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An Overview On Travel Agent Licensing Requirements In The USA and Canada Go Back Button

You are considering becoming a professional travel agent, so you start doing your research on all the things you need to start selling travel. One of the things you may research or come across is licensing. Do you need licensing to start selling travel? The answer to that question is broken down below to hopefully provide you with the clarity you need to move forward.

Travel Agent Licensing Requirements For Travel Agents In The United States

The licensing requirements in the US for travel agents is not much of a licensing process. There are no testing, training or qualification process needed. All that is required is to complete a simple form, pay a small fee and just like that, you can start selling travel in the USA. There are certain states however that have their individual "Seller Of Travel Requirements." These states are California, Florida, Iowa, Washington and Hawaii. We will look at the individual licensing requirements for those later on in this article for those looking to trade in travel products and services in any of those 5 states. 

Travel Agent Licensing Requirements For Travel Agents In Canada

Selling travel legally in Canada is not so easy as in the US. This is especially so for those living in the province of Ontario. Anyone selling travel products and services in the Province of Ontario must be a registered member of the Travel Industry Council Of Ontario (TICO) or affiliated with a registered member of TICO. There are two different types of TICO registration requirements. If you are looking to start your own travel agency, you must complete the TICO application, qualification, training and registration process to obtain a TICO registration number. If you are looking to simply sell travel, you must first complete the TICO Exam then join a TICO registered travel agency.

So here are the requirements for Travel Agents and Agencies In Ontario

A) Travel Agency must be TICO registered with a TICO number to employ or host travel agents.

B) All members of that Travel Agency, selling or giving advice for travel services, must complete the TICO Exam.

To write the TICO Exam, you must first download and read the TICO education standard manual. This manual provides you with a list of rules, guidelines and etiquette you must follow when selling travel in the province of Ontario. Once you have completed the manual, which should take no longer than one to two weeks, you then need to register for exam at one of the approved centers. You can find a list of upcoming exams on the ACTA (Association Of Canadian Travel Agents) website. The course registration fee is only $35, and there are a few courses you can take. You can either take the Travel Counselors course of if you have and can show experience in the industry you can take the travel manager/supervisor course. The combined courses will cost you $50.

To run your own TICO registered travel agency is not as easy and cost friendly as completing the exam to sell travel through an agency that is already certified. If you are thinking of starting your own TICO registered travel agency, here are the list of requirements:

-   You will need to come up with an application fee of $3000 CDN

-   You must provide your tax returns to show proof of financial stability

-   You will need to show evidence of a minimum $5000 in working capital

-   You will need to provide a $10,000 bond that TICO will hold for two years

-   You will need to open a trust account where all funds you collect for travel must be held.

-   You will need to register your travel business with Service Ontario

TICO registration numbers are non-transferable, so there are no options to buy out an already existing TICO certified travel agency. Starting a travel agency in the province of Ontario is among the hardest if not the hardest in the industry, so if you are new to the business and you are living in Ontario, the easiest thing to do is work through a host agency that is already TICO certified.

British Colombia Travel Agency Licensing Requirements

To start a travel agency in British Columbia, Canada, you are required by the Insurance Council of British Colombian to take a travel insurance exam for a fee of $225 per year. That licensing will be tied to the Agency, and each agent will be required to take the exam once, and then maintain by taking a 2-hour course each year. A 2-year lapse or non-activity will require the agency to start the process all over again.

There are some additional fees and certification requirements for sellers of travel residing in British Columbia.

-   You must register with the BC Corporate Registry

-   You must register with Consumer Protection BC

If you are a hosted agent working under an Agency located in BC, you will need to apply for a branch location of your host agency in British Columbia.

Saskatchewan Colombia Travel Agency Licensing Requirements

Similarly to British Colombia, getting licensed to sell travel in Saskatchewan Canada is insurance based. The tow exams that’s required to be written and passed are the General Insurance Council of Saskatchewan (GICS)—the Qualifying Exam (online: $109 CAD + taxes) and the Travel Bylaw Exam (online: $55 CAD + taxes). The bylaw exam is an open book exam, so you do not need to worry too much about passing it.

US Travel Agency Licensing Requirements Per State

Even though getting your travel business up and running on the national level in the United States is pretty much hassle free, some states have implemented their own registration procedures that may make things a little bit more complicated. 5 States have their own Seller of Travel laws in place. Those states are California, Florida, Washington, Iowa, and Hawaii. These laws are what is called extraterritorial laws that do not just apply to those residing in the above-mentioned states, but those outside of the states selling travel to the residents of those states.

In the State of Delaware, if you plan on opening your travel agency there, you will need an occupational license that can be obtained for the nominal fee of $25. The same procedure is said to be in Lousiana but does not seem to be enforced. When it comes to Seller Of Travel licensing requirements, Louisiana and Delaware are hardly mentioned. It is the 5 primary states mentioned above that is worth paying close attention to.

Hawaii Seller Of Travel Requirements

Hawaii Seller of travel laws states that anyone acting as an intermediary between a person looking to buy travel products and services, and anyone that wishes sell travel products and services, must first register with the Hawaii Travel Agent Licensing Program. All travel agencies, chartered tour operators residing in Hawaii is required to register at the end of each odd-numbered year. The bi-annual registration fee is $140. For those living outside of the State of Hawaii but wish to do business in Hawaii, must apply for a Certificate of Authority to sell trade in travel products and services in the state of Hawaii. The registration cost is $25 per year. For full details of these and other requirements, contact the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs.

California Seller Of Travel Requirements

Anyone that sells, offers consultation, or offers travel products and travel-related services in the state of California or from n office located in California, is required to be registered as a California Seller Of Travel. This is also including anyone selling or distributing travel certificates, a coupon, vouchers, passes, are all required to comply with the California State Seller Of Travel Laws. Failing to register may result in penalties, a cease and desist order and the possibility of criminal charges.

There are two registration programs for travel businesses located in California. Once is the Travel Consumer Restitution Corporation which manages the handling of customer funds and the other is the California Seller Of Travel Program (CST) that is administered and upheld by the California Attorney General. Out of state agencies are only required to register for the CST. The California seller of travel law is strictly enforced and travel agencies conducting business are required to display their CST number on any marketing material promoting of offering travel services in the State of California.

Florida Seller Of Travel Requirements

In the sate of Florida, anyone seeking to sell travel products or travel related services must register with the Department of Agriculture of Consumer Services. The Seller Of Travel registration requirements applies to all persons offering pre-arranged travel packages, tourist related services, guided tours for Land, Air and Sea.

The state requires a bond of $50,000 and extensive disclosures in order to obtain a Seller Of Travel license. Independent travel agents are not required to post the bond but must meet the other mandatory requirements.

Iowa Seller of Travel Requirements

It is a requirement in the state of Iowa that all sellers of travel register with the department of Economic Development. This applies to anyone selling or offer consultation for travel products and travel-related services.

Washington Seller Of Travel Requirements

The State of Washington has a seller of travel registration requirement done through the Department of Licensing. There are also certain financial requirements and securities that needs to be in place. A travel business can become exempt from these fees is certain business standards are met and funds and consumer funds collected for travel are being held properly.

When looking to get licensing to sell travel, the best thing to do is thoroughly research the laws in your local area. This is another place where the value of a Host Agency comes in. By contacting a host agency, they will not only be able to save you time and money of the licensing and registration process; they will be able to provide you with a lot of the information you are looking for.

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Understanding Travel Agent Liability

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  Are Travel Agencies Subject to Specific Laws?

Yes, travel agencies and travel agents are subject to specific laws. A travel agency is a business that makes arrangements for individuals who are traveling, including booking airline tickets and hotel rooms.

Travel agencies and their agents are subject to travel law. Travel law regulates the travel industry. Travel law includes:

• Federal laws;
• State laws;
• Common law; and
• International laws.

