A host agency is an established travel agency that lets independent agents operate under its accreditation, credentials, and supplier relationships. Instead of building an agency from scratch, which takes years and significant investment, you join as a sub-agent and get immediate access to everything the host has already built: IATAN credentials, supplier contracts, booking tools, and training. You run your own travel business; the host provides the infrastructure.

No, and this is something we feel strongly about saying out loud.

Most host agencies treat non-booking agents as churn waiting to happen. Atlas Coast is built differently. Your $40 per month is a membership, not a performance threshold. Even in a slow month, you still have access to your professional credentials, your E&O coverage, your supplier relationships, your training library, your coach, the community, and all the travel agent perks that come with being a credentialed professional. Those things have real value whether or not you closed a sale this month.

The honest truth is that a large portion of travel agents join because they love travel, not because they are ready to build a booking business immediately. That is completely fine here. You do not have to justify your membership with a revenue number.

Stay because you are getting value. Leave if you are not. It is that simple.

Yes. There is no rule against two people in the same household joining Atlas Coast. Each person signs their own ITA, maintains their own agent account, and is paid separately on their own commissions. You are each your own independent contractor.

In practice, a lot of couples work very well as a travel team. One person may handle the client-facing side while the other manages the research and booking logistics. Some specialize in different niches and refer clients to each other. How you divide the work is entirely up to you.

The one thing to keep in mind is that each membership is individual. That means two separate $40 monthly fees, two separate W9s, and two separate commission accounts. There is no "couples plan" or household discount. But if you are both actively booking, each membership more than pays for itself.

If you prefer to operate as a single unit rather than two separate memberships, that is also an option.

You can share one account, but it must be registered under one person's name. That person is the credentialed agent of record, the one who signs the ITA, the one who receives commission payouts, and the one who is legally and professionally accountable for all bookings made under that account. The other partner can absolutely be involved in the day-to-day work, but only the account holder holds the credentials. If that arrangement works for how you operate together, it is a perfectly valid way to get started.

The two-membership route gives each of you independent standing, your own credentials, and your own income. The single-membership route is simpler and lower cost. Both are fine. Only you know which fits your situation better.

Atlas Coast is a strong fit if you love travel and want to be part of a community built around it. Whether you want to build a full-time travel booking business, do it part-time around another job, or simply have professional access and credentials as someone who travels a lot and loves helping friends plan trips, there is a place for you here.

We built this community for real people across the full spectrum of commitment levels, not just for people who want to replace a salary in 90 days.

It is probably not the right fit if you are primarily looking for a passive income stream. Commissions require bookings and bookings require clients and clients require effort. There is absolutely no passive version of this. If someone told you that becoming a travel agent means money rolls in while you sleep, that is not accurate and it is not what we will tell you.

It is also not the right fit if you want a hands-on manager directing your work, assigning you clients, and telling you what to do each day. You are an independent contractor. The structure, the hustle, and the business development are yours to own. We give you the infrastructure and the support, but we do not run your business for you.

And if you are looking for a quick win, be honest with yourself. Most agents do not earn significant income in their first few months. Building a client base takes time. We would rather you know that now than feel misled later.

If none of that scared you off, you are probably exactly who we built this for.

Yes! Atlas Coast is open to agents located outside the US. You'd be joining as a US-based travel agent, which means you book through US suppliers, get paid in USD, and operate under our US host agency credentials. Payouts go out internationally, and our payment processor supports bank transfers worldwide, and tax documentation is handled digitally as part of your onboarding, no matter where you're located.

The main thing to know upfront: because we're a US agency, our supplier network is US-focused. Most major cruise lines, tour operators, and hotels are accessible, but if you're primarily serving a European clientele and need access to European-market-only lines, for example,  some of those may not be available.

You'll also want to check whether your country has any local licensing requirements for selling travel. that will be on you to sort out, but it's worth knowing before you sign up.

If that setup works for you, we'd love to have you!

A few things worth knowing upfront:

We are not an MLM. There is no recruiting structure, no upline, no override income from agents you bring in. Your income comes from your bookings. Full stop.

You keep 90% of every commission. There are no tiered splits, no volume thresholds to unlock a better rate, no varying levels of membership, no fine print.

There are no startup fees, no annual contracts, and no hidden charges. Some host agencies deduct payment processing fees or administrative fees from your commission payout, meaning you are actually being charged to receive money you already earned. Atlas Coast does not do that. We absorb all platform and processing costs. What you are owed is what you receive.

