Host agencies advertise their commission split first, because it’s the easiest number to compare. Splits commonly run from about 70/30 to 90/10 in the advisor’s favour, often tiered by sales. Fora, for example, starts advisors at 70/30 and moves them to 80/20 after $300,000 in commissionable travel in a calendar year (Fora). But the split is only one of several numbers that decide what you’re paid.
The split applies to whatever commission comes in
Your split is a percentage of the commission the supplier pays. If one host has negotiated higher supplier commission through preferred partnerships, a lower split can still pay you more. Fora, itself a host, makes the same point: an advisor averaging a 12% base commission on a 70% split can out-earn one on an 80% split with a 10% average (Fora).
Here’s a hypothetical $5,000 booking:
| Host A | Host B | |
|---|---|---|
| Split | 90/10 | 70/30 |
| Supplier commission | 10% ($500) | 16% preferred ($800) |
| Your share | $450 | $560 |
These numbers are illustrative. Real preferred rates vary by supplier and host, so ask each host for specifics.
Fees change the comparison too
Host fees can include a setup fee, monthly fees, annual dues and sometimes a per-booking charge. One guide puts setup fees at $50 to $250 and monthly fees at $25 to $100 (Waybird); that’s a third-party estimate, probably in US dollars, so check each Canadian host’s fees directly. Over a year, a lower-split host with lower fees can come out ahead of a high-split host that charges more.
Questions to ask any host before you sign
- Payout timing: how often do you pay advisors, and how long after the supplier pays you?
- Statements: what does my commission statement show? Can I match each line to a booking?
- Tiers and re-rating: if I move up a tier mid-year, do you re-rate the whole year and pay me the top-up?
- Overrides: do you share supplier overrides or bonuses with advisors, or keep them?
- Late or missing commission: who chases it, me or you? Who contacts the hotel’s payment company?
- Fees: which fees apply to me, and do my own planning fees get split?
Then track it
Whichever host you choose, compare what they promised with what you receive. Record the split, the tier and the expected amount on each booking, and check it against your statement each month. If a host re-rates your year and owes you a top-up, you’ll only catch it if you’re tracking. For the mechanics, see how host agency splits and tiers work.