Each state has consumer disclosure and fraud statutes as well as refund policy requirements for businesses that arrange and/or sell travel services. Some states have created specific laws for regulation, registration, and licensing for those who sell travel. The majority of states do not require travel agents to obtain a license. However, California and Florida require travel agents to register with the applicable state agency.

What are the Responsibilities of Travel Agents?

What are the legal duties and obligations of travel agents, what is travel insurance, is trip insurance required, can my travel agent be liable for problems i encounter on my trip, do travel agents need insurance, do i need a lawyer if i have a claim against my travel agent.

Travel agents have many responsibilities. A travel agent definition is someone who sells and arranges transportation, accommodations, tours, and/or trips for travelers. They are fiduciaries , or representatives, of their customers. They are responsible for general duties in arranging travel plans. A travel agent should:

• Make and confirm reservations, including itinerary changes and delivery of tickets;
• Disclose the identity of tour operator and/or the supplier responsible for the services;
• Vouch for the reliability of the supplier and/or provide a warranty for services;
• Investigate the availability of travel services, such as cancelled flights and/or overbooked hotels;
• Convey needed information and provide needed travel documentation;
• Provide information on health and safety hazards;
• Advise on the availability of travel insurance ; and
• Inform customers of any restrictions on transportation tickets.

According to the state courts, travel agents have a higher standard of care because they have a special relationship with their customers. This includes special duties and obligations owed to their customers. Travel agents duties and obligations include:

• A duty to warn the customer;
• A duty to investigate and disclose;
• A duty to inform;
• A duty to make reservations; and
• A duty to confirm reservations.

The duty to warn the customer includes a duty to reveal any negative information they have regarding the destination of the traveler. An example of this is if the traveler is going to a high crime area.

The duty to investigate and disclose includes a duty to investigate travel plans and be knowledgeable about the area to which the traveler is going. This includes knowing if there are certain conditions that would affect the consumers travel plans, such as a community event that may cause travel interference or delays.

The travel agent’s duty to inform means the agent has a duty to inform their clients about important travel information. They must inform clients about things such as:

• Limitations on ticket changes;
• Documents needed to travel;
• Whether certain countries have requirements; and
• The availability of travel insurance.

The travel agent has a duty to make reservations at the request of the customer. The travel agent also has a duty to confirm those reservations and make sure they are ready for the customer.

Travel insurance reimburses a traveler for costs related to events that may occur during their trip. It is designed to cover those who purchase coverage for financial implications of issues that may arise during their trip. It may include costs incurred prior to travel, such as non-refundable tickets or hotel stays and/or events that occur during a trip, including travel interruptions and medical expenses.

Travel insurance usually covers 5 main categories, including:

• Trip cancellations;
• Travel medical coverage;
• Major medical coverage;
• Emergency medical evacuation; and/or
• Accidental death/flight accident.

Travel insurance is an optional coverage that the traveler can purchase when they book their trip. Should they wish, a lawyer can review the terms and conditions of any travel insurance.

As noted above, trip or travel insurance is an optional coverage a traveler may purchase prior to taking a trip. In most cases, an individual’s homeowner’s insurance and/or health insurance policies will cover any medical costs or lost property, while at home or traveling. An individual’s life insurance policy will usually cover the individual and their family members while traveling. Additionally, airlines must reimburse a passenger if they lose their baggage.

A traveler can also purchase trip cancellation or trip interruption insurance, which will cover any losses that are not covered by other insurance. This can be helpful to protect the cost of the trip, especially if it must be cut short due to unforeseen circumstances.

Travel can be extremely expensive, especially abroad. Trip insurance may assist with costs of travel delay and/or lost or damaged luggage if the airline fails to fully compensate the traveler. It may also protect a traveler from costly medical bills in the event they are injured or become ill during their trip. Trip insurance may cover extreme unforeseen circumstances such as emergency medical evacuation, accidental death and/or flight accidents.

There are times when travel agents may be liable for problems a customer encounters. Travel agents may be liable to their customers for:

• Violations of general duties;
• Fraudulent misrepresentations; and/or
• Violations of applicable state regulations.

Some common issues travelers may encounter include:

• A cancellation;
• Discrimination;
• Lost, stolen and/or damaged baggage;
• A violation of consumer protection laws; and/or
• A deceptive port charge.

Sometimes, when an individual books a vacation, they may have to sign a travel agency contract. These contracts are signed at the time the traveler books their trip. They may include:

• Baggage fees;
• Travel agent obligations;
• Cancellations;
• Payment terms;
• Additional fees;
• Travel documents;
• Confirmations;
• Governing laws; and/or
• Any other necessary clauses.

Yes, similar to other commercial businesses, travel agents benefit from obtaining business insurance to protect them from liability. Travel agent or travel agency insurance often comes in 2 forms: professional liability insurance and general liability insurance.

Travel agent liability insurance, or professional liability insurance, protects a travel agent for any errors that occur in business activities. It also assists when the travel agent is sued by a customer for not providing the service that the customer was due to receive per their contract.

General liability insurance protects travel agents and travel agencies in their officers where they meet with clients. This is generally for protection in case a claim related to an injury, such as a slip and fall accident, occurs.

Yes, travel laws can be complex and vary by jurisdiction. An experienced business lawyer will be able to assist you with any aspects of travel law. Every state has specific regulations regarding travel sellers. Travel law includes domestic and international laws. For these reasons, it is important to obtain the services of a lawyer to help navigate any claims.

A lawyer can assist with reviewing any contracts and/or documentation and determine if a claim exists. A lawyer can also represent you during any court proceedings or alternative dispute resolution processes, if necessary. A lawyer can also assist you with any issues that arise from travel insurance.

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Jennifer joined LegalMatch in 2020 as a Legal Writer. She holds a J.D. from Cumberland School of Law and has been a member of the Alabama State Bar since 2012. She is a certified mediator and guardian ad litem. She holds a B.A. in Criminology and Criminal Justice and a B.A. in Spanish, both from Auburn University. Jennifer’s favorite part of legal work is research and writing. Jennifer enjoyed being a Law Clerk for a distinguished Circuit Judge in Alabama. She is a stay-at-home mom and homeschool teacher of three children. She enjoys reading and long evening walks with her husband. Read More

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The U.S. travel industry welcomes the Biden administration’s changes to travel rules.

The 18-month travel ban on travelers from Europe, China, Iran, South Africa, Brazil and India has been crippling for the industry,

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By Ceylan Yeginsu and Heather Murphy

• Sept. 20, 2021

The U.S. travel industry breathed a sigh of relief on Monday after the Biden administration said it would ease longstanding restrictions on international travelers , allowing those who are fully vaccinated against the coronavirus to visit the country beginning in November.

The 18-month travel ban on travelers from Europe, China, Iran, South Africa, Brazil and India has been crippling for the industry, which suffered a $500 billion loss in travel expenditures in 2020, including a 79 percent decease in spending from international travel, according to the U.S. Travel Association , a trade group that promotes travel to and within the country. There were 19.4 million international visitors to the United States in 2020, less than one-quarter of the number who visited in 2019.

Unvaccinated travelers from many countries, including Mexico, Canada and Japan, who have been permitted to travel to the United States before Monday’s announcement will not be allowed in once the new proclamation takes effect.

Roger Dow, the president of the U.S. Travel Association, praised the lifting of the restrictions on vaccinated travelers.

“The U.S. Travel Association applauds the Biden administration’s announcement of a road map to reopen air travel to vaccinated individuals from around the world, which will help revive the American economy and protect public health,” he said in a statement Monday.

“This is a major turning point in the management of the virus and will accelerate the recovery of the millions of travel-related jobs that have been lost due to international travel restrictions.”

Nicholas E. Calio, president of Airlines for America , an industry trade group, also applauded the new policy, which will require airlines to play a role in checking international travelers’ vaccination status. “U.S. airlines have been strong advocates for a stringent, consistent policy and are eager to safely reunite the countless families, friends and colleagues who have not seen each other in nearly two years, if not longer,” Mr. Calio said in a statement.