Your onboarding will be faster and more self-directed than what you may be used to. If your current agency requires personal calls that are impossible to schedule, you will notice the difference immediately. Atlas Coast's onboarding runs multiple times daily so you pick your time, not ours.

E&O coverage is included at $5M per occurrence, which is better than the industry standard. The deductible if a claim is filed is your responsibility, but the coverage itself is part of your monthly membership.

There are no startup fees, setup fees, or one-time joining costs. Your only ongoing cost is $40/month, which covers your E&O insurance, IATAN-accredited agency credentials, Atlas Academy training, the TA Content Vault, your custom website and links page, and access to all supplier relationships. That's it. No surprises, no add-ons. No "processing fees" for your commission payments.

When a supplier pays a commission on a completed booking, Atlas Coast receives those funds and distributes your share through our payment platform. Commissions are paid on the 1st and 15th of each month based on funds received from suppliers during that period.

Balances under $25 roll to the next cycle automatically and never expire. There are no fees deducted from your payout, ever. What you are owed is what you receive.

Before your first payout, you will complete a quick self-serve setup through our payment platform where you enter your bank details and complete your W9. Atlas Coast never touches your banking information directly. Once that is done, all future payments are automatic. Our payment processor supports multiple payment methods so you can receive funds in whatever way works best for you.

If you earn $600 or more in a calendar year, Atlas Coast will issue a 1099-NEC to you automatically at year end, consistent with IRS requirements for independent contractors.

Atlas operates on a 90/10 split, which is one of the best in the industry, That means you keep 90% of every commission you earn, and Atlas retains 10% to cover operational costs. This applies from day one. There are no tiers, no thresholds to hit first, and no waiting period. Whether you book one trip or one hundred, the split is 90/10.

Travel agent commissions are paid after the client travels, not when they book. This is standard across the entire industry. A client who books a cruise in January for a sailing in September won't generate a commission payment until after they return. This lag is the most important thing to understand about travel agent income, because it means it can take 6–12 months from your first booking before money actually hits your account. But Atlas never holds your commission payment. Once we receive a commission for travel you booked, we distribute it to you.

You're not required to, but many agents choose to for liability protection and tax benefits. As an independent contractor, your business income flows through however you're structured: sole proprietor, LLC, or otherwise. This is a personal financial decision and we'd encourage you to consult a tax professional or CPA who works with self-employed clients before deciding. But for agents just starting out, in most cases, operating as a sole proprietor is just fine.

This depends entirely on how much you book and what you specialize in. A part-time agent who books travel for friends and family might earn a few hundred to a few thousand dollars a year. A full-time agent with a focused niche and an active client base can earn a full income. We won't give you inflated numbers, and portray this as a "get rich quick" scheme or "quit your job today" proposition. This is a real business that requires real effort and time to build, and most agents don't replace a full-time income in their first year and often even into their second.

Your client relationships are yours. If you leave, you take your book of business with you and are free to move it to any host agency you choose.

On pending commissions: commissions are paid to active members on travel that has completed during the period you were active. If your membership ends before a supplier has released payment on a booking, that commission is not disbursed. This is standard practice across the host agency industry, where commissions flow through the hosting relationship, and that relationship ends when the membership does. It's not a penalty; it's just how the payment infrastructure works.

The practical takeaway: if you're planning to leave and you have bookings with upcoming travel dates, time your exit thoughtfully. Completed travel that hasn't yet paid out is the main thing to think about before canceling.

No. There are no annual contracts, no renewal fees, no transaction fees, and no fees to access supplier systems or training. The $40/month covers everything included in your membership. If you're in a Seller of Travel state (CA, FL, HI, WA), there may be a small state registration fee, but that's paid to the state, not to Atlas, and is a requirement of the state.

Yes. Errors and Omissions (E&O) insurance is included in your $40/month membership. This protects you if a client claims a mistake was made in their booking. You don't need to source or pay for a separate policy, because it's covered under the Atlas umbrella policy for all active members as a perk of membership.

One thing worth knowing: if a claim is ever filed, there is a deductible, meaning you would be responsible for a portion of the cost out of pocket before the policy kicks in. Claims are rare, but we believe in being upfront about how the coverage actually works.

