It’s that exciting time of year again at Host Agency Reviews (HAR) – the unveiling of the best host agencies for 2024! We believe in giving credit where credit is due, and when it comes to celebrating top-notch host agencies, we love to make it a memorable occasion. If you’re new to Host Agency Reviews, you might be wondering what all the buzz is about. Last year, we presented the Luminary Awards with space helmets. Thinking of how to top that? For 2024, we’ve gone all out, securing every last disco ball planter from a store to create unique Luminary Awards!
But let’s rewind a bit. What exactly are the Luminary Awards, and who’s eligible?
Steph Lee, the founder of HAR and the mastermind behind all the fun, initiated the Luminary Awards back in 2019. Her vision was to create a platform to honor host agencies for their commitment to transparency, outstanding advisor support, and active engagement within the HAR community.
We present awards in several categories, recognizing agencies for their exceptional ratings, the volume of positive new reviews they receive, their level of engagement with advisors on our platform, and their participation in HAR’s annual Travel Agent Survey.
The best part? Any host agency listed on Host Agency Reviews can qualify! It’s a level playing field, not influenced by paid placements. We have different qualifying benchmarks tailored to the size of the host agency, acknowledging that hosts on our site range from supporting a small group of 2 independent contractors (ICs) to a vast network of 8,000+.
So, which host agencies truly stood out in 2024? Let’s get to the big reveal!
Finding Your Best Host Travel Agency: The Luminary Awards Categories
Choosing the ideal host travel agency is a deeply personal decision. What might be your dream host could be completely unsuitable for another travel advisor. Our Luminary Awards are designed to highlight host agencies that are deeply invested in the growing community of travel advisors. They recognize those who go above and beyond to support individuals like you in finding the Best Host Travel Agency that aligns with your unique needs and business goals.
The 5 Award Categories for Best Host Travel Agencies
The HAR Luminary Awards shine a spotlight on host agencies across five distinct categories:
Note: All award data is compiled from the host agencies’ aggregate performance throughout the previous year (2023). To ensure fairness and avoid size bias, the winners within each category are presented in alphabetical order.
Can you handle the anticipation? We certainly can’t! Let’s dive into the best host agencies of 2024, category by category!
HAR Top Host Agency Supernova Award Badge
2024 Supernova Award Winners: Top Rated Host Travel Agencies
Just like a supernova, these host agencies are exceptionally bright and impactful in the travel industry. The Supernova Award celebrates the best host travel agencies of 2024 that have achieved an outstanding average star rating of 4.0 or higher, and have received at least one new review in the past year. These agencies are truly shining stars!
HAR Top Host Agency Nebula Award Badge
2024 Nebula Award Winners: Host Agencies with the Most New Reviews
Imagine a nebula, a cloud of gas and dust, illuminated by the birth of new stars. Similarly, the Nebula Award recognizes host agencies of all sizes that have attracted significant attention and generated the highest volume of new reviews. These are the agencies that are capturing the interest of new travel agent ICs and making a strong impression.
Who are these host agencies that are attracting the attention of the growing community of travel advisors? The winners are…
HAR Top Host Agency Constellation Award Badge
2024 Constellation Award Winners: Most Engaged Host Travel Agencies
While individual stars are brilliant, constellations showcase the beauty of collaboration and connection. The HAR Constellation Award is presented to the best travel host agencies that demonstrate exceptional engagement on their Host Agency Reviews profiles. These agencies actively participate in the community by answering your questions, responding to reviews, and striving to provide you with comprehensive information to make informed decisions. They understand the value of connection and communication in supporting their advisors.
HAR Top Host Agency Data Scientist Award Badge
2024 Data Scientist Award Winners: Data-Driven Host Travel Agencies
At Host Agency Reviews, we are passionate about data. We consider ourselves data enthusiasts, and we believe in the power of insights to drive informed decisions. Each year, we publish valuable data through our in-depth income and fee surveys, providing crucial benchmarks for travel advisors.