Willie Walsh, the director general of the International Air Transport Association, a trade group of the world’s airlines, called the new approach to international travel “a step forward” for the U.S. economy, for families separated by previous rules and for managing the spread of coronavirus throughout the world. But there is still much to resolve, he said, given that along with opening up travel for many people to the United States, the new rules also prohibit travel for unvaccinated individuals from across the world.

“The next challenge is finding a system to manage the risks for travelers who do not have access to vaccinations,” he said in a statement. “Data points to testing as a solution. But it is also critical that governments accelerate the global rollout of vaccines and agree on a global framework for travel where testing resources are focused on unvaccinated travelers. We must get back to a situation where the freedom to travel is available to all.”

No city in the United States felt the impact of the travel ban like New York, which had the highest share of overseas travel and drew more than 13.5 million foreign visitors in 2019. International arrivals fell by as much as 93 percent in 2020, according to data from the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, which runs the area’s airports, among other things.

International visitors generate 50 percent of the city’s tourism spending and 50 percent of hotel room occupancy, NYC & Company , the city’s tourism marketing agency, said. Fred Dixon, the agency’s president and chief executive, welcomed the administration’s decision calling it “a shot in the arm for the industry.”

Ceylan Yeginsu is a London-based reporter. She joined The Times in 2013, and was previously a correspondent in Turkey covering politics, the migrant crisis, the Kurdish conflict, and the rise of Islamic State extremism in Syria and the region. More about Ceylan Yeginsu

Heather Murphy is a reporter on the Travel desk. She welcomes tips, questions and complaints about traveling during the pandemic. More about Heather Murphy

_______________________________________

Travel Rules and Regulations

Roseborough Travel Agency, Inc. is acting as a broker and agent for suppliers in selling services or in accepting reservations or bookings for services which are not directly supplied by this company such as airline tickets, hotel accommodations, ground transportation, meals, tours, event tickets, rail tickets, car rentals, cruises and travel insurance. This company, therefore, shall not be responsible for breach of contract or any intentional or careless actions or omissions on the part of the suppliers, which result in any loss, damages, delay, or injury to you or your travel companions or group members. We shall not be responsible for any injuries, damages, or losses caused to any traveler in connection with terrorist activities, social or labor unrest, mechanical or construction difficulties, disease, local laws, climate conditions, abnormal conditions, or developments or any other actions or omissions or conditions outside the companies control. By embarking upon his/her travel, the travelers voluntary assume all risk and are strongly advised to obtain the proper travel insurance. It is not up to Roseborough Travel Agency for clients to have the proper documentation upon travel.   The clients, by engaging the company and making deposits and/or full payments for the package arrangements as specified, acknowledge the position of the company stipulated by the foregoing and agrees to hold Roseborough Travel Agency, Inc. blameless in making the arrangements on his/her behalf, provided same shall be made through generally accepted suppliers at the time of engagement and further agrees that restitution or damages, if any shall be sought directly from the supplier. The client also agrees to the terms and conditions of the tour and services set forth by the supplier. Rates are subject to change without notice. Tours and event tickets are subject to availability and change without notice. Payment of deposit of full payment shall constitute consent of all provisions stated herein. Roseborough Travel Agency and/or the supplier reserve the right to add a fuel surcharge that can increase the cost of the trip. Roseborough Travel and/or the supplier reserve the right to cancel or reschedule any vacation departure for any reason. The hotels listed on the website or in the brochure are intended to be used on all departures; however, hotels are not guaranteed. Roseborough Travel Agency and/or the supplier reserve the right to substitute other hotels or tour stops than those listed on the itinerary pages. If a change becomes necessary for any reason, including alternate hotels for additional departures on the same date, or hotel location changes within or outside itinerary cities, the hotel substituted will be of equivalent quality to those shown. No refunds are provided for changes; full cancellation penalties, as noted above, apply. Bedding and food items are on request, but are never guaranteed. 

Roseborough Travel Agency

Located: 140 East Indiana Avenue • DeLand, FL 32724

Office Hours: Monday – Tuesday: 9 AM – 4 PM; Wednesday: 9 AM – 12 PM (Noon); Thursday – Friday: 9 AM - 4 PM; Saturday – Sunday: Closed

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Home Travel Industry Attorney Travel Industry Regulation and Compliance

Travel Industry Regulation and Compliance

Businesses in the travel industry must comply with many regulations and laws . In addition to legal compliance in the location where they operate, travel businesses must also be familiar with laws in host locations. Every state and country has different regulations that companies must comply with if they offer services within their borders.

It can be difficult to ensure compliance with an array of legislation throughout the United States and internationally. If you are operating a business within the travel industry, you should have general counsel on hand to answer your questions about travel industry regulation and compliance.

The Ment Law Group, PC has extensive experience working in the travel industry as well as with clients who operate tourism-related businesses. We can help you navigate the complex rules and regulations that must be recognized. Call us today at 866-MENT-LAW, or use our online form to schedule a consultation.

Seller of Travel Laws

Certain states are known as “seller of travel” states. These locations have enacted registration programs and financial security requirements for travel companies, travel agencies, tour operators, and others. If you sell travel to residents of those states, you must comply with specific laws prior to selling or offering to sell travel services to consumers.

Currently, only five states have seller of travel registration requirements – California, Florida, Hawaii, Iowa, and Washington. It is important to stay up to date on the regulations and legal requirements in these states and others in which you operate. If you fail to comply with seller of travel laws, you may be subject to fines and other penalties.

Financial Security Requirements in the Travel Industry

Many states, including seller of travel states, require businesses in the travel industry to prove financial security. This may include purchasing liability insurance or a bond to cover certain situations with consumers. In some states, a letter of credit, certificate of deposit, or trust account meets proof of financial security requirements.

When operating in multiple states, you need a travel lawyer who is familiar with the requirements of a variety of geographic locations. The Ment Law Group, PC offers services to companies nationwide, as well as those businesses that operate overseas. We can ensure that you meet the legal requirements of all the host locations in which you do business.

DOT Advertising Rules

The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) enforces advertising rules on airlines and other businesses in the tourism industry. Their goal is to help travelers understand advertising and encourage fair and honest communication between travel businesses and customers.

A skilled travel attorney can help you remain in compliance with DOT advertising rules. Attorney Jeffrey Ment was a sales manager for two major airlines, and he thoroughly understands the DOT advertising rules that you must follow. We can guide you through developing effective policies and dynamic advertising campaigns that comply with regulations.

DOT Baggage Rules

Whether you directly assist customers during their travel or provide services before or after their trips, it’s important to be familiar with DOT baggage rules. You must comply with these regulations or help your customers understand the requirements as they travel.

Although airlines are primarily concerned with DOT baggage rules, even travel agents will need to assist customers who have questions. You may want to create a guidance sheet for travelers to answer frequently asked questions about baggage.

We can help you with the following issues regarding baggage :

• Reporting mishandled baggage
• Enhancing traveler protections
• Limits on baggage
• Safety tips for travelers
• Guidance for travel business and airline employees
• Enforcement orders regarding baggage rules
• Negotiating penalties with government agencies

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The links below will help you with your clients’ travel needs before and during their trip. We encourage you to add these links to your own website for easy reference.

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A List of Business Travel Expenses You Can Write Off In 2023 [+Travel Expense Calculator & Tax Organizer]

Figuring out which business travel expenses you can write off probably registers on the fun-o-meter at the same level as root canals or bathing feral cats.

Travel agents are plagued with tricky questions when it comes to travel expense write-offs. If you have a few business meetings during a family vacation, how much of the trip can be a travel expense write-off? If you specialize in Europe does that mean any and all trips to Europe are tax write-offs?

Don’t worry. Stick with us and we’ll clear up what you can and can’t write off as a travel expense. I learned a thing or two when I chatted with Jay Elstad, a CPA (Certified Public Accountant) with Riley Martin Ltd , and Stephanie Cannon, a former accountant turned Founder of SC Travel Design . Our Friday 15 Episode with Stephanie Cannon in late 2022 is pretty much a movie trailer for this article!