Atlas Academy is our in-house training program, built by university educators and not just a collection of YouTube videos, low-quality Zoom recordings, or PDFs. It covers how the travel industry works, how commissions are structured, how to use booking platforms, how to find clients, and how to run your business professionally. It's self-paced and included in your membership.

The Atlas Content Vault is a library of licensed travel photos, videos, templates, and social media content created by Melissa and made available to all Atlas agents. Instead of scrambling to create content from scratch, you have a ready-made library of professional visuals, templates, and copy you can use to market your business. It saves hours every week.

Yes. Every Atlas agent gets a custom website included in their membership. It's built as a mobile-friendly links page that serves as your professional home base online, giving clients one place to find you, learn about your services, and get in touch. No building from scratch, no separate hosting fees. It gets set up as part of your onboarding.

One thing we do recommend: purchasing a custom domain name for your site. A custom domain (something like youragencyname.com) makes your business look more professional and credible than a generic URL.

Domain names typically cost $3 to $10 for your first year. It's a small investment that goes a long way. Atlas Academy walks you through the process step by step and keeps it simple even if you've never done anything like this before.

You're also welcome to build and use your own website entirely, or skip a standalone site altogether if your business model doesn't require one. The Atlas site is there as an easy, ready-made option, not a requirement.

Atlas has established relationships with suppliers across cruises, resorts, tours, and more, including major cruise lines, all-inclusive brands, and tour operators.

You'll set up your own individual accounts with each supplier after joining, but you do so under the Atlas umbrella. That means preferred agent rates, dedicated BDM contacts, and access to training and FAM trip eligibility that independent agents without a host typically can't access.

And if there's a smaller or niche supplier you want to work with that isn't already in our portfolio, there's a good chance we can add them. You'll just need to submit our supplier request form.

You're not on your own, and this is actually an area where Atlas is meaningfully different from most of the industry. At MLM-style and uni-level host agencies, your support is typically whoever recruited you.

In theory it sounds appealing, and the idea of having a built-in mentor when you're just getting started is genuinely attractive. In practice, though, it's a coin flip. Your recruiter might be brand new themselves, might specialize in a completely different type of travel than you, or might simply not be available or invested in helping you succeed. Your access to real support ends up being entirely dependent on the luck of who signed you up.

At Atlas, support comes from the agency itself, not from a random upline. You have access to a dedicated support team, a community of fellow agents, Atlas Academy training, and ongoing resources that don't depend on any single person's availability or expertise. Whether you book cruises, all-inclusive resorts, or something else entirely, you're getting support built around what you actually need. Reliably and consistently.

Yes. As a credentialed travel agent, you get access to agent rates across a wide range of suppliers including cruise lines, hotels, resorts, and tour operators. These are not the same as loyalty points or coupon codes. They are wholesale-level rates reserved for industry professionals. The depth of the discount varies by supplier and your booking activity level, but this is one of the most tangible and immediate perks agents experience.

FAM trips (short for familiarization trips) are heavily discounted or complimentary travel experiences offered by suppliers to travel agents so they can experience the product firsthand.

Cruise lines, resorts, tour operators, and destinations offer them regularly. The idea is simple: suppliers want agents who have actually been on their ships or stayed at their properties, because those agents sell with confidence and authenticity.

As an Atlas agent operating under our CLIA credentials, you are eligible to apply for FAM trips. They are not guaranteed, they require an application process, and most require you to have an active booking history, but they are a very real and very popular perk.

Yes, with some nuance. You can book travel for yourself and earn the agent commission on it, which is one of the most loved perks of being a travel agent.

However, some suppliers have policies that limit or prohibit agents from earning commission on their own personal bookings, so it varies depending on who you're booking with.

The general rule is that most suppliers allow it, but you should verify with each supplier before assuming. Either way, even when you can't earn a commission, you typically still have access to agent rates, which are often lower than what the public can book.

If you cruise on complimentary casino offers, most cruise line suppliers do pay a commission on these, although they are generally modest amounts, given that the sailing is comped. 

A ship inspection (also called a vessel inspection or ship tour) is when a cruise line invites travel agents to board a ship in port and tour it before it sets sail. You walk the cabins, see the dining venues, explore the amenities, and get a real feel for the product. This is invaluable for selling cruises because clients can tell when an agent has actually been on the ship they're recommending. Most ship inspections are free or very low cost and are coordinated through cruise line BDMs or agent portals. Having active CLIA credentials through Atlas makes you eligible.