But this valuable data doesn’t materialize out of thin air. It’s the result of strong partnerships with host agencies and franchises, who dedicate significant effort to encourage their ICs to participate in our surveys. The Data Scientist Award acknowledges the best host travel agencies and franchises that champion these vital data collection efforts, ensuring our industry data is robust and insightful.
2024 Galaxy Award Winners: The Best of the Best Host Agencies
The Best Host Agency: 2021 Galaxy Award
The Galaxy Award is reserved for the truly exceptional – host agencies that have gone above and beyond, achieving recognition in EVERY Luminary Award category. The Galaxy Award represents holistic excellence and outstanding performance across all key areas. We are so excited about the Galaxy Award that we reveal the winner with a special video announcement!
Stay tuned for the video reveal to find out who the Galaxy Award winner is!
Explore Past Luminary Award Winners
This isn’t our first time celebrating outstanding host agencies. You can explore the list of past Luminary Award winners to see the history of excellence within the host agency community and get a broader perspective on the best host travel agencies over the years.
That’s a Wrap (For Now!)
A huge high five to all the best travel host agencies and franchises recognized in the 2024 Host Agency Reviews Luminary Awards! We know they will continue to shine brightly, providing essential resources and unwavering support to both new and experienced travel agents. Their commitment to the travel advisor community is truly commendable.
And don’t forget to check back next January to see which host agencies will return to claim their awards and which new agencies will join the ranks of Luminary Award winners!
Aiming for a 2025 Luminary Award? Here’s Your Roadmap!
Inspired to win a Luminary Award in 2025? This year, we’ve expanded our host size categories to five, ensuring that the Luminary Awards represent a truly level playing field, regardless of agency size. (Previously, we had three categories.)
With the exception of the Supernova award, which recognizes high average star ratings, our award winners are determined based on data collected from the previous year. Here’s a detailed breakdown of the criteria for each award:
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Supernova Criteria: To qualify for the Supernova Award, all host agencies must maintain a 4+ star rating and receive at least one new review during the previous year. Additionally, specific total review thresholds apply based on host size:
- X-Small (≤24 ICs): ≥ 2 total reviews
- Small (25 – 99 ICs): ≥ 7 total reviews
- Medium (100 – 499 ICs): ≥ 12 total reviews
- Large (500 – 999 ICs): ≥ 50 total reviews
- X-Large (1,000+ ICs): ≥ 100 total reviews
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Nebula Criteria: The Nebula Award celebrates host agencies for the volume of new reviews they receive:
- X-Small (≤24 ICs): ≥1 new review
- Small (25 – 99 ICs): ≥ 3 new reviews
- Medium (100 – 499 ICs): ≥5 new reviews
- Large (500 – 999 ICs): ≥10 new reviews
- X-Large (1,000+ ICs): ≥15 new reviews
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Constellation Criteria: This award tracks a host agency’s level of engagement through onsite Q&A interactions and responses to reviews:
- X-Small (≤24 ICs): ≥ 1 interaction
- Small (25 – 99 ICs): ≥ 3 interactions
- Medium (100 – 499 ICs): ≥5 interactions
- Large (500 – 999 ICs): ≥10 interactions
- X-Large (1,000+ ICs): ≥15 interactions
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Data Scientist Criteria: The Data Scientist Award recognizes host agencies with high participation rates in our industry surveys:
- X-Small (≤24 ICs): ≥ 2 respondents
- Small (25 – 99 ICs): ≥ 7 respondents
- Medium (100 – 499 ICs): ≥ 12 respondents
- Large (500 – 999 ICs): ≥ 50 respondents
- X-Large (1,000+ ICs): ≥ 100 respondents
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Galaxy Criteria: Galaxy Award winners are the ultimate “sweepers,” demonstrating excellence by winning an award in every other Luminary Award category.