It turns out that figuring out travel expenses is a lot less intimidating when you talk to professionals. So I’m here to share their wisdom with you. Starting with HAR's beauteous tax organizer! Download it now and keep it handy while you go through the article!

Here's how HAR's Tax Organizer looks in action:

To make it your very own, just click on the upper right-hand arrow on the document to download it for yourself! (If you have any issues or you don't have a Gmail account, we won't leave you out! Just drop us a line at [email protected] and we'll send it via email).

This article and the HAR tax organizer will ensure you’re tracking and logging expenses thoroughly and efficiently. Will it make tracking travel expenses fun? Um, no. Sorry. I’m not that good. But I will give you the tools to help you feel more confident when it comes to travel expenses.

⭐️  HAR ARTICLE HIGHLIGHTS:  ⭐️

• PDF: A list of travel expenses you can (and can't) write off
• Business Travel Expenses You Can Write Off
• Business Travel Expenses You Can't Write Off
• Hobbyists (or Travel Dabblers)
• Cruises & Travel Expenses
• The Elephant in the Room: Is a Vacation a Travel Expense?
• Travel Expense Scenarios for Travel Professionals
• Tips on Tracking & Documenting Your Business Travel Expenses
• Travel Expense Tracking Tools

A PDF Summary of Business Travel Expenses You Can (and Can't) Write Off

Our infographic details which business travel expenses you can (and can't) write off at a glance. If you're looking for crib notes, this PDF is it. But I highly recommend reading the rest of the article because business travel expense write-offs are all about nuance and the nitty-gritty.

A List Travel Expenses You Can Write Off

You can write off any travel expenses that are necessary, reasonable, and ordinary to your business operations. Below are examples of travel expenses you can (and cannot write off). Let's start with which write-offs are a green light.

1: Transportation

• By airplane, train, bus, or car between your home and your business destination.
• Fares for taxis or other types of transportation between the airport or train station and your hotel, or the hotel and the work location of your customers or clients, your business meeting place, or your temporary work location.
• Personal car usage or car rental: You can deduct actual expenses or the standard mileage rate (¢65.5 for 2023 travel), as well as business-related tolls and parking fees. If you rent a car, you can deduct only the business-use portion for the expenses.

2. Baggage or Shipping

Checking in your luggage? You can deduct that. Shipping display materials for the trade show? Go ahead and write that off too (so long as it’s between your regular and temporary work location).

You can deduct any of your business-related lodgings as an expense so long as it’s reasonable and necessary to your business (e.g. hotel/resort stay during a travel conference).

If you bring your sweetie/friend/kid you can only deduct lodging expenses that are reasonable for one person, for the nights/days that you worked.

4. Dry cleaning and laundry

If you have laundry or dry cleaning bills during your business travel, keep those receipts for your travel expenses. (I'm told that traveling to your basement to do laundry does not fall under this category.)

5. Communication Expenses (Beyond your work cell phone)

(beyond your cell phone): Your cell phone will already be deducted in a different category. But if you have any peripheral communications like leasing a satellite phone in Antarctica (sweet!) for emergency business calls, you can deduct that.

Tips include any gratuity to pay for the services noted on this list (porter fees, room service/cleaning, cab rides, etc.).

Note on cash: If you take out cash for tips (or other incidentals) from an ATM, the ATM receipt is not enough documentation. You should write down on your ATM receipt the date, location/service, and amount, for which you tipped if you want to take it as a deduction.

This one is super vague, but here it is in IRS speak, "Other similar ordinary and necessary expenses related to your business travel." (e.g. use of a hotel business center, hiring an interpreter, transportation to and from hotel to business event, etc.)

I saved meals for last because it's a little complicated. But here's what you need to know about meals. The IRS recommends using a standard meal allowance rather than engaging in the administrative gymnastic of saving every receipt form every meal. Here's the lowdown.

• You can (generally) deduct 50% of the unreimbursed meal cost. (Meals in 2022 can be deducted at 100% due to IRS' temporary rule, Notice 21-25 )
• Meals must be non-entertainment-related. In 2018, the tax law changed, rendering entertainment expenses 100% nondeductible . So if you go to a dinner theater show with a client and the meal portion is not itemized on your theater ticket, you cannot deduct it.
• There are two ways you can track/deduct meal expenses. You can either use a per diem or track your actual expenses. We’ll explore this soon , so stay tuned

A List of Travel Expenses You Can't Write Off

Now for the less fun part: Here are examples of travel expenses you CAN NOT deduct.

1. Entertainment

Entertainment is not an allowable expense. Going golfing at the resort with a potential client or a BDM (business development manager) while you’re at a business conference? Too bad . . . you’re going to have to do it on your own dime.

2. Family/friends/dependents traveling with you

If you’re traveling with a friend, family member, and/or dependent you cannot deduct any of their travel expenses.

If you feel like you fall under an exception to this rule—e.g. you compensate your family member/friend/dependent to fulfill necessary business activities during the trip and have the 1099 or W-2 to prove they work for you—talk to your CPA.

3. Lavish and extravagant

Lavish and extravagant expenses are not allowed by the IRS. However, they’re a little foggy on what defines lavish or extravagant saying only, “an expense isn’t considered lavish or extravagant if it’s reasonable based on facts or circumstances.”

If you think this may be a concern for you, talk to your CPA.

4. Travel that is compensated

This may seem obvious, but if your travel is comped, you cannot deduct it as an expense. For example, if you’re presenting at a conference and the event planner comps your entire hotel stay, you cannot deduct lodging.

The same also goes for using points on loyalty programs toward flight/lodging etc.

5. Personal vacations

You cannot deduct personal travel. When it comes to mixing business with leisure (I mean, do travel agents ever really stop working?), we get into a serious gray area. It’s such a doozie that it gets its own section. So read on.

Travel Expenses for Travel Advisor Hobbyists (or Travel Dabblers)

I’m not going to spend too much time talking about hobbyists. Just know that if you sell travel as a hobby, then none of your travel expenses are allowable in the eyes of the IRS.

How do you know if you’re a hobbyist? The IRS has a long list , including items like whether or not “you depend on the income for your livelihood” and other fun determining factors.

The IRS understands it can take a while to become profitable. Typically, you’re approaching hobbyist territory in the eyes of the IRS if you report a loss of three out of five years of business operations. (A loss means you’re claiming business expenses beyond your income.)

As with all things tax-related, there are exceptions as to what expenses are considered a loss, but that's above my pay grade. You’re a psychic now so you know what I’m about to say . . . talk to your accountant or CPA.

Cruises & Business Travel Expenses

Cruises are special snowflakes and are subject to their own rules when it comes to travel expenses. According to the IRS , “You can deduct up to $2,000 per year of your expenses of attending conventions, seminars, or similar meetings held on cruise ships. All ships that sail are considered cruise ships.”

This may not be the happiest news to cruise buffs who spend thousands per year on Seminars at Seas. But remember, I’m just the messenger (not the IRS).

If you want to write off your 2k in cruises, there are all sorts of stringent requirements you need to meet. Below, I am copying and pasting what the IRS has to say on the matter, verbatim (why reinvent the wheel):

You can deduct these [cruise] expenses only if all of the following requirements are met.

• The convention, seminar, or meeting is directly related to the active conduct of your trade or business.
• The cruise ship is a vessel registered in the United States.
• All of the cruise ship's ports of call are in the United States or in possession of the United States.
• You attach to your return a written statement signed by you that includes information about:
• The total days of the trip (not including the days of transportation to and from the cruise ship port),
• The number of hours each day that you devoted to scheduled business activities, and
• A program of the scheduled business activities of the meeting.
• You attach to your return a written statement signed by an officer of the organization or group sponsoring the meeting that includes:
• A schedule of the business activities of each day of the meeting, and
• The number of hours you attended the scheduled business activities.

