Authorized Agents and Travelmakers

What Authorized Agents and Travelmakers does

Authorized Agents and Travelmakers (legal entity Travelmakers Inc., Nevada corporation) is a US-based travel host agency that enables independent travel advisors to operate under a consortium-supported infrastructure. Founded in 1995 by Leslie Bauer and Zigmund Sepanski and operating under the Authorized Agents brand since 1997, the company serves home-based agents, brick-and-mortar agencies, meeting planners, and travel influencers through a two-tier monthly membership model priced at $25 (Basic) and $40 (Premium). The company is a part-owner member of Signature Travel Network, a cooperative owned by 200+ agencies with combined annual sales of approximately $11 billion.

The core technology stack is delivered through the Signature Travel Network partnership and includes ClientBase CRM for client and reservation management, the SIG Cruise Pro booking engine (powered by Sabre), co-branded turnkey websites with 10,000+ pages of weekly-updated content, a cruise and hotel comparison/proposal tool, an advisor back-office portal covering 140+ countries, automated email marketing with CRM integration, and the Pocket Travel Consultant mobile app. The company layers proprietary operational assets on top of this consortium technology: the Certified Travel Consultant (CTC) training program covering 15 modules, an award marketing suite including full-color direct mail magazines and automated email campaigns, and preferred supplier agreements with 20+ cruise, land, tour, and insurance partners offering up to 90% commission rates to member agents.

Monetization combines modest recurring subscription revenue ($25-$40/month per member) with commission overrides retained on bookings routed through the platform after paying member agents the majority share. The company has approximately 100+ active independent vacation representatives and is supported by an 11-50 person internal team based in Aliso Viejo, California. The most recent material ownership event was a 2014 investment by the Vergene family, which joined the management team; no subsequent institutional funding rounds or M&A activity are disclosed.

Name

Authorized Agents and Travelmakers

Legal name

Travelmakers Inc.

Website

https://authorizedagents.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1995

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Authorized Agents and Travelmakers (Travelmakers Inc.) is a US travel host agency serving 100+ independent travel advisors through $25-$40/month membership tiers, delivering consortium-grade technology (ClientBase CRM, cruise booking engines, co-branded websites) and preferred supplier access via Signature Travel Network membership.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Travel Host Agency Services

NAICS

Travel Agencies (561510), Travel Agencies (56151)

akta.pro primary industry

Online/Hybrid Corporate Travel Agencies (Self-Booking + Support) (THAKACAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Cruise Travel Agencies & Specialist Cruise Consultants (THAEAFAB), CRM & Loyalty Marketing Automation (Email/SMS/Push, Journeys, Campaigns) (THALAKAG)

Keywords

• Travel host agency
• Independent travel advisors
• Travel booking commissions
• Travel advisor training
• Consortium travel network

Headquarters

HQ city

Aliso Viejo

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Technology or R&D, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Operations

Revenue model

1. Membership Subscriptions: Monthly membership fees from independent travel advisors joining as members. Two tiered plans at $25/month and $40/month with varying feature access.
2. Travel Booking Commissions: Earn commissions on cruise, land, air, and insurance bookings made by member agents through the platform. Agents receive up to 90% commission.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Authorized Agents and Travelmakers operates a subscription-based travel host agency platform that enables independent travel advisors to run home-based or brick-and-mortar travel businesses. Members pay monthly fees ($25 or $40) and receive access to the Signature Travel Network technology stack (CRM, cruise booking engine, co-branded websites, marketing tools), preferred supplier agreements with 900+ hotels/resorts and major cruise lines, commission earnings up to 90%, training through the CTC program, and award-winning marketing support including direct mail magazines and automated email campaigns.

