This FAQ explains how The LTA Private Client Introduction Program works for participating and prospective referral partners.
About the Program
What is the Private Client Introduction Program?
The program allows selected individuals and businesses to introduce new clients to The Luxury Travel Agency.
If an introduction results in qualifying business, the participant receives a referral payment based on the revenue The Luxury Travel Agency earns from that client during the qualifying period.
Participation is by invitation only.
Is this an affiliate program?
No.
The Private Client Introduction Program is not a public affiliate, influencer or lead-generation program.
It is a selective program for individuals and businesses whose client relationships and standards of service align with The Luxury Travel Agency.
Can I share this program with a colleague?
The program is by invitation only. If you know someone who would be a good fit, please introduce them to Andrew.
Can I promote the program or advertise for referrals?
No. Introductions should be made only to people with whom you have a genuine personal or professional relationship.
Purchased lists, mass emails, cold outreach, social media promotion and paid advertising are not permitted.
Making an Introduction
What do I need to do?
Very little.
When you have a client who may benefit from our services, simply introduce them by email to:
Andrew Satkowiak
Executive Vice President
The Luxury Travel Agency
andrew@theluxurytravelagency.com
Please copy your client on the email.
Once the introduction has been made, The Luxury Travel Agency handles the relationship directly.
How will I know you received my introduction?
Andrew will acknowledge each introduction within one business day.
What if my client prefers to contact you directly?
That’s fine. If your client contacts us directly and names you when they first reach out, we will treat that as your introduction, provided you are an approved participant and the client otherwise qualifies.
The client must mention you at their first contact. We cannot add attribution after the relationship has already started.
Do I need to sell or explain travel services?
No.
You are making an introduction, not acting as a Travel Advisor.
You do not need to quote travel, plan itineraries, make reservations, collect payments or provide travel advice on behalf of The Luxury Travel Agency.
Do I have to stay involved after making the introduction?
No.
Once you make the introduction, you can leave the travel conversation to us.
You are welcome to remain personally connected with your client, but there is no requirement to assist with the travel planning or booking process.
Do I have to make a certain number of introductions?
No.
There are no quotas or minimum referral requirements.
We would rather receive an occasional introduction to someone you genuinely believe is a good fit than a large number of indiscriminate leads.
Who Qualifies
Does the client have to be new to The Luxury Travel Agency?
Yes.
The program applies only to qualifying new clients. Existing clients, former clients and prospective clients who have already contacted The Luxury Travel Agency on their own do not qualify.
Can I introduce clients who live outside the U.S. or Canada?
Yes, provided they otherwise qualify. The Luxury Travel Agency works with clients around the world.
Do referrals through either office count?
Yes. Qualifying bookings made through our Nashville or Toronto office are included, regardless of which office your agreement is with.
Can I refer friends or family?
Yes, provided they are genuinely new clients of The Luxury Travel Agency and otherwise qualify under the program terms.
Self-referrals do not qualify. This includes you, your spouse or partner, and members of your household.
Does the referral cover my client’s family members?
The referral covers qualifying bookings for the introduced client, including household members traveling on the same booking.
Separate bookings made by other relatives or friends are not included unless they are introduced separately.
What if two people introduce the same client?
The first valid introduction received and recorded by The Luxury Travel Agency receives attribution.
The Luxury Travel Agency’s records determine referral attribution.
What if my client decides not to travel with you?
No payment is due unless the introduction results in qualifying business.
The Luxury Travel Agency may also decline to take on a client at its discretion.
Disclosure and Privacy
Will my client pay more because I introduced them?
No.
Referral payments come from The Luxury Travel Agency’s own revenue and do not change what your client pays.
Do I have to tell my client that I may receive compensation?
Yes.
Participants agree to let their client know that they participate in The LTA Private Client Introduction Program and may receive compensation if the introduction results in qualifying business.
It does not need to be complicated. You may use this language:
“I participate in The LTA Private Client Introduction Program and may receive compensation from The Luxury Travel Agency if you book through my introduction. It does not change what you pay.”
Can I share my referral payment with my client?
No. Participants may not share, rebate or pass any part of a referral payment to the client or anyone traveling with them.
Will my client know how much I receive?
No.
The Luxury Travel Agency does not disclose your referral payment amount to the client as part of the normal program process.
The client is simply informed that you may receive compensation in connection with the introduction.
Will I be told how much my client spent?
No.
Protecting the client’s privacy is important. Participants do not receive the client’s trip cost, itinerary, detailed booking information or supplier commission information.
Your quarterly statement will identify qualifying referral payments and the amount payable to you without providing the client’s confidential travel details.
Will I receive information about my client’s trip?
Not unless the client authorizes it or shares it with you directly.
Once the introduction is made, the travel relationship is between the client and The Luxury Travel Agency.
Referral Payments
How much do I receive?