Most perks become available as soon as you are an active Atlas agent with your credentials in place. However, some perks, particularly FAM trips and higher-tier agent discounts, may require a demonstrated booking history. Suppliers want to extend these benefits to active, producing agents. The best approach is to start booking, build your history, and the doors will open as your activity grows.

One thing worth saying plainly: the perks are real and they are genuinely enjoyable, but they should not be the primary reason you become a travel agent. The agents who build sustainable businesses do so because they love helping people travel and are committed to growing a real book of clients. The perks are a bonus that comes with doing the job well, not a substitute for doing the job at all.

Here is exactly what happens when you apply to Atlas Coast Travel Group:

You submit an application form with your basic information. You will receive an instant confirmation that we got it. A short time later, you will receive a conditional approval email with a link to complete identity verification. This is a quick, mobile-friendly process that takes about two minutes and requires a government-issued ID and a selfie.

Once verification is complete, your portal access is granted automatically. You will receive your login credentials and an invitation to register for your onboarding session, which is a simulive webinar hosted by Melissa and Bati, with a live Q&A with an Atlas Coach.

From there, you complete your onboarding modules and you are ready to start booking, with coaches and a support team ready to help every step of the way.

The whole process from application to portal access is designed to be fast. There are no phone screens, no waiting weeks for a callback, and no gatekeeping

Your Travel Agent Portal includes an overview of Atlas Coast's preferred supplier relationships. These are the cruise lines, tour operators, resort brands, and travel providers that we work with most frequently, and where you will have the strongest access to commission rates, support, and booking tools.

For most bookings, especially early on, you will be working with suppliers we already have established relationships with. As you grow, you will also develop your own preferences and specialties.

If a client asks you about a supplier we do not currently have a formal relationship with, do not assume the answer is no. Smaller and niche suppliers can typically be added. Simply submit our Supplier Request Form, and we will look into it. The preferred supplier list is not a ceiling.

Most agents are ready to book within a few days of completing their onboarding session. The onboarding session itself covers everything you need to know to take your first booking, including how to access supplier portals, how to submit a reservation, and where to go if you have questions.

The honest answer is that readiness depends more on you than on us. The portal and training materials are available immediately. Agents who complete their onboarding modules promptly and attend their session early tend to make their first booking within the first week or two. There is no required waiting period on our end.

The onboarding session is a simulive webinar, meaning it runs on a set daily schedule at multiple times so you can pick a time that works for you, including a just-in-time option if you want to jump in within minutes of signing up.

Melissa and Bati host the recorded presentation together. It covers what is included in your membership, a walkthrough of the Travel Agent Portal, your first seven days as an agent, how supplier relationships work, and how to get support. A real coach monitors the live chat throughout the session and answers your questions in real time. At the end, there is a live Q&A segment with your coach on camera.

After the session, your coach follows up personally and you are directed back to the portal to complete your training modules and have the foundation needed for success. You are never just dropped into a dashboard with no guidance.

No prior experience is required. Atlas Coast is designed to welcome agents at all levels, from people who have never made a professional booking in their lives to veteran agents who have been in the industry for years.

What we do ask is that you complete the onboarding training before you start taking client bookings. This is not busywork. It covers the things that protect you and your clients: how to set client expectations, how commissions work, what errors and omissions insurance covers and does not cover, and how to avoid common first-booking mistakes.

Skipping it would be like starting a job and never reading the employee handbook. Possible, but not wise.

The Travel Agent Portal is your home base as an Atlas agent. It is hosted on Kajabi and is where you will find your training modules, supplier information, booking resources, coach contact details, office hours access, and agency announcements. 

You receive login credentials automatically once your identity verification is complete. The portal is accessible from any browser on any device, and There's also a handy free app you can use to have access to everything in the palm of your hand. There's no complicated setup and everything is designed to make the onboarding process easy and seamless.

Office hours with a coach are available inside the portal as well, but are gated behind completion of the onboarding webinar. Complete your onboarding first and that access unlocks automatically.

Your CLIA credentials come from Atlas Coast's agency membership, which means you do not receive a separate personal CLIA card right away. What you do receive is access to book under Atlas Coast's CLIA Agency ID (00810443), which is what suppliers require to recognize you as a legitimate travel professional.

In practical terms, this means when you contact a supplier, access a supplier portal, or book a trip, you use Atlas Coast's agency credentials. Suppliers verify the agency, not the individual agent, so this is all you need to book professionally and access trade rates and commissions.