Product overview

Authorized Agents and Travelmakers operates as a travel host agency offering a two-tier subscription-based membership platform for independent travel advisors. The core product is the Travel Advisor Plans program ($25/month and $40/month), which provides access to commission earnings up to 90%, technology tools, training, and supplier networks. The platform is built in partnership with Signature Travel Network and offers the Advanced Technology Platform as its technology backbone, including ClientBase CRM, SIG Cruise Pro Booking Engine, co-branded MyTravel Site websites, Pocket Travel Consultant mobile app, and eMarketing tools. Additional modules include the Certified Travel Consultant (CTC) Training Program, Award Marketing Suite (direct mail magazines, email campaigns, website marketing, and co-branded cruise websites), and a Member Benefits Program. The company also maintains preferred supplier relationships across cruise, land, and car/insurance verticals.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Travel Advisor Plans (Basic and Premium Memberships) Subscription-based membership plans ($25/month Basic and $40/month Premium) for independent travel advisors, providing commission earnings up to 90%, co-branded MyTravel website, ClientBase CRM, CTC training, SIG Cruise Pro booking engine, proposal tools, $2M E&O Insurance, customizable email marketing, and (at Premium) the lead rotation program, Pocket Travel App, FAMS trips, and Co-op advertising.
• Advanced Technology Platform Integrated technology platform delivered in partnership with Signature Travel Network for member travel advisors, combining a co-branded website builder, ClientBase CRM, eMarketing automation, cruise and hotel comparison/proposal tool, Travel Advisor Portal, Pocket Travel Consultant mobile app, and microsites for preferred vendors.
• Certified Travel Consultant (CTC) Training Program Online certification program covering 15 modules including consulting skills, selling value, booking groups and leisure travel, international and domestic destinations, technology and marketing, selling cruise, land/tour, hotel and resort, air, car/limo, and insurance suppliers. Designed to onboard new travel advisors and upskill existing members across leisure, incentive/reward, and high-end group travel.
• Award Marketing Suite Marketing programs for member travel advisors including full-color direct mail travel magazines, automated weekly/bi-weekly/monthly email campaigns with advisor branding, hot deals updated weekly, co-branded websites, and co-branded cruise line microsites for Crystal, Holland America, Oceania, Seabourn, Princess, Paul Gauguin, Royal Caribbean, and Celebrity.
• Member Benefits Program Benefits package for member travel advisors including live cruise booking from 40+ suppliers, a client/commission tracker with 24/7 support, access to 70+ destination professionals with pre-arranged deals, an advisor community for collaboration and co-ops, proposal tools for cruise and land bookings, digital magazines by top writers, automated email marketing, twice-monthly commission payouts, and co-op advertising pass-through.
• Co-Branded Travel Website (MyTravel Site) Turnkey co-branded website builder offering 10,000+ pages of searchable travel content updated weekly, agency/contact information in the banner, full website management by Authorized Agents, and sweepstakes entry options. Available with the $25/month plan with an optional $99 setup fee.

Quantifiable outcome

• Up to 90% commission rates for travel advisors
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature7 records

Partnerships

23 partnerships are on record, tiered legacy, core and preferred.

