
by Eric Bowman
Last updated: 7:55 PM ET, Sun May 25, 2025
Travel advisors know all too well how important timely commissions are to their business, and they take notice of which suppliers are better than others.
We recently surveyed top travel advisors in the industry to find out which suppliers truly deliver big when it comes to commissions.
It¡¯s important to note that not every single travel advisor makes the exact same commission as their peers in the industry.
More seasoned and experienced advisors with bigger books of business are surely going to have higher commission numbers.
Additionally, some advisors receive higher earnings with their host agency and are not able to publicly comment on how much they get in commission. Because of this, a few advisors asked to remain anonymous.
Allianz Global Assistance
Allianz Partners¡¯ commissions for their most popular product ¡°Classic,¡± pays 25% and their ¡°Premier¡± product with higher coverages pays 35%. Commissions may be higher with a consortium.
¡°Allianz actually pays me 36% commission, I love them,¡± said one travel advisor who asked to remain anonymous.
ALG Vacations
The brand offers up to 15% commission with Funjet Vacations, Apple Vacations, and Travel Impressions. With the ¡°Get Paid to Upgrade¡± program, ALGV pays up to an additional 2% on the entire land base. Additionally, advisors can earn commission on transfers, tours, insurance, car rentals, and other features.??
As for air, advisors can earn up to 5% commission on the air portion of scheduled air vacations. For Exclusive Nonstop Vacation Flights (ENVF), advisors earn full commission on risk air seats. Plus, they can earn a free seat for themselves for every 20 ENVF seats sold. ?
United Vacations also offers additional commission on premium cabin fares:??
- 8% air commission for premium cabin fares to Mexico, Caribbean, and Hawaii??
- 10% air commission for premium cabin fares to Europe, Asia, Middle East, Africa, Australia, and South America??
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Plus,?the United Vacations Seat Incentive rewards advisors with a $250 air voucher for every $100K in revenue booked.?
ALG Vacations brands also offer: ??
- Tactical bonus commission incentives on select hotels and airlines for additional earning opportunities??
- Earnings based on revenue levels by brand with preferred consortia agreements??
- More cash can be earned through the Waves reward program on every booking, delivered via a virtual Visa card ¡ª with bonus-earning opportunities available each month?
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¡°ALG Vacations is the best choice for travel advisors who want to grow their business and maximize their earnings,¡± said Jacki Marks, Global Head of Trade Brands for ALG Vacations. ¡°Advisors deserve to be rewarded for the value they deliver, and that goes beyond standard commission. With enhanced earning tools like Waves rewards, competitive host and consortia agreements, and unique commission incentives, we empower advisors to succeed while helping their clients take unforgettable vacations.¡±?
Sandals & Beaches Resorts
Advisors can earn between 17-20% depending on the room level (Luxury level vs. Concierge or Club level vs. Butler Level), as well as an extra 1% if you book using their online agency portal rather than over the phone with reservations.
"Our team at Travelmation loves booking with Sandals because?they truly value the travel?advisor,¡± said Adam Duckworth, President & Founder of Travelmation ¡°They pay commission?on everything - including a client's birthday cake!?Our advisors know that when they book with Sandals they will be supported and well taken care of and that goes a long way."
BedsOnline
Several advisors we spoke with mentioned BedsOnline as a great company to work with, offering them 20% commission.
Virgin Voyages
Many advisors mentioned how cruise lines are better at paying commissions to advisors compared to hotels and tour operators.
¡°One that comes to mind immediately is Virgin Voyages,¡± said Devin Hansen, Owner and President of Sunflower Travel, a TRAVELSAVERS affiliate. ¡°They pay 16% on everything. A lot of other cruise lines have NCF ¨C non-commissionable fees that are backed out and we don¡¯t get paid on those. Virgin doesn¡¯t do that.¡±
AmaWaterways
In the river cruise category, AmaWaterways was consistently mentioned as the top, offering 18% for?some travel advisors we spoke with.
¡°AmaWaterways is by far the best in the river cruise sector with 18% commission for me,¡± said one advisor who asked to remain anonymous.
Morgan Sanders, a travel advisor with Travelmation, noted two cruise lines that stand out for her.
"I truly appreciate?when a brand values a travel advisor enough to pay them a generous commission,¡± Sanders said. ¡°Virgin Voyages and AmaWaterways are two huge advocates that come to mind.? They are wonderful to work with as well, which inspires me to share their cruises as a strong option for my clients."
Explora Journeys
The recently launched ultra luxury European cruise brand offers advisors commissions of up to 18%, with no NCFs. Commission is also paid on pre booked air, hotels, and transfers at 5%.
¡°We continue to offer bold commercial terms in support of our travel advisor partners, including generous commissions of up to 18% with no NCFs, paid upon final payment,¡± said Chris Austin, President North America, Explora Journeys. ¡°As we demonstrate our ongoing commitment to the travel advisor community, we invite them to show their support by recommending Explora Journeys to their clients, where guests can embrace our immersive style of ocean travel and discover their ¡®Ocean State of Mind¡¯.¡±
Windstar Cruises
Windstar Cruises repeatedly was mentioned as a supplier who works well with travel advisors. Relationships are vital in the travel industry, and Windstar is there for their advisors, says Shelby Frenette, Owner,?TravelFun.Biz, a NEST affiliate.
¡°Windstar is one of the best-kept secrets in the small ship world,¡± ? Frenette said. ¡°When you book a group, you¡¯re usually earning at least 12% commission¡ªbut what makes it shine is how they layer incentives.?You can offer your guests 10% off during a promo, keep the refer-a-friend perks intact, and still earn bonus commission and a hosted cocktail party. Add in quick live agents, responsive group representatives, BDMs, and guests who are blown away by the experience ¨C it¡¯s a dream to sell.¡±
Collette
The tour operator offers up to 15% commission some advisors said, noting that they also pay upfront well too.
¡°Collette Vacations pays $100 per person at time of booking and deposit and then remaining commissions when people travel,¡± said Hansen.
Karisma Hotels & Resorts
If you are a Karisma GIVC agent, they pay up to 21% commission. Advisors can then get this 21% commission either directly with Karisma Reservations or with tour operators like Travel Impressions, Funjet Vacations, Delta Vacations, and more.
¡°Partnerships and experience can play a key role in commission rates,¡± said another advisor who asked to remain anonymous. ¡°I¡¯ve met advisors who tell me their rate with one supplier and I keep my mouth shut because I know I¡¯m making more.¡±
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