Again, if you think your cruise trip/business model is an exception, or you have a bone to pick with these rules, don’t call me. [Enter refrain] Talk to your CPA.

The Elephant in the Room: Is Your Vacation a Travel Expense?

I know that CPAs and accountants everywhere are probably going to duck and cover at the merest whisper of deducting trips that have even a whiff of personal travel.

But as a travel agent, it’s confusing since you need to travel to run a successful and profitable business.

Sure, it’s easy enough to justify travel expenses for a conference or an escorted FAM (familiarization trip). But when it comes to deducting travel expenses for any trip that’s in any way attached to personal travel, you’re entering some serious gray area (I like to call this Grayland).

The IRS isn’t super helpful when it comes to navigating Grayland. Their verdict is this, “If your trip was conducted primarily for personal reasons, such as a vacation, the entire cost of the trip is a nondeductible personal expense. However, you can deduct any expenses you have while at your destination that are directly related to your business.”

Not exactly cut and dry. Sigh.

I can’t advise you on your taxes (trust me, everyone loses in this scenario). But here are a few guiding questions that help you determine if your trip is justifiable as a travel expense (and to what extent).

1. What is the primary purpose of your trip? You know in your heart of hearts whether your primary purpose is business or personal. If your primary purpose is to go to Mexico with your family, it’s going to be a tough sell to deduct your travel expenses. (Even if you do sell the resort or region you’re staying at.)

If the primary purpose of your trip is an Oaxaca FAM that’s sponsored by the Mexico tourism board, then that’s a different story. We’ll talk more about mixing business with pleasure later. But here’s the major takeaway: You can deduct only the expenses of your trip that are directly related to business. (Remember: reasonable, ordinary, necessary).

2. How much of your trip is spent on activities directly related to business activities? You can only write off the travel expenses directly related to business activity. So if you spend 10 days in Mexico with your family, but you spend 3 days ditching your family to go on-site inspections you scheduled weeks ago, you can reasonably write off a portion of your trip as a business expense.

Conversely, if you go on your family vacation and decide to pop into the nearest Sandals at the last minute for a self-administered “tour” in the name of business activity, that is a serious foul in the eyes of the IRS. (We’ll get into scenarios later).

3. Will your business derive income from the trip? You can have the most un-fun, jam-packed business trip in the world. But if you don’t make a good-faith effort to do any follow-up (ahem, earn moolah) with all your great meetings and research, then this could raise a red flag to the IRS.

4. Is the business activity necessary to your business/niche? If your niche is Italy, it’s going to be tough to write off a trip to Hawaii if you’ve never booked that destination (and don’t plan on doing it any time soon).

5. Is the trip necessary to the business operations you’re conducting? Working away from your tax home doesn’t automatically qualify as a travel expense. To deduct travel expenses, the business activity must necessitate the trip.

For example, if I go visit a friend in Paris and spend three full days working on this blog post about travel expenses, I may not deduct my trip as a business expense because I could easily conduct these business operations from home. Major bummer (because who isn't inspired to write about travel expenses when they see the Arc de Triomphe?)

The same goes for travel agents. If you’re on a family vacation but you’re still booking trips and supporting your clients from afar, your travel expenses are not deductible as travel expenses 1 because the trip wasn’t required for that particular business activity.

At the end of the day, you need to rely on your common sense (or, better yet, the common sense of your CPA or accountant). Remember the golden rule: travel expenses must be reasonable and necessary to your business.

How do you decide what’s reasonable? The following scenarios will help provide a little perspective.

Business Travel Expense Scenarios for Travel Agents

When it comes to deducting any business travel expenses that are (in any way) attached to personal travel, the CPA/accountants I chatted with agreed to proceed with caution.

If you’re mixing personal and business travel, be clear about what days you spend working and document your meetings and business activity during those days.

As an example, here are a few scenarios by way of example. Please remember that these scenarios are just crib notes. They’re intended to help give you a lay of the land, not to advise you in any way shape, or form:

Scenario 1 (The Conference)

You fly to the annual ASTA conference on Tues. and stay through Fri. The entire time is scheduled with conference activities except for breakfasts, which you purchase every morning at the resort cafe and charge to your room. On Thurs. night after the conference is over, you take an Uber to meet your long-distance college friend for dinner and drinks. You fly out early Friday morning.

Travel expenses are entirely deductible except for the Uber rides (to and from) and dinner and drinks with your friend.

Scenario 2 (The FAM)

You’re invited to an escorted FAM in Hawaii. The FAM is 3 days, but you decide to take your family with you and extend your trip, tacking on a 7-day family vacation after your FAM. You stay at the same resort with your family as you did during the FAM.

Since your business operations necessitated the trip to Hawaii, you can write off 100% of your flight and transportation to and from the airport (so long as it’s reasonable). Why? Because you’d have to fly to and from Hawaii and transfer to and from the airport to conduct your business anyway.

Additionally, you can also deduct other travel expenses incurred while you were working (such as meals and incidentals). If you rented a car, you can prorate your rental fees according to what percentage of the time you used it for work (e.g. 30% for 3 of ten days of total cost may be deductible).

Scenario 3 (working on vacation part I)

You’re on a family vacation to Disney World for 5 days. You take a last-minute lunch meeting to meet a new property manager at a resort you often book. The rest of the time, you enjoy with your family, posting about your time together on your travel agency's social media.

None of this trip is deductible except for your meal with the property manager. Sad face.

Scenario 4 (working on vacation part II)

A baseball fanatic, you decide to go to Japan for the Japan Series. While you’re there, you bring work with you and spend three hours per day booking trips and supporting your traveling clients. The rest of the time, you watch baseball and explore Japan.

None of your travel expenses are deductible because your trip to Japan wasn’t necessary for the business operations you were conducting while there.

These scenarios are merely examples. I know that real-life scenarios are much more complicated. If you’re mixing personal and business travel, be clear about what days you spend working and document your meetings and business activity during those days.

At the end of the day, it’s easiest to document your business activity and track expenses if you keep your personal and business travel separate. And let’s be honest, it’s best for your work-life balance too! Ultimately, you need to ensure you’re doing your due diligence to record and document your trips. Guess what?! We have a few tools to help you do just that.

Pro Tips on Tracking & Documenting Your Business Travel Expenses

Entering your expenses on beautiful sheets is just part of the administrative fun of tracking travel expenses.

Beyond that cursory bookkeeping, you need to have receipts, journals, and other documentation to back up your travel expenses. Why?

If the IRS comes calling with an audit letter, you may need to provide your documentation to prove that your travel expenses were (wait for it) reasonable and necessary. To make things more exciting, the IRS can hit you up for explanations about travel you took years ago.

Get all the info you need: When it comes to big-picture travel expenses, make sure that the receipts have all the details necessary to satisfy the IRS.

Here’s what the IRS considers enough detail:

• Destination Area of Travel
• Date(s) You left for and returned from your trip
• Number of days spent on business
• Amount of expense(s)

Here are a few tips to make this process as painless as possible:

1. Track Your Cash for incidentals: This tip is from Jay: If you take out cash for tips (or other incidentals) from an ATM, the ATM receipt is not enough documentation. You should write down on your ATM receipt the date, location/service, and amount, for which you tipped if you want to take it as a deduction.

2. On meal receipts, write down who attended and what business you discussed: This will help you jog your memory if you ever need to provide further documentation for your expense.

3. For transportation expenses beyond going between the airport and hotel, write down where you’re going: When you’re taking the rideshare to the ASTA gala, write down the destination/event on your receipt.

4. Keep detailed journals/documentation of business you conduct during travel: This is especially important for “Grayland” travel. It’s a benefit for yourself as much as it is for the IRS. But after your trip, write down your actionable items that relate to how you will derive income from your trip.

Are you going to create a new marketing initiative based on the site you toured? Great. Are you going to follow up with future potential clients? Fabulous. Are you growing your list of supplier contacts to expand your book of business? Write down how you plan to follow up on your trip to grow your business.