If you want your own individual CLIA card, you can apply for one, and some agents do, particularly those who attend events or trade shows where individual identification is useful.

However, individual CLIA cards do have their own cost and must be renewed. And regardless of whether you have one, all bookings must still be submitted under Atlas Coast's credentials. Your personal card does not override the agency affiliation requirement.

No. You do not need a separate website, LLC, or business license to operate as an Atlas agent. You are an independent contractor affiliated with Atlas Coast Travel Group, which is the licensed entity. Our credentials, our E&O insurance, and our agency registration cover your bookings.

Atlas also provides members with their own customized webpage that you will set up during onboarding.

While it's not required, many agents do eventually build their own branded presence, create social media accounts, or develop a niche identity within the broader Atlas Coast umbrella. That is entirely your call and something you can build over time. It is not a prerequisite for your first booking.

Most agents start with people they already know: friends, family, coworkers, people in their communities. Word of mouth and personal referrals are still among the most effective client sources in this industry. 

Beyond that, social media is a powerful tool. Agents who build an audience around travel content, whether on Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, Facebook or a blog, can generate consistent inbound interest over time. Melissa has built an entire audience through social media, and that same approach is available to you.

Atlas does have a Booking Partner program where leads can be routed to agents, but we want to be upfront: leads from Atlas are a supplement, not a business plan.

Agents who build their own client base through their own channels are the ones who build sustainable businesses. Do not sign up counting on us to fill your pipeline. And when vetting host agencies, drill down deeper with any agency that promises leads to 1) determine where the leads come from, 2) what the commission split is from those leads, and 3) approximately how many you can expect.

No. There are no booking quotas, no minimum sales requirements, no contracts, and no performance reviews. You book as much or as little as you choose.

What we do want to reframe: your $40 per month is not just a "hosting fee" that needs to be offset by commissions. It is a membership.

Even in a slow month where you are not actively booking, you still have access to your CLIA credentials, your E&O coverage, your supplier relationships, your training library, your coaches, the community, and all the travel agent perks that come with professional status. Those things have value independent of whether you closed a sale that month.

That said, be honest with yourself about your goals. If you are going months without engaging at all, not booking, not learning, not using the perks, that is worth reflecting on.

Not because we will penalize you or terminate your membership, but because you deserve to get something out of what you are paying for. The agents who stay active in the community, even during slow seasons, tend to come back to booking mode much faster than those who go completely dark.

There is no single typical day, which is part of the appeal. On any given day you might be researching itinerary options for a new client, following up on a pending quote, checking in on a booking that is about to travel, or handling a question from someone who just returned from a trip. Some agents work a few focused hours per week around a full-time job. Others build it into a full-time business.

What you will not be doing: sitting in a call center, working a set schedule, or waiting for a manager to tell you what to do. You set your own hours, define your own niche, and grow at your own pace. The tradeoff is that nothing happens if you do not make it happen. Atlas gives you the infrastructure, but the hustle is yours.

This is a very self-directed business, which is what appeals to many, but if you're the type of person who needs a lot of direction and management, this might not be the best path for you.

When a supplier (hotel, cruise line, resort, etc.) pays a commission on a booking you made, Atlas Coast receives that payment. We retain 10% as our agency fee to cover operations, credentialing, E&O, platform fees, and other costs. You keep 90%.

So if a cruise line pays a $500 commission on a booking you made, you receive $450. There are no additional deductions, no platform fees, no payment processing charges on your end. Atlas absorbs those costs.

Commission payouts run on the 1st and 15th of each month, based on funds received from suppliers. Balances under $25 roll to the next cycle automatically and never expire.

Commissions are paid on the 1st and 15th of each month, based on funds received from suppliers during that period. There are no fees deducted from your payout. What you are owed is what you receive.

The main source of delays is on the supplier side, not ours. Most cruise lines and tour operators pay commissions after travel is completed, not when the booking is made. A trip booked today for next year will not generate a payout until after your client travels and the supplier releases the funds. Some suppliers move faster than others. This is standard across the industry.

If your balance in a given cycle is under $25, it rolls to the next cycle automatically. It never expires and never disappears.

If a commission appears to be missing after a trip has completed, there is a window to submit a missing commission request. Details on that process are in your agent portal.

