I have a couple questions to better understand how travel agents and tour operators work: If you're an independent travel agent, not a licensed one, how do you go about working with tour operators, airlines, and hotels? When planning a trip for someone, do you book their airfare and hotel? Do you work out deals with certain hotels and airlines? When planning out a tailored trip with workshops and certain tour guides, how much do you pay each person involved with the trip? If you're not a licensed travel agent, how do you go about promoting your business of organizing trips for others? What's the relationship like with tour operators, airlines, and hotels?