You receive 10% of our Eligible Agency Revenue from qualifying bookings made during the referred client’s first 12 months following the date of introduction.
What is Eligible Agency Revenue?
Eligible Agency Revenue is the planning fees, concierge service fees, other service fees and supplier commissions actually received and retained by The Luxury Travel Agency from qualifying bookings.
Applicable Advisor compensation, card processing fees, and amounts that are refunded, recalled, charged back or otherwise reversed are excluded.
The formal program terms provide the complete definition.
Are all supplier commissions included?
Eligible Agency Revenue includes commissions tied to your referred client’s specific bookings.
Override commissions, volume bonuses, consortium incentives and marketing funds that are not tied to a specific booking are not included.
Can you give me an example?
Yes.
A recent family journey to Greece cost approximately $71,000.
Based on the planning fee and commission earned and retained on that journey, a referring partner would have received approximately: $740.00
The amount varies considerably depending on the type of travel, supplier, services provided and revenue earned by The Luxury Travel Agency.
What if the client only wants a hotel booked?
A qualifying hotel booking may generate Eligible Agency Revenue and therefore a referral payment.
The amount depends on the revenue actually received and retained by The Luxury Travel Agency.
Do planning and concierge fees count?
Yes. Qualifying planning, concierge and other service fees are included in Eligible Agency Revenue when they are actually received and retained by The Luxury Travel Agency.
Do bookings made through LTA Access count?
Yes. Qualifying bookings made by the referred client through LTA Access, our online booking portal, are included when The Luxury Travel Agency receives and retains revenue from them.
When does the 12-month period begin?
The 12-month qualifying period begins on the date the valid introduction is made to The Luxury Travel Agency.
What if the client books during the 12 months but travels later?
The booking still qualifies.
The important date is when the booking is made. Payment is made after the travel has been completed and The Luxury Travel Agency has received the corresponding revenue.
Do I get paid on every trip the client ever books?
No.
The program applies only to qualifying bookings made during the client’s first 12 months following the introduction.
There is no lifetime referral commission.
When are referral payments made?
Referral payments are calculated quarterly and paid by the 15th of the month following the end of each quarter:
| Quarter |
Payment Date |
| January – March |
April 15 |
| April – June |
July 15 |
| July – September |
October 15 |
| October – December |
January 15 |
Each quarterly payment includes eligible revenue from travel that has been completed, and for which The Luxury Travel Agency has received the corresponding revenue, by the end of that quarter.
Planning and concierge service fees are included once they have been received and are no longer refundable.
If the 15th falls on a weekend or holiday, payment is made on the next business day.
Some suppliers pay commissions weeks or months after travel is completed, so a trip completed in one quarter may be included in a later quarterly payment.
What happens if a trip is cancelled?
Cancelled travel does not generate a referral payment unless The Luxury Travel Agency retains qualifying revenue.
If a trip is cancelled but we retain a non-refundable planning or concierge service fee, that fee is included in Eligible Agency Revenue.
If revenue is refunded, recalled, charged back or otherwise reversed within 12 months after a referral payment has been made, the corresponding amount may be deducted from future payments.
In what currency will I be paid?
If your agreement is with our U.S. office, you are paid in U.S. dollars. If your agreement is with our Canadian office, you are paid in Canadian dollars.
Participation Requirements
What if my employer does not allow me to accept referral compensation?
You should not accept compensation if doing so would violate your employer’s policies, employment agreement, professional obligations or other applicable restrictions.
Each participant is responsible for confirming that they are permitted to participate and accept compensation.
Please let us know if you would still like to introduce clients without receiving compensation.
Can my employer or business participate instead of me personally?
Potentially, yes.
If your company prefers that the business rather than an individual employee participate, please contact Andrew to discuss whether an appropriate arrangement can be established.
What information do you need from me before I can receive payment?
Approved participants will receive the formal program terms and payment setup information.
U.S. participants will be asked to provide a completed Form W-9 before payments are issued.
Canadian participants will be asked to provide the information required for Canadian payment and tax reporting.
What if I don’t provide my payment information?
Payments are held until we receive your tax and payment information.
If it is not provided within 12 months after written notice, the payment may be forfeited, subject to applicable law.
Am I responsible for taxes on referral payments?
Yes.
Referral payments are reported as required by law, and participants are responsible for any taxes owed on the payments they receive.
Can The Luxury Travel Agency change or end the program?
The program may be modified or discontinued in accordance with the formal program terms.
Changes will not reduce the referral percentage or qualifying period for referrals we have already accepted.
Who should I contact with questions?
Andrew Satkowiak
Executive Vice President
The Luxury Travel Agency
andrew@theluxurytravelagency.com
For program participants only. This document describes The LTA Private Client Introduction Program and is intended for participating or prospective referral partners. It is not client-facing marketing material. Full program terms apply.