Atlas Coast has a Booking Partner program where travel leads are routed to agents. When a lead comes in through that channel and is assigned to you, the commission split shifts to 80% for you and 20% for Atlas, instead of the standard 90/10. That adjustment reflects the fact that the lead was sourced for you rather than by you.

Many host agencies keep the bulk of commissions earned by bookings made by leads generated by the agency, with some splits as aggressive as 70/30, where the agent only keeps 30% of the commission.

If you receive a Booking Partner lead, you are required to follow up with that prospective client within 24 hours. If you do not, the lead gets reassigned. This protects the client experience and keeps the program working for everyone.

Booking Partner leads are a supplement, not a strategy. Build your own client base. Treat any leads that come through as a bonus.

The Booking Partner program is an application-based program open to experienced, proven agents. It is not automatic on signup. If you are interested, details on eligibility and how to apply are inside the Travel Agent Portal.

You can absolutely specialize, and many of the most successful agents do. Luxury river cruises, Disney vacations, adventure travel, honeymoons, group trips, cruises, destination weddings, all-inclusive resorts. Picking a lane makes marketing easier, builds expertise faster, and tends to generate stronger client loyalty than trying to be everything to everyone.

You are not required to be a generalist. The Atlas platform and supplier access support a wide range of niches. If you have a clear focus in mind, lean into it from day one rather than waiting until you feel established enough to narrow down.

Start with the Atlas agent support team. For most situations, they can help you navigate a supplier issue, a client complaint, or a booking error. Coaches are reachable through the portal and through [email protected].

For escalated situations, the Atlas team is behind that same inbox and can get involved when needed, and in some cases, the supplier's BDM may be able to assist. 

You are not on your own when a client's trip goes sideways. That said, you are the agent of record and the primary relationship holder with your client. Communication, documentation, and getting ahead of problems before they escalate are your first line of defense.

Your E&O insurance through Atlas also covers you if a client pursues a claim related to a booking error or omission. The deductible is your responsibility if a claim is filed, but the coverage itself is included in your monthly membership.

Yes, and many agents do. As an independent travel agent, you are free to charge clients a planning fee or service fee for your time and expertise. It is especially common for complex itineraries, honeymoons, group travel, or multi-destination trips where the research genuinely justifies it. 

Some agents opt to not charge any planning fee, some charge a fee but apply that back to the client's booking once it's made, and others charge a fee regardless of whether the client books or not.

A few things you need to know about planning fees:

Florida clients are the exception. If your client has a Florida address, you cannot charge them a separate service fee. This is Florida state law, not an Atlas Coast policy. It applies regardless of where you are based. If your client lives in Florida, no fee.

Referred clients and fees do not mix. If Atlas Coast refers a client to you through the Booking Partner program, you cannot charge that client a planning. Your own clients, your own business, you can choose to charge, but referred clients are off the table for fees.

Tell clients upfront. If you charge a fee, disclose it before they commit. Surprise fees damage trust faster than almost anything else in this business.

There is a public Atlas Coast Facebook page where we share content, travel inspiration, and updates for a general audience. But the actual agent community lives somewhere better.

If you are an Atlas Coast agent looking to connect with other agents, ask questions, or get support, that all happens inside Kajabi, where your portal already lives.

Here is why we made that call:

Facebook does not work for a private professional community. The algorithm controls what shows up in your feed, which means important announcements and critical updates can simply not appear for you. That is not acceptable when your business depends on the information.

Facebook groups drift toward noise. Off-topic posts, self-promotion, and negativity are hard to moderate at scale. The signal-to-noise ratio degrades fast, and the most useful conversations get buried.

It disconnects your resources. Your training, your community discussions, and your support tools should all live in one place. Jumping between platforms to get a question answered creates friction that should not exist.

We do not want to build on a platform we do not control. If Facebook changes its algorithm, restricts groups, or shuts down access, the community disappears overnight. We are not willing to take that risk with something this important to us and to your business.

Inside Kajabi, the community is integrated with your training, accessible without an algorithm standing between you and the content, and moderated by Atlas Coast team members. It is private, professional, and built for agents... not for Facebook's ad model.

Yes, in most cases. When you access supplier portals, request agent rates, or book using agency credentials, you are identifying yourself as a travel professional. This is both an industry norm and an ethical standard.

For friends and family bookings, the same rules apply as any other booking. Everything goes through Atlas Coast's credentials and the proper booking process. You cannot use your agent status to access trade rates and then book outside the system.

