What is the cost of the Program?

The three membership levels are: Basic, Premium and Professional
The Basic Membership is $99.00.
The Premium Membership is $149.00.
The Professional Membership is $299.00.

Am I a travel agent when I become a member?

No. You are an Independent Contractor Outside Sales Agent compensated 100% of the commission on tours and cruises purchased through you.

Am I issued a travel agent ID card?

No. While some membership programs issue such cards, the only legitimate and universally recognized travel agent ID card is issued by IATAN.

How do I become a travel agent and get the IATAN card?

To qualify, the applicant must:
1. Be at least 18 years of age.
2. Earn a minimum of $5,000 per year (salary and/or commission) and devote at least 20 hours per week to the business of the agency.
3. Be registered with IATAN and listed on the current Agency Personnel Listing.
As you can see, this is not for the faint of heart! You must actively sell travel, and earn revenue. Our program is unique in that we pay and report 100% of commissions earned! And remember, any fees paid to us for writing your commission checks can be deducted as a legitimate business expense. Check with your accountant or tax attorney for detailed information. For more information about IATAN, or the Travel Agent Identification Card, visit their web site at: http://www.iatan.net

Receiving 100% of the commission is awesome, are there any other fees?

Yes. If the agency's resources are used to support your activities, then some modest service fees are assessed. For example, if we need to overnight tour documents, or issue commission checks.

How do I book a travel reservation?

Members have password-protected access to The Mark Travel Corporation's travel agent booking engine called Vacation Access. This engine currently has 17 Tour Wholesalers and 1 Cruise Line. Other booking engines will be added over time.

What travel products are covered under the program?

Only Tours and Cruises. The commission on airline tickets is too low, and will soon be eliminated by the airlines. Commissions on cars and hotels often go unpaid. A good 'rule of thumb,' is to check your itinerary as a tour package. It may be no more expensive, and pay you a nice commission!

I don't have Internet access; can I still become a member?

Yes. While this program works most effectively with high speed Internet access, not all cruise lines or tour wholesalers are on the web. You can call them direct to make a booking. For example: 'This is Jane Doe with Kings Crossing Travel and I need to check availability and prices. The agency telephone number is 555-555-5555, and ARC number is 55555555." (Correct numbers supplied to our members!) Book your vacation, give them your fax number or email address and ask them to send a confirmation. Sometimes we receive these confirmations, just let us know it's coming, and we can fax or email it to you. It's that easy!

When I make final payment, should I pay the gross or the net?

Some vendors allow you to pay the net amount, tour cost less commission, and will then mail the documents. Other vendors require that you pay the gross, and they send us a commission check. The advantage to paying net is that you discount your travel by the commission immediately. The disadvantage is you are not earning any revenue toward a travel industry identification card. The advantage to paying gross is that your revenue can be counted toward your identification card. The disadvantage is that this is reportable income to the IRS via a Miscellaneous 1099 form, you must wait for your commission, and there is a $25 handling fee charged per vendor/commission check written.

Do travel documents come to my clients, the agency, or me?

Most online booking sites allow you to specify the document delivery address. If the vendor requires mailing the documents to the agency, just let us know they are coming and for a nominal fee we can overnight them to you or your client.

If I need assistance, do you offer support?

Yes. Your membership fee includes 20 minutes of support to help you with booking problems. Additional support is offered for a fee on a per case basis. Our support staff cannot help with destination information. Remember, you are your own travel agent when you get 100% of the commission!
Am I limited to 'self sales?' No. In fact, you can sell travel to anyone, your friends, relatives or neighbors. You may sell travel at the retail price, the net price, or mark it up any amount you wish. As such, you are acting as a travel agent, so you have responsibility to service the sale.

Am I limited to 'self sales?'

No. In fact, you can sell travel to anyone, your friends, relatives or neighbors. You may sell travel at the retail price, the net price, or mark it up any amount you wish. As such, you are acting as a travel agent, so you have responsibility to service the sale.

What is 'Refer a Friend?'

This is a referral program that pays you $25.00 for every paid member you enroll in our program. There is no limit to the number of referrals you can bring, so you can actually earn revenue in excess of your enrollment fee!

What is 'Refer a Friend Professional?'

This program is limited to marketing professionals. These are people that have established advertising venues such as Yellow Pages, Val-Pak Coupons, Newspapers or Welcome Wagon. Professionals advertise their own program affiliation in their respective media, and are reimbursed $25.00 for every paid membership referral. For Professionals in good standing, this program automatically pays a 50% residual for members who renew the second year. Professionals are approved after submitting a marketing plan that includes the media type, a media example, a distribution schedule, and the retail cost of the promotion of no less than $1,000 per year. Professionals must supply no fewer than 100 new enrollments per year to remain in good standing. The program enrollment fee is waived for Professionals.

How is the program marketed?

Members are given two web pages, an administrative page and a retail page. The administrative page has an email 'send' function to solicit specific individuals with an embedded link to the sign up page with the member's ID number. The prospective member can also enter the sign up page through the personal web page. A referral email is delivered to the agency and the referrer after a successful new sign up. Members advertise the URL link to their personal web page. The Internet site is scheduled to be online the first of November 2001.

Can I become a 'Professional' if I am not a marketing professional?

Yes. 'Refer a Friend' members earn Professional status by enrolling 100 members within one year's time.

I have a web site already; can I put a 'button' on it to promote this program?

Yes. We can supply you with the proper web links so you can refer from your site. Personal web sites are not considered as an established advertising venue as discussed above. As such, a membership fee is required, and you can advance to Refer-a-Friend Professional after 100 paid referrals within the one years time.