The truth is that as a good business person, you'll have all this information at your fingertips. Really, it’s just a matter of corralling all that info into one place.

Pro Tips on Developing a Documentation System for your Travel expenses

Stephanie Cannon weighed in on the importance of developing a system to document your expenses. See her tip below:

It's not only crucial to track the various trip expenses but to also develop a documentation system. In this digital age, I use folders on my computer, 1 for the year, and multiple for each trip during that year. Inside each trip folder, I include a summary sheet (Excel) that lists out all of the transaction details for each expense with a note of what it was for. I then upload all of the appropriate receipts for safekeeping (and store any paper copies in a large envelope).

~ Stephanie Cannon (2022)

Want to see this in action? Join Stephanie for her (free) "Travel Advisor's Know Your Numbers Challenge." Her challenge is the runway into a more in-depth Bookkeeping Bootcamp for travel advisors, covering how to set up and complete their bookkeeping process on a routine basis, no matter what “tool” you decide to use.

How Long Do I Keep all this Fun Documentation?

The IRS is allowed to dredge up the past. So you want to hang on to all your tax documents. If you’ve been in the biz for a while, you probably have enough receipts to wallpaper your entire house.

So when exactly can you throw all the stuff away? The rule of thumb is to keep documentation for:

• 3 years from the date you filed your return or
• 7 years if you claim a loss

If alarm bells went off when you read “rule of thumb” in regard to taxes, then you’re really getting the spirit of this article! Don’t take it from me. Read the lengthier recommendation on the IRS site or [enter refrain] talk to your CPA.

Travel Expense Calculator & Tracker

We whipped up a few goodies to help you along your voyage of figuring out your travel expenses. Now that you know which of your travel expenses you can deduct, we have a nifty resource you can use to approximate how much of your trip you can write off. It's also a resource to help you document the purpose of your trips as well (in case you need to refresh your memory).

How does it work?

• Enter your total deductible expenses
• Document the purpose of your business travel
• upload receipts

This means that all your travel documentation will be at your fingertips for bookkeeping purposes so if the IRS calls you and asks the purpose of that travel conference and FAM at an all-inclusive in Puerto Vallarta, then you have everything you need at your fingertips.

Here's a quick look at how the travel expense calculator works:

You give the travel expense calculator a gander. But know that, if you decide you want to copy and download the template for yourself or your business, you'll need to create a free Airtable account (essentially it's a spreadsheet on steroids). This tool will help calculate and track your travel expenses and provide the kind of documentation the IRS (or your bookkeeper) wants to see!

HAR's Tax Organizer

2. har tax organizer.

We're so excited about HAR's tax organizer that we're going to put the download in our article a second time! (In case we didn't have you convinced at the beginning of the article.

Now you know your actual travel expenses, and you can enter your tally! Hurray! But where do you put all this delectable information? That’s right, in your HAR Tax Organizer !

Now, if I may say so myself, HAR’s tax organizer is a thing of beauty. It’s a form where you calculate all your business expenses. That’s right, we’re talking waaaay beyond travel expenses here!

So download your form and give it a test run by entering your travel expenses.

Other Travel Expense Tools!

1. tracking apps (har uses expensify ).

The more you travel, the more impossible it will be to remember the Wheres? Whys? and What Fors? of your travel expenses. If you are overwhelmed at the thought of tracking all your expenses, stop everything and download an expense-tracking app.

I’m sure there are a ton of expense apps out there, and we’re not going to dig into different options here. HAR uses Expensify. It’s user-friendly and helps create reports very quickly.

What do you use? Tell us in the comments!

2. Per Diem Rate Calculator:

Per diem rates vary depending on where you're going (and what year it is). This is a nifty way of determining legitimate, standard per diem rates according to your destination. Remember, if you’re self-employed, you can only use the meal and incidental expenses (M&IE) per diem and you must still document all the expenses.

3. Accounting/ Bookkeeping Software

Below is a list of accounting software.

• Quickbooks , Freshbooks , and Xero are great for smaller agencies or if you’re starting out. If you want a free option, you can use a Google Spreadsheet or Excel document. (HAR uses Quickbooks.)
• TRAMS and Globalware are for large travel agencies and are travel-specific (unlike the above programs). For the average agency, these programs are not cost-effective.

If you're a die-hard DIY-er You can also use free resources such as Google spreadsheets or Excel sheets.

Thank Yous!

I can’t emphasize enough how little I knew about taxes before chatting with these amazing people: Stephanie Cannon, thank you for sharing your very rare travel-accounting hybrid knowledge with me, and for reviewing this article to help insure it provides the latest juicy gossip on tax regulations!

Jay Elstad has a ton of experience working with travel professionals. I called Jay during his BUSIEST season (mea culpa)! And you know what, he didn’t even get mad at me. In fact, he really went the extra mile to answer my questions and review this article.

Editor's Note: This article was first published on March 2nd, 2020. We update and republish it annually to include the latest information on travel expense deductions. The most current publish date is listed at the top of the article.

• It’s important to note we’re talking about travel expenses only. You can still write off necessary office expenses you need to conduct business, such as phone calls, wifi, a portion of lodging used for your office, etc. ↩

About the Author

Mary Stein has been working as a writer and editor for Host Agency Reviews since 2016. She loves supporting travel advisors on their entrepreneurial journey and is inspired by their passion, tenacity, and creativity. Mary is also a mom, dog lover, fiction writer, hiker, and a Great British Bake Off superfan.

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How You Set Up a Travel Partner and Booking Sites

A travel partner is an online booking provider or a travel agency that provides travel services to your employees. A booking site is an instance of your travel partner's booking tool that's configured for a group of employees.

Before you can set up a travel partner and booking sites, your company must perform the prerequisite steps mentioned in the How You Set Up Prerequisites for Travel Partner Integration topic.

The following table contains mandatory and optional setups that you complete at the travel partner or booking site levels to integrate with a travel partner.

Only for GetThere, Itinerary Import

If you're setting up travel integration with GetThere as your travel partner, then you must enter these details at the travel partner level to import itineraries into Expenses.

Connection user name and password

Your travel partner provides the user name and password to your company.

Super site name

The travel partner's system assigns a name to your company.

Itinerary Validation Rules

Your reliance on accurate travel data to make strategic, company-wide travel decisions is essential. To improve the accuracy of travel data and to provide visibility of policy violations to approvers and auditors, you can enable validations on itineraries when they're imported into Expenses or when they're created using REST services. You manage itinerary validation rules on the Manage Travel Itinerary Validation Rules page. You can optionally assign itinerary validation rules at the travel partner level or the booking site level, based on your company's global and regional business requirements. You can also override an itinerary validation rule at the booking site level.

Booking Sites

You must create booking sites to import or create itineraries and to permit your employees to navigate to booking sites from the Expenses work area. When integrating with GetThere, the travel partner provides you with a booking site identifier for each of your company booking sites. Site identifiers identify your booking sites to your travel partner and are required for itinerary import.

When integrating with travel partners other than GetThere, called Third Party in the application, the travel partner and booking site names act as identifiers. Itineraries are created for these travel partners using REST services. When posting the itineraries from the third-party travel partner sites to Expenses, the travel partner and booking site names used in the itineraries must match the values used in the setup.

Booking Site Links

To allow employees to access travel booking sites from the Expenses work area, you can define a booking site link in the following ways:

Booking site-specific URLs:

Based on region, country, or employment type, your company may have different travel partners or your travel partner may have multiple travel sites. Each booking site has a specific link. In such a case, you create different booking sites using specific URLs so that employees are directed to the booking site applicable to them.

Even if you have a single travel partner site, you can define an exception using a site-specific link. You may have to use booking site-specific URLs when:

Your company uses a SSO for most but not all of its locations.

You need specific booking sites due to local or regional regulations.

