TORONTO — Total Advantage Travel & Tours, Inc., with more than 30 years in the retail travel business, has launched Canada’s newest host agency: My Host Agent.

My Host Agent is designed for both new and experienced Canadian travel advisors, and aims to eliminate administrative headaches and hidden fees, allowing agents to focus exclusively on selling travel and serving clients, say Robert Townshend, President of Total Advantage Travel & Tours, and John Zeus Tokatlidis, Marketing Director of Total Advantage Travel & Tours, My Host Agent.

Travelweek connected with Townshend to find out more.

My Host Agent aims to provide independent advisors “a 100% Canadian-owned company that offers low fees, tools, resources and support to allow them to thrive in this competitive industry,” Townshend told Travelweek.

He also shared My Host Agent’s first-year goals …

Goal 1: “To take on experienced agents with the respect they deserve – they will be a member of our family, not just a number.”

Goal 2: “To give new agents the opportunity to learn and excel in their new businesses.”

Goal 3: “To become the first company advisors think of when considering a host agency.”

“We are focused on ensuring our agents are happy, successful, and wealthy, rather than simply concentrating on the number of agents who join,” he said.

As Townshend and Tokatlidis built out My Host Agent, feedback from travel advisors about other host agencies “was instrumental in developing our program.”

Those pain points included a lack of support, commissions that aren’t paid promptly, high fees and overly complicated commission structures, too much paperwork and red tape (“advisors want to concentrate on selling”) and advisors looking to align with a 100% Canadian-owned company.

“WE’VE SPENT YEARS LISTENING TO WHAT INDEPENDENT AGENTS ACTUALLY WANT”

In a release Townshend and Tokatlidis said My Host Agent, “Canada’s most transparent home-based travel agent program,” is a modern, fully-supported home-based travel agent program built on complete transparency and industry-leading commissions.

“We’ve spent years listening to what independent agents actually want. My Host Agent eliminates the red tape, delivers real-time transparent reporting, and lets advisors keep more of what they earn – simple as that,” said Townshend.

Townshend and Tokatlidis say My Host Agent offers industry-leading commission splits with no hidden charges and real-time dashboards showing every dollar earned and paid.

Total Advantage Travel & Tours handles all invoicing, supplier payments, licensing, and paperwork. There’s training for newcomers, and advanced tools for veterans. There’s also preferred pricing and VIP access to major airlines, cruise lines, tour operators, and hotels; ready-to-use marketing materials and optional lead-generation programs; and flexibility to work from anywhere on the agent’s own schedule.

“We fundamentally believe that travel agents are born as assets, not liabilities. By equipping our agents with the best tools, resources, and clear expectations, My Host Agent is fostering a community where they don’t just survive, they thrive. The large number of agents joining us from across the country is a testament to this empowering model,” said Tokatlidis.

More information can be found at MyHostAgent.com / MyHostAgent.ca.

Lead image caption: Robert Townshend, President of Total Advantage Travel & Tours, and John Zeus Tokatlidis, Marketing Director of Total Advantage Travel & Tours, My Host Agent