TORONTO — Trevello’s Momentum was designed “to fix the thing advisors complain about most in the host agency space: complexity,” says Trevello CEO Zeina Gedeon.

Travelweek connected with Gedeon to drill down on Momentum – in the market now for 18 months and going strong – as well as the host agency’s support structure for travel advisors.

Q. What’s the thinking behind a program like Momentum?

Gedeon: “Too many compensation plans read like a maze: multiple tiers, thresholds, supplier specific, fine print, and a payout you can’t predict from one month to the next. Advisors are running real businesses, and they deserve to know exactly what they take home and exactly how to grow it.

“So we stripped it all away. We wanted to create something simpler and more transparent. Advisors start at 85% commission and, once they earn $15,000 in paid commission, move to 100% commission across all suppliers for the remainder of the year.

“Momentum was never about creating another commission program. It was about creating a more transparent and rewarding path for travel advisors. We believe advisors should have a clear understanding of what they earn, a meaningful opportunity to increase that earning potential and the support they need to continue growing successful businesses.

“No hidden formulas, no guessing. It’s the program I wish existed when I was building my own book of business.”

Q. What percentage of Trevello advisors have reached the $15,000 mark?

Gedeon: “Today approximately 30% of our advisors have reached the 100% commission level, and that number continues to grow each year.

“What’s particularly encouraging is that many of our top-performing advisors achieve the threshold within the first month of the year. It demonstrates that the model is attainable for productive advisors and provides a meaningful incentive for growth. Momentum was never meant to be an exclusive club. It was designed to be attainable, and to reward producers when they hit it.”

Q. Do advisors need to qualify annually for Momentum?

Gedeon: “Yes, and we kept it deliberately simple. Every January you start at 85%, and the moment you reach $15,000 in paid commission, you’re at 100% for the rest of the year on every supplier. No application, no review committee, no subjective evaluation. You earn it, you get it. For a strong producer, that threshold comes early in the year, so the overwhelming majority of your year is spent at full commission. Advisors know exactly what they need to achieve and exactly what they will receive when they do.

Q. How has Momentum changed Trevello’s advisor recruitment results since its launch?

Gedeon: “Momentum has become a very compelling proposition because it reflects what today’s independent advisors are looking for: transparency, simplicity, and the opportunity to retain more of the hard work they do.

“Experienced advisors, appreciate having a compensation model that is easy to understand and directly tied to their success. They’ve seen the complicated grids and the disappearing incentives elsewhere, so when we say ‘everyone starts at 85%, and once you hit $15,000 in paid commission you’re at 100%, on every supplier, no exceptions,’ it lands immediately. Top producers can do the math in seconds. Our philosophy is simple: when advisors succeed, we succeed.

“More importantly, Momentum reinforces our broader philosophy that travel advisors are entrepreneurs. Our role is to provide the support, technology, community and resources they need to grow successful businesses.”

Q. How has Trevello’s support team grown over the past couple of years?

Gedeon: “As our advisor community has grown, our support team has grown right alongside it and by design, it grows faster. Over the last several years we’ve made significant, deliberate investments across advisor support, supplier relations, technology, accounting, training, marketing and operations. We understood early that scale means nothing if service slips.

“Today our support structure is stronger than it’s ever been, with dedicated teams in each of those areas. When an advisor reaches out, they reach a specialist, not a queue. Our goal has always been simple: as we grow, support should grow faster.

As our network grows, maintaining a high level of service becomes even more important. We view support as a competitive advantage and an essential part of helping advisors build sustainable, profitable businesses.”

Q. What are the most common reasons advisors need support?

Gedeon: “It depends on where an advisor is in their journey, and our support is built in layers to match. Newer advisors tend to focus on the fundamentals, booking processes, supplier inquiries, technology tools and business-building guidance. Experienced advisors come to us with the complex, high-stakes situations: nuanced commission inquiries, large group bookings, air challenges, supplier escalations and creative solutions for unique client scenarios.

“In today’s travel environment, advisors need fast answers and knowledgeable support, particularly when they are managing high-value bookings or navigating unexpected changes. Our role is to help remove obstacles so advisors can focus on serving their clients and growing their business.

“What advisors value most is knowing that when they need assistance, they can quickly connect with someone who understands the issue and can help resolve it effectively.”

Q. What’s the strength behind Trevello’s support team?

Gedeon: “It’s the people. Many of them have worked in travel themselves, so they understand the real pressures of running a travel business and serving demanding clients, they’re not reading from a script, they’ve lived it. They’re knowledgeable, responsive and relentless about finding solutions, and they build genuine relationships with our advisors.

“There’s a level of trust and partnership here that goes well beyond a traditional support model. We often say that while our advisors operate independent businesses, they are never in business alone. And the best measure of all is the feedback, advisors consistently tell us our people are one of the main reasons they join, and one of the main reasons they stay.

“Our team is committed to being a trusted partner in their success, and that commitment is reflected in the relationships we build with advisors across the network.”

Lead image caption: Trevello CEO Zeina Gedeon