To select this option, enter a URL at the booking site level in the Booking Site Link field in the Create or Edit Booking Site dialog box.

Default booking site URL:

In case you use the GetThere travel partner, you can define a default booking URL for employees who are not assigned to a specific booking site.

To select this option, enter a URL at the partner level in the Default Booking Site Link field in the Booking Sites section on the Edit Travel Partner Integration page for GetThere. By default, all employees use this URL to access the travel partner unless you specify a booking site-specific URL on the Create Booking Site page.

Whether you select the default booking site URL or the booking site-specific URLs option, you can enter any of the following access links:

Single sign-on (SSO)

From the Travel tab in the Expenses work area, employees navigate to their assigned booking site after the application signs them in automatically.

Authentication by travel partner or travel agency

Employees navigate to the travel partner or travel agency's authentication page where they provide their user name and password and then they're taken to their assigned booking sites.

If your company permits SSO, you enter the SSO URL from the identity provider as the booking site link. When employees click Book Travel in the Expenses work area, they're automatically signed in and they automatically navigate to their assigned booking sites.

If your company doesn't permit SSO, employee credentials are authenticated by the travel partner or the travel agency. When employees click Book Travel in the Expenses work area, they navigate to the booking site URL that you set up. However, they must enter their credentials and sign in to the booking site.

The applicable URL can be your travel partner's site URL or a travel agency's booking site URL, depending on how you access your travel sites.

Booking Site Assignments

Assignment of employees to a booking site on the Create Booking Site page is required only if you select the booking site-specific URLs option as described in the Booking Site Links section of this topic. When you assign employees to booking sites, information you enter in Expenses and in travel partner site results in automatic navigation of employees to the correct booking site when they click Book Travel on the Trips page.

In your travel partner's system, you have set up employees and the travel sites to which they have access. In the Site Assignments section on the Create Booking Site page, instead of individually assigning employees to sites, you specify the association based on two parameters, country and employment. Within employment, site assignment of employees can be set up by job role or job management level.

The following table contains examples of employee booking site assignments by country, by employment groups, and by type of employment.

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American airlines changes passenger rules for earning miles — and travel agencies are pissed.

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American Airlines has multiple travel advisors up in arms after it announced plans to restrict AAdvantage Miles earnings for certain booking agencies.

The airline behemoth  announced  in February that flyers hoping to earn AAdvantage miles for their flights will have to do so directly through American, their airline partners, or preferred travel agencies recognized by the company.

The change will take effect on May 1, but American has yet to reveal which agencies will be included in its “preferred agencies.”

The change comes as part of the airline’s effort to minimize costs for agencies using older technology booking systems.

The airline has tried to convince agencies using the older booking systems to upgrade to newer platforms like the one American uses on its website.

While American  announced  a list would be shared in “late April,” agencies unsure if they’ll make the cut are expressing their distaste for the major change.

The American Society of Travel Agents (ASTA), Association of Canadian Travel Agencies and Advisors (ACTA), Foro Latinoamericano de Turismo (FOLATUR), and World Travel Agents Associations Alliance (WTAA) emphasized that any plans to restrict their clients’ earning miles could be detrimental to their agencies.

“It’s clear from the consensus among WTAAA, ACTA and FOLATUR, representing travel professionals around the world, the detriment that American’s decision will have on the travel industry globally,” President and CEO of ASTA, Zane Kerby, told  Travel and Tour World .

Kerby called out American for “operating in bad faith” and was “looking to pad its bottom line at the expense of our valued clients and the millions of consumers who rely on their trusted travel advisor.”

Henry Harteveldt, president of the travel industry market research firm Atmosphere Research Group, told  Fodor’s Travel  the move is a “very inward-looking” perspective on American Airlines.

“It’s not a very consumer-friendly approach, and American is being a bit of a bully here,” Harteveldt explained — adding the move will put loyalty airline members in the crossfire of the company’s dispute with agencies.

Harteveldt believes the move is also being monitored by the company’s competitors, who may adopt the change if it’s a success or whose sales teams may swoop in to poach any American flyers unpleased with the new method.

“As risky as American’s actions are, a lot of airlines are watching to see if it works out well for them, because if it does, I would not be surprised to see United and Delta copy it in certain ways,” he told the outlet.

While the airline is deadset on the change, Brett Snyder — author of the popular travel industry blog Crankyflier and CEO of the travel assistance service Cranky Concierge — said the move could cause “confusion” for the company’s flyers who already are trying to navigate their “frequent changes.”

“The biggest impact will likely be on business travelers who may not have a choice of where to book depending upon company policy,” Snyder told the outlet.

“The fact that American still hasn’t told everyone who is or is not preferred adds more to the confusion.”

As the airline industry waits to hear who American will list as their “preferred agencies,” occasional travelers may also feel the weight of the change, Snyder explained.

He worries that some agencies may not disclose that to their customers during the booking process.

Also, the move could affect cruise lines that book airfares as part of their packages, who may opt against using certain agencies not listed as one of American’s preferred agencies.

The changes will only affect travelers who collect AAdvantage Miles for their flights on American.

Flyers using corporate accounts with American will continue to earn miles for their flights no matter which booking channel they use unless they book a Basic Economy fare.

Travelers collecting miles from other Oneworld partners—the global airline alliance American is a member of with 13 other Airlines, such as British Airways, Qatar Airways, and Malaysia Airlines—will continue to earn miles for American Airlines flights regardless of booking channel.

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What to pack

Make sure to check the weather prognosis before your trip and pack accordingly.

When to travel

Moscow is beautiful all around the year. Choose traveling time according to preferred activities.

We suggest to always have some cash with you. You will need Rubles (RUB) for Russia.

How much to tip

Tipping is not required in Russia, but it's considered good etiquette, tip 10%-15% of your bill.

The average summer temperature is approx 18°C (64°F), and winter is around -6°C (22°F).

Some of the most popular souvenirs from Moscow are caviar, Krasnaya Moska perfume.

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One of the highest points in Moscow and one of its most breathtaking places - the Sparrow Hills.

See the 344-feet Cathedral of Christ the Savior - the tallest Orthodox church in the world.

Enjoy masterpieces of Russian opera and ballet in Moscow's legendary Bolshoi Theater.

Being the most recognizable symbol of Russia in the world, Red Square is an absolute must see when in Moscow. 

The famous GUM is a large department store in the Kitai-gorod part of Moscow facing Red Square.

St. Basil’s Cathedral is Moscow’s most famous artistic work of architecture set in the romantic Red Square.

History and luxury is revealed inside the Kremlin as the Armoury Chamber displays treasures like Faberge Eggs.

The symbol of Moscow and entire Russia, the Kremlin is often described as the 8th Wonder of the World.

Moscow Metro is like a whole underground city that holds the world's largest collection of Stalinist Art.

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Welcome to visit moscow tours.

We provide authentic, informative and memorable tour packages and city tours, at very competitive prices. Visit Moscow Tours are available not only in Moscow, but also in other cities: Saint Petersburg, Kazan, Suzdal and Sergiev Posad.  We also organise customised individual programs tailored just for you.

Our guests come in large groups, small private groups, as couples or as single travellers. We take care of and treat our guests with respect in a friendly and warm family environment. We show people our beautiful cities with passion and deep knowledge of their history, culture and traditions.

Our guides are extremely hospitable, helpful and well-informed. They are simply the best because only by providing the best services can we make the world fall in love with Russia. And we are very happy when our guests say that they will definitely come back to Russia and that they will tell all their friends how great Russia is! That is what inspires us to put even more dedication and hard work into our tours, knowing that what we do is positive and meaningful.

Our classic tours include tours of Moscow and Saint Petersburg, two main Russian cities.

Moscow is a big and busy  megalopolis and Russia’s capital city, where more than 12 million people live and work. Our capital city is happening place; it is mysterious, elegant, luxurious, fashionable, clean and bright, with its unique legends, traditions and events. It is with great pride that we show the Red Square and the Kremlin, our Underground and Tretyakovskaya Gallery, among other stunning attractions.

