Most travel advisors are unhappy with their compensation, according to a new survey from TravelAge West, part of its Need to Know research series.
In the survey of nearly 200 respondents, 74% say that advisors are not paid fairly. Of those, 59% feel that the amount of time advisors spend working is not compensated at a fair price, 47% think commissions are too low and 33% say that commission splits with host agencies are too high.
More than half of advisors feel they are not fairly compensated for their time.
Credit: 2025 TravelAge West
“Travel advisors aren’t just booking trips, we’re curating experiences that align with each traveler’s unique needs, preferences and dreams,” said Asia Lantz, owner and travel advisor at Travel With Asia. “That requires deep knowledge, creativity, strategy and time, often well before making a single reservation. The current compensation structure still leans heavily on supplier commissions, which rarely reflect the full scope or value of our work and often aren’t paid until after (or if) a client travels.”
The current compensation structure still leans heavily on supplier commissions, which rarely reflect the full scope or value of our work and often aren’t paid until after (or if) a client travels.
Advisors are split on the financial challenges they face. Nearly half (48%) say clients don’t appreciate the value of their services; 41% cite low commissions; 39% are challenged by receiving commissions after travel instead of before travel; 39% report having to chase down commissions; 26% indicate unfavorable commission splits; and 20% feel operational fees are too high.
Still, not all the news is bleak. Despite these challenges, 49% of advisors report that their overall income has increased in the past year. About one-quarter (23%) of respondents say their income has decreased, while income has not changed for 28% of agents.
Many advisors are seeing an overall income increase.
Credit: 2025 TravelAge West“It’s encouraging to see incomes rising, especially in a time when travelers have more DIY tools than ever,” Lantz said. “With information overload and AI on the rise, I find that travelers are craving a trusted — and genuine — human connection more than ever. They’re willing to pay for insight, advocacy and curated expertise, and that’s a really hopeful trend for the future of our profession.”
With information overload and AI on the rise, I find that travelers are craving a trusted — and genuine — human connection more than ever.
The majority of respondents work full time (59%), and 67% are independent contractors with a host agency.
Despite being full-time workers, most advisors (43%) say they make less than $25,000 in annual income — another 39% make between $25,000 and $100,000, while 18% report annual income of more than $100,000.
More than half of advisors (58%) say they charge service fees “sometimes” or “always.” Most respondents (33%) say the average amount of the service fee is less than $200.
More than half of advisors charge a service feel at least some of the time.
Credit: 2025 TravelAge West“Charging planning fees has become a non-negotiable in my business,” Lantz said. “It’s not just about ensuring profitability for me, it’s about creating a collaborative relationship with my clients from the start. A fee sets the tone for the high-touch, strategic service I provide, reflects the value of the expertise behind every itinerary, and sets me apart as an expert and professional in my field.”
Need to Know Travel Survey Series
“Need to Know” is a research series from TravelAge West that tracks the responses of travel advisors as they relate to various travel trends and topics. This survey recorded the responses of 186 advisors across the U.S. from April 14-30. See more Need to Know stories here.