• PowerBusiness Associates Inc.legacyStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2014Original parent company that purchased an existing travel agency in 1995 to move consultants to Europe then back to the US, establishing the foundation for what became Travelmakers.
• Signature Travel NetworkcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAuthorized Agents is part owner/member of Signature Travel Network, a cooperative owned by 200+ top agencies with combined volume of $11 billion in sales. This partnership provides access to the most advanced travel technology, marketing tools, and preferred supplier contracts in the industry.
• SabrecoreTechnology or IntegrationProvides cruise booking engine technology for member agents to search and book cruise reservations across multiple suppliers.
• AmaWaterwayspreferredChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPreferred cruise supplier offering up to 32% commission on river cruise bookings.
• Crystal CruisespreferredChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPreferred cruise supplier with exclusive deals and promotions for Authorized Agents members.
• Royal Caribbean InternationalpreferredChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPreferred cruise supplier offering 100% commission promotions for member agents.
• Celebrity CruisespreferredChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPreferred cruise supplier with 100% commission promotions for Authorized Agents members.
• Norwegian Cruise LinepreferredChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPreferred cruise supplier with 100% commission promotions for member agents.
• Azamara Club CruisespreferredChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPreferred cruise supplier with 100% commission promotions.
• Princess CruisespreferredChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPreferred cruise supplier with Agency Commodore Status recognition.
• Regent Seven Seas CruisespreferredChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPreferred luxury cruise supplier with exclusive amenities for members.
• SeabournpreferredChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPreferred ultra-luxury cruise supplier.
• Silversea CruisespreferredChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPreferred luxury expedition cruise supplier.
• Disney Cruise LinepreferredChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPreferred family cruise supplier with Disney branding.
• Holland America LinepreferredChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPreferred cruise supplier with premium market positioning.
• Abercrombie & KentpreferredChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPreferred luxury land tour supplier for high-end travel packages.
• TauckpreferredChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPreferred guided tour supplier with premium travel experiences.
• Adventures by DisneypreferredChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPreferred partner since 2004, offering Disney-branded guided vacation experiences.
• G AdventurespreferredChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSustainable travel partner awarding Agency Sherpa Status and Sustainable Travel Host Award.
• Sandals ResortspreferredChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPreferred luxury resort supplier awarding CSS Agent Award.
• TrafalgarpreferredChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPreferred tour operator with Premier Agency Affiliation.
• BackroadspreferredChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPreferred active travel supplier awarding Golden Circle Award.
• Auto EuropepreferredChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPreferred car rental and FIT supplier providing hotels, rail, and tours in addition to vehicle rentals.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Avoya Travel: Avoya Travel is one of the largest US host agencies, recruiting independent travel advisors and providing them with technology, supplier access, marketing tools, and commission splits. It is the most directly comparable host agency model to Authorized Agents/Travelmakers, competing for the same home-based agent persona.
• Outside Agents: Outside Agents is a long-standing US host agency (founded 1992) providing independent travel advisors with supplier access, commission splits, and back-office support. It is a close comparable to Authorized Agents in target customer (home-based independent agents) and core host agency value proposition.
• American Express Representative Network: The American Express Representative Network (now folded into Nexion/World Travel Holdings) historically served as a host-style program for independent travel advisors offering technology, supplier access, and brand affiliation. It is directly comparable to Authorized Agents as a competing host program for independent advisors.
• Nexion Travel Group: Nexion is a large US-based host travel agency network serving independent travel advisors and small agencies with technology, training, and supplier relationships. It overlaps substantially with Authorized Agents on the hybrid (self-serve technology + support) model and the independent advisor persona.
• CruiseOne / Dream Vacations: CruiseOne and Dream Vacations (part of World Travel Holdings) operate a franchise-style host agency network with strong cruise specialization, providing independent advisors with booking tools, marketing, and preferred supplier access. They compete head-to-head with Authorized Agents in the cruise-focused independent advisor segment.
• KHM Travel Group: KHM Travel Group is a US host agency that supports independent travel agents with booking tools, training, marketing resources, and supplier relationships. It targets a similar home-based independent agent persona and competes directly with Authorized Agents for advisor recruitment.
• Uniglobe Travel: Uniglobe Travel is a global travel management franchise and host-style network serving independent and small-agency owners with back-office tools and supplier contracts. Its model of aggregating independent advisors under shared supplier agreements is structurally comparable to Authorized Agents.

Broad incumbents

• Vacation.com: Vacation.com is a consortium of US-based leisure travel agencies offering members preferred supplier contracts, marketing programs, and technology tools. It is comparable to Authorized Agents through its consortium membership model, but serves agency owners rather than individual home-based advisors.
• Travel Leaders Network: Travel Leaders Network is one of the largest US travel agency consortia, providing member agencies with preferred supplier access, technology platforms, and marketing support. It overlaps with Authorized Agents on the consortium/aggregation model, though at a larger scale and broader agency focus.
• Virtuoso: Virtuoso is a luxury-focused travel agency network with preferred supplier relationships and marketing tools for member agencies. While it operates at the higher end of the market with corporate-style governance rather than a cooperative host model, it competes for the same independent luxury advisor mindshare.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/aagents1
• Facebookfacebook.com/authorizedagents
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/authorized-agents
• Instagraminstagram.com/travelmakersinc/?hl=en

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Authorized Agents and Travelmakers