Saint Petersburg is our second capital,  the second largest city in the Russian Federation. This wonderful city has a strong and lively aristocratic spirit, uniquely Russian royal architecture, magnificent museums and theatres. Saint Petersburg bears the royal heritage of Russia, which can be felt in its air, its streets, parks, monuments, museums and citizens.  In Saint Petersburg tours, we will take you to the Hermitage, Peter and Paul Fortress, Faberge Museum and Orthodox Cathedrals. We’re sure you will love it!

If you have a few more days to spare, venture into the dreamy Russian countryside in Suzdal or Sergiev Posad. Suzdal is a small town with a population of about ten thousand people, situated on less than 15 square kilometres. This tiny area is home to 53 historic cathedrals, five monasteries and a kremlin. Church domes are visible like mushrooms from anywhere and everywhere in the town like in a fairy tale. No wonder Suzdal is called the ‘Town Museum”.  It is definitely worth visiting!

Just try any of Visit Moscow Tours’ tour packages or any individual city tour, and we promise that you will want to come back to Russia again.  Russia is huge with countless amazing places to visit. There are so many unique experiences to be had and energies to be felt that one tour is definitely not enough to explore this vast land. It is also a very safe destination to travel, and we have a tradition of warm hospitality. Our people adore and take care of visitors as our own guests, and even if they do not know your language very well, they still try to be helpful and hospitable.

Our guides will show you the most interesting attractions and historical places, taking you on a journey to the past to enjoy stories of medieval times, the Romanov monarchy, the Soviet Era. And of course, we will show you the contemporary life of our country through authentic local experiences.

We look forward to meeting you soon!

2024 federal budget's key takeaways: Housing and carbon rebates, students and sin taxes

Budget sees nearly $53b in new spending over the next 5 years.

What's in the new federal budget?

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Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland today tabled a 400-page-plus budget her government is pitching as a balm for anxious millennials and Generation Z.

The budget proposes $52.9 billion in new spending over five years, including $8.5 billion in new spending for housing. To offset some of that new spending, Ottawa is pitching policy changes to bring in new revenue.

Here are some of the notable funding initiatives and legislative commitments in budget 2024.

Ottawa unloading unused offices to meet housing targets

One of the biggest pillars of the budget is its housing commitments. Before releasing the budget, the government laid out what it's calling Canada's Housing Plan — a pledge to "unlock" nearly 3.9 million homes by 2031.

The government says two million of those would be net new homes and it believes it can contribute to more than half of them. 

It plans to do that by:

• Converting underused federal offices into homes. The budget promises $1.1 billion over ten years to transform 50 per cent of the federal office portfolio into housing.
• Building homes on Canada Post properties. The government says the 1,700-plus Canada Post offices across the country can be used to build new homes while maintaining postal services. The federal government says it's assessing six Canada Post properties in Quebec, Alberta and British Columbia for development potential "as a start."
• Rethinking National Defence properties. The government is promising to look at redeveloping properties and buildings on National Defence lands for military and civilian use.
• Building apartments. Ottawa is pledging a $15 billion top-up to the Apartment Construction Loan Program, which says it will build 30,000 new homes across Canada.

Taxing vacant land?

As part of its push on housing, the federal government also says it's looking at vacant land that could be used to build homes.

It's not yet committing to new measures but the budget says the government will consider introducing a new tax on residentially zoned vacant land. 

• Freeland's new federal budget hikes taxes on the rich to cover billions in new spending
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The government said it plans to launch consultations on the measure later this year.

Help for students 

There's also something in the budget for students hunting for housing.

The government says it will update the formula used by the Canada Student Financial Assistance Program to calculate housing costs when determining financial need, to better reflect the cost of housing in the current climate.

The government estimates this could deliver more aid for rent to approximately 79,000 students each year, at an estimated cost of $154.6 million over five years.

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The government is also promising to extend increased student grants and interest-free loans, at an estimated total cost of $1.1 billion this year.

Increase in taxes on capital gains

To help cover some of its multi-billion dollar commitments, the government is proposing a tax hike on capital gains — the profit individuals make when assets like stocks and second properties are sold.

The government is proposing an increase in the taxable portion of capital gains, up from the current 50 per cent to two thirds for annual capital gains over $250,000. 

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Freeland said the change would impact the wealthiest 0.1 per cent.

There's still some protection for small businesses. There's been a lifetime capital gains exemption which allows Canadians to exempt up to $1,016,836 in capital gains tax-free on the sale of small business shares and farming and fishing property. This June the tax-free limit will be increased to $1.25 million and will continue to be indexed to inflation thereafter, according to the budget.

The federal government estimates this could bring in more than $19 billion over five years, although some analysts are not convinced.

Disability benefit amounts to $200 per month 

Parliament last year passed the Canada Disability Benefit Act, which promised to send a direct benefit to low-income, working-age people with disabilities. 

Budget 2024 proposes funding of $6.1 billion over six years, beginning this fiscal year, and $1.4 billion per year ongoing, for a new Canada Disability Benefit.

Advocates had been hoping for something along the lines of $1,000 per month per person . They'll be disappointed.

According to the budget document, the maximum benefit will amount to $2,400 per year for low income individuals with disabilities between the ages of 18 and 64 — about $200 a month.

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The government said it plans for the Canada Disability Benefit Act to come into force in June 2024 and for payments to start in July 2025.

Carbon rebate for small businesses coming 

The federal government has heard an earful from small business advocates who accuse it of reneging on a promise to return a portion of carbon pricing revenues to small businesses to mitigate the tax's economic costs.

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The budget proposes to return fuel charge proceeds from 2019-20 through 2023-24 to an estimated 600,000 businesses with 499 or fewer employees through a new refundable tax credit.

The government said this would deliver $2.5 billion directly to Canada's small- and medium-sized businesses.

Darts and vape pods will cost more 

Pitching it as a measure to cut the number of people smoking and vaping, the Liberals are promising to raise revenues on tobacco and smoking products.

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Starting Wednesday, the total tobacco excise duty will be $5.49 per carton. The government estimates this could increase federal revenue by $1.36 billion over five years starting in 2024-25.

The budget also proposes to increase the vaping excise duty rates by 12 per cent effective July 1. That means an increase of 12 to 24 cents per pod, depending on where you live. 

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Ottawa hopes this increase in sin taxes will bring in $310 million over five years, starting in 2024-25.

More money for CBC 

Heritage Minister Pascale St-Onge has mused about redefining the role of the public broadcaster before the next federal election . But before that happens, CBC/Radio-Canada is getting a top-up this year. 

The budget promises $42 million more in 2024-25 for CBC/Radio-Canada for "news and entertainment programming." CBC/Radio-Canada received about $1.3 billion in total federal funding last year.

The government says it's doing this to ensure that Canadians across the country, including rural, remote, Indigenous and minority language communities, have access to independent journalism and entertainment.

Last year, the CBC announced a financial shortfall, cut 141 employees and eliminated 205 vacant positions. In a statement issued Tuesday, CBC spokesperson Leon Mar said the new funding means the corporation can balance its budget "without significant additional reductions this year."

Boost for Canada's spy agency 

As the government takes heat over how it has handled the threat of foreign election interference, it's promising more money to bolster its spy service.

The Canadian Security Intelligence Service is in line to receive $655.7 million over eight years, starting this fiscal year, to enhance its intelligence capabilities and its presence in Toronto.

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The budget also promises to guarantee up to $5 billion in loans for Indigenous communities to participate in natural resource development and energy projects in their territories.

These loans would be provided by financial institutions or other lenders and guaranteed by the federal government, meaning Indigenous borrowers who opt in could benefit from lower interest rates, the budget says. 

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Catharine Tunney is a reporter with CBC's Parliament Hill bureau, where she covers national security and the RCMP. She worked previously for CBC in Nova Scotia. You can reach her at [email protected]

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