LTA Central

To become an independent travel agent, you'll need to establish a business name and email address. Depending on your location, you may need to register a 'doing business as' (DBA) name with your local county clerk's office, or set up a more formal business structure such as a corporation or LLC. Additionally, errors and omissions (E&O) insurance is required. Some host agencies offer this insurance at a discounted rate, while others may require you to obtain your own coverage.

Our fee structure includes an initial enrollment fee of $175.00. There is also an annual renewal fee of $100.00, which is waived if the independent contractor earns at least $600.00 in commissions during the year. We offer errors and omissions (E&O) insurance at an annual rate of $100.00.

To join our agency, you must complete the online 'New Travel Agent & Owner Class' through our International Travel Institute. Following this, you'll need to pay the required fees, sign a contract, submit an enrollment form, and provide documentation of your business structure (such as DBA, LLC, or corporate structure).

Submitting the online form does not constitute joining our agency. This form is used to collect basic information about you. After submission, we will contact you to discuss our programs. If there is mutual agreement that we meet each other's criteria, we will assist you in completing the full membership application process.

The online course is self-paced, allowing you to complete it at your convenience. Once you've finished the course, paid the necessary fees, and submitted all required documents, it typically takes 24-48 hours to process your registration and provide access to travel suppliers' agent portals.

LTA Central provides a variety of training opportunities. Following the initial 'New Travel Agent & Owner Class' course, we offer supplier 'Travel Talk' webinars throughout the year. You'll have access to training programs through suppliers' agent portals, an annual conference for our host agency and consortium, and the opportunity to attend supplier-hosted agent events. As a travel advisor, you'll also have access to training from ASTA, CLIA, and The Travel Institute, though additional fees may apply for these programs.

LTA Central provides support via email and phone during office hours, Monday through Friday, 8:30am to 5:30pm. We maintain an exclusive Facebook group for our independent contractors where information is shared and questions can be asked. For emergencies, we provide the cell phone numbers of our general manager and vice president.

Yes, through our parent company, Leisure Travel Alliance (LTA), a travel consortium, we offer a complimentary marketing program. This program includes customized email projects for individual agencies, with LTA managing design, production, and distribution. To participate, you'll need to provide a list of your contacts or clients with their email addresses.