Whether you’re an experienced travel advisor looking for a host agency or someone with a passion for travel looking for a new full- or part-time job, becoming a Fora Advisor might be the perfect next step for you.
Becoming an independent travel advisor is a great way to explore your passion for travel and make money while doing it, but choosing the right host agency can make or break your experience. Host agencies, like Fora, are larger companies that provide resources and services for independent travel advisors ranging from access to an IATA number (which is required for earning commissions) to training courses for new agents.
But every host agency is different, so we polled our community of advisors to learn more about why they ultimately joined Fora—and why they’re happy with their decision.
1. Fora provides comprehensive support and training for our advisors
Many prospective Fora Advisors possess an innate, enduring wanderlust—they live to research and plan trips, love recommending the perfect hotel and revel in discovering the very best hidden gems a location has to offer. But the idea of learning the ropes of a new career (and possibly a new industry) while starting a small business can be intimidating.
“My friends have always told me I should have a side hustle in travel planning, but with a full-time job I never thought I’d be able to do everything running your own business requires,” says Fora Advisor Kristen Kmetetz. “I loved that Fora made it easy and I instantly applied. I see it as a way to indulge a creative passion, while learning more about the travel industry — which I’m hopeful will help me do more travel-related work in my full-time PR job.”
Fora’s comprehensive support system, including training, tech tools and a business model (which takes care of all the back-office admin), was a crucial factor in many to-be advisors’ decisions. This support and structure provided the confidence necessary for many prospective advisors—particularly those without prior experience in the travel industry—to embark on a new career path.
“I was searching for a new host agency and came across Fora, and when I saw the tech, the training and the real sense of community, it was a no brainer to sign up with Fora! And I’m so glad I did,” says Fora Advisor Amna Ismail.
2. Fora lets you transition careers at your own pace
Many Fora Advisors found themselves in need of a career change, seeking a more rewarding, fulfilling or flexible professional life. But they didn’t necessarily want to jump careers all at once. Fora doesn’t have any sales or booking quotas for its advisors, and you don’t need a formal travel agent license, so you can explore the travel industry at your own pace, working as much as your schedule allows.
“I was very unhappy in my job and needed a creative outlet. Travel is my biggest passion and I’ve always loved the hospitality industry and working with people. It just felt like a no-brainer to give Fora a try,” said Fora Advisor Michelle Cassidy. “Fast forward six months and I’m in a new full-time role that I really enjoy, and part-time travel advising is going strong! I dream about making this a full-time career in the future, but for now I’m content to build my business and keep learning. I’m so grateful Fora came into my life when it did.”
3. Fora Advisors get community and empowerment from like-minded peers
At Fora, we are committed to changing the stereotypes about what it means to be a travel agent in 2026, which is why we love sharing our advisors’ stories. Many of our advisors reported that seeing others succeed in similar roles, especially those who transitioned from unrelated careers, tipped the scale when it came to becoming a Fora Advisor.
Read more about our advisors A'Rie, Tanima, Gaya, and Nancy.
4. Experienced travel agents can grow their business with Fora
Not every new Fora Advisor is a newbie to the travel industry. In fact, some prospective Fora Advisors have extensive travel-planning experience, including knowledge of various destinations and bookings know-how. Whether prospective advisors had only dabbled in travel advising (like planning trips for a friend or two) or were longtime agents, they saw an opportunity to level up with Fora. For example, our extensive training resources can expose you to new travel destinations or help you enter a new planning niche such as cruises, corporate travel, or safaris.
5. Fora offers remote and flexible work
Advisors book as much as they want, as often as they want. The ability to work remotely, maintain flexible hours, and have control over their work-life balance was a big factor for prospective advisors. Between fast payments and the “work anywhere” accessibility of our integrated booking platform, this flexibility was especially appealing to many advisors.
6. Fora has a modern approach to travel planning
Fora is all about shaking up the travel industry with a modern, inclusive, and tech-forward approach. A big piece of the puzzle is our perspective on the travel advisor role, moving away from traditional, often outdated perceptions of travel agents. This boundary-pushing mentality attracted those seeking a fresh and forward-thinking work environment.
“When I started researching becoming a travel advisor, I realized a lot of companies wanted previous experience and certifications that I didn’t have, but I felt like I was already pretty travel savvy. When I came across Fora and realized you all would train me and support the process, that really became my aha moment!” said Fora Advisor Kristel Finns.
Fora Advisor Becca Santosadded, “For years, I'd been dreaming about opening a business centered around travel planning. Becoming a travel advisor allows me to be a part of creating some amazing memories for my clients. Fora was exactly what I was looking for to help me kickstart my own business.”
7. Fora is an entrepreneurial opportunity
Our mission is to empower the next generation of travel entrepreneurs. The opportunity to turn a passion into a profitable business was a significant motivator in many advisors’ decisions to join us. For some, this meant setting ambitious financial goals or seeing the potential for a full-time career in travel advising. Whether part-time or full-time advising, Fora gives the foundation and tools needed to start and scale a successful travel business.
