fam Trip each agent will have the opportunity to experience all 6 hotels within the Resort; learn about different room categories, activities, weddings, leisure groups and all reasons why Barceló Maya Grand Resort is considered a destination within a destination.
The FAM Trip includes hosted dinner, spa treatments, bowling tournament, site inspections and much more. ($1,500 value)
BARCELO MAYA RIVIERA 2-NT STAY GIVEAWAY
Enter to win a 3 day (2 night) stay at the Barceló Maya Riveira at the Riveria Maya, Mexico! All inclusive board. Valid for (2) people in a Junior Suite. ($1,500 value)
OCCIDENTAL COZUMEL 3-NT STAY GIVEAWAY
Located in the Mexican Caribbean, the island of Cozumel boasts numerous natural attractions that contribute to its unique beauty. Occidental Cozumel is committed to sharing the beauty of Cozumel with our guests, a place recently acknowledged as part of the World Network Biosphere Reserves by UNESCO´s Man and the Biosphere (MAB) Program. We aim to raise awareness for the conservation of our surroundings without guests needing to leave the resort. In our paradise area, we recognize the values of the island and commit ourselves to preserve the environment and its rich biodiversity. We will share with you how we carry sustainability at a higher level, for mutual benefit. ($1,050 value)
Launched in 2012, HAR is leading travel industry directory that helps match travel advisors to hosts, franchises, and consortia.
But that's not all we do, we love creating in-depth resources to help travel advisors start and grow their agencies!
Throughout the week you'll meet the HAR team--Steph, Mary, Rita, Juan and our three dogs. We can't wait to see you!