Yes, and we built a separate onboarding track specifically for converting agents. You already know the industry. You do not need to sit through training about what a travel agent is. Your existing agent onboarding is faster, more focused, and designed to get you operational under Atlas Coast's credentials within 48 to 72 hours of completing identity verification.

No, and we strongly recommend you do not cancel prematurely. Most agents need to operate under both agencies simultaneously for a period of time during the transition. Here is why: commissions from bookings you made under your old agency will continue to pay out after you leave, potentially for months. If you cancel your old subscription before those commissions clear, you risk forfeiting money you have already earned.

The practical approach is: new bookings go under Atlas Coast from the day you join. Existing bookings already in your pipeline stay under your old agency until those commissions are paid out. Keep your old subscription active until your pipeline is clear. Then cancel.

And yes, it can be painful to pay two host agency's hosting fees simultaneously, but it's unfortunately the nature of the business. 

Atlas Coast will never pressure you to close your old agency account faster than makes financial sense for you.

Your clients are yours. In most cases, your client relationships belong to you as the agent, not to your host agency. When you move to Atlas Coast, you bring your clients with you.

The standard approach is a simple personal email to your existing client list letting them know you have moved agencies, sharing your new contact information, and noting that all future bookings will be handled under Atlas Coast. Your clients follow you, not the agency name on your paperwork. Keep it warm and personal and most clients will not skip a beat.

New bookings for existing clients go under Atlas Coast from the date you join. Any trips already in progress under your old agency stay there until those commissions clear.

You will not lose your relationships, but you will need to re-register with suppliers under Atlas Coast's credentials. Supplier access is tied to agency affiliation, not to you individually. The good news is that for most preferred suppliers, this is a straightforward self-registration process through the portal, and any training or certifications you've completed with a supplier will transfer over without you having to start over. 

For a smaller set of suppliers that require agency-level submission, Atlas Coast handles that request on your behalf.

Your BDM relationships and any rapport you have built with supplier reps carry over personally. Those are yours.

The credentials themselves belong to the agency, not to you. When you leave your old host agency, your access to their CLIA and IATAN numbers ends. That is standard across the industry.

At Atlas Coast, you immediately have access to book under our CLIA Agency ID (00810443) and our IATAN credentials. For most day-to-day booking purposes, that is all you need. If you had your own individual CLIA card, that is yours to keep and renew independently, though all bookings must still run through Atlas Coast's agency credentials regardless.

Many host agency contracts do include non-solicitation language. The specifics vary, but a common version prohibits directly soliciting fellow agents from your old agency to join a competing one, typically for a period of one year after you leave. This does not prevent you from leaving or from switching to another host agency.

It is worth reading your own ITA Independent Travel Agent agreement) carefully before you make any moves. Non-solicitation clauses are generally about direct, targeted outreach to specific individuals. They typically do not prohibit you from making a public announcement that you have launched or joined a new agency, posting about it on social media, or responding if someone reaches out to you first.

You are an independent contractor, not an employee. Atlas Coast Travel Group is the legal entity (operating under Atlas Coast Ventures LLC) and you operate under our umbrella as an affiliated independent travel agent.

This means you set your own hours, find your own clients, and run your own business independently. Atlas Coast does not control how or when you work. In exchange, you do not receive employee benefits, workers' compensation, or a guaranteed income. Your earnings come entirely from commissions on bookings you make.

You will be required to sign an Independent Travel Agent Agreement (ITA) before you can access the portal or begin booking. That agreement covers compensation, cancellation policy, credential use, confidentiality, and how the relationship ends. Read it carefully before you sign.

It depends on your state. Only four states in the US require Seller of Travel registration: California, Florida, Hawaii, and Washington. Atlas Coast is registered in all four. Here is how that affects you as an agent:

Florida residents can operate under Atlas Coast's registration by filing a simple $50 per year exemption form with the state, along with a copy of your ITA agreement. Full instructions are in your agent portal.

California residents can generally operate under Atlas Coast's registration as well, provided you do not handle client funds directly.

Hawaii is the exception. Hawaii has no IC exemption. Every agent booking Hawaii travel must be individually registered with the state, regardless of host agency affiliation. If you are a Hawaii resident or regularly book Hawaii travel for clients, you will need your own Hawaii registration. Atlas Coast will give you clear guidance on this in your onboarding.

Washington residents typically need their own $60 per year state registration if you are marketing under your own brand name rather than exclusively under Atlas Coast's.

If you are not in any of these four states, there is no state-level Seller of Travel registration required for you at this time.

Errors and Omissions insurance protects you if a client files a claim against you for a professional mistake, a miscommunication, or an omission in your booking or advice. For example, if you failed to communicate a supplier's cancellation policy and a client lost money as a result, E&O would cover your legal defense and any covered damages.

Atlas Coast's E&O policy covers $5 million per occurrence, which exceeds the industry standard. It is included in your monthly membership. You do not pay a separate insurance premium.

What it does not cover: intentional fraud or misconduct, commission clawbacks from cancellations, your own out-of-pocket losses, or claims arising from actions clearly outside your role as a travel agent. And if a claim is filed against you, the deductible is your responsibility. That deductible is $500 per claim.

E&O is there as a backstop, not a substitute for good documentation and clear client communication. The best way to never need it is to be thorough, transparent, and to put important details in writing with your clients.

The ITA is the Independent Travel Agent Agreement. It is the contract between you and Atlas Coast that defines the terms of your affiliation. You sign it before your portal access is granted and you can review it now at www.atlascoasttravel.com/ITA

The key things it covers: your commission split and how payouts work, the 30-day written notice required to cancel your membership, Atlas Coast's right to terminate for cause (fraud, chargebacks, ITA breach), what happens to your credentials when the relationship ends, and others.

The governing law for the agreement is the state of Florida.

Read the ITA before you sign it. We wrote it to be straightforward, but it is a real contract with real terms and you should understand what you are agreeing to.

If you cancel your membership, any commissions on completed trips where Atlas Coast has already received cleared supplier funds will be paid out in your next regular pay cycle. If your balance at that point is below the $25 minimum threshold, it will still be paid out in full on exit regardless of the threshold.

Commissions on trips that have not yet traveled, or where the supplier has not yet paid Atlas Coast, cannot be released because we have not received the funds. Those follow the normal supplier payment timeline.

To cancel, you submit a written cancellation request through the Atlas Coast cancellation form. Your membership continues and is billed through the 30-day notice period. Cancellations are not effective until the form is received and confirmed.

Yes, if you earn $600 or more in commissions in a calendar year, Atlas Coast will issue a 1099-NEC to you consistent with IRS requirements. This is standard for independent contractors.

Before your first commission payout, you will be required to complete a W9 through Atlas Coast's payment platform. This is a simple, self-serve process that takes a few minutes. Atlas Coast never handles your bank details directly. Everything goes through our payment platform securely.

If you earn under $600 in a calendar year, a 1099 is not required by the IRS, though you are still responsible for reporting any income on your own tax return. Atlas Coast does not provide tax advice. Consult your own tax professional about how to handle self-employment income.

You are affiliated with Atlas Coast Travel Group and can identify yourself as an Atlas Coast travel agent. Many agents do reference the agency in their bio, on their website, or in their marketing materials.

What you may not do: misrepresent yourself as an employee of Atlas Coast, use Atlas Coast's branding in ways that imply ownership or authority you do not have, or use the Atlas Coast name after your membership ends. Additionally, we are not able to provide income or employment verification for independent contractors.

You are also free to build your own brand identity within your Atlas Coast affiliation. Many agents develop a personal brand or niche presence alongside their agency affiliation. There is no conflict there as long as your bookings are running through Atlas Coast's credentials.

When your membership ends, your access to the Travel Agent Portal is revoked immediately. The CLIA and IATAN credentials issued under Atlas Coast's agency affiliation are also revoked. You may not continue to use Atlas Coast's accreditation numbers after your membership ends.

Any training materials, courses, templates or content you accessed through the portal are licensed to you for the duration of your active membership only. That license ends with your membership.

Your clients are yours. Atlas Coast has no claim on the client relationships you built during your time with us. You take those with you.

We built Atlas Coast to be a place agents genuinely want to stay, not a place they feel stuck in. There are no contracts, no exit penalties, and no hard feelings if it is not the right fit. We hope it is. But if it is not, we wish you well and we mean that.

Because we're accountable for everything that happens under our host agency umbrella. When you join Atlas Coast, you get access to our supplier relationships, booking tools, and the credibility that comes with our IATA number. That means we need to know who we're working with.

ID verification is how we protect our agents, our suppliers, and our clients from bad actors. It's a one-time step, it takes a few minutes, and it applies to everyone, no exceptions.