arc number travel agent

What is an ARC number and why do travel agents need one?

What Is an ARC Number for Travel Agents?

If you’re a travel agent, you know that the ARC number is one of the most important things you have. But what exactly is an ARC number, and why is it so important?

In this article, we’ll take a closer look at ARC numbers, what they’re used for, and how to get one. We’ll also provide some tips on how to use your ARC number to its full potential.

So if you’re ready to learn more about ARC numbers, keep reading!

1. What is an ARC number?

Definition of an ARC number

An ARC number, or Airline Reporting Corporation number, is a unique identifier assigned to travel agents by the Airline Reporting Corporation (ARC). ARC numbers are used to track travel agent transactions and to facilitate the settlement of payments between travel agents and airlines.

Purpose of an ARC number

ARC numbers serve several important purposes for travel agents, including:

• Identifying travel agents: ARC numbers are used to identify travel agents when they book flights, hotel rooms, and other travel arrangements on behalf of their clients. This helps to ensure that travel agents are properly credited for their commissions and that clients are billed correctly.
• Tracking transactions: ARC numbers are used to track travel agent transactions, which helps to ensure that payments are processed correctly and that travel agents are paid promptly.
• Facilitating the settlement of payments: ARC numbers are used to facilitate the settlement of payments between travel agents and airlines. This helps to ensure that travel agents are paid for their work in a timely and efficient manner.

Who needs an ARC number?

All travel agents who book flights, hotel rooms, and other travel arrangements on behalf of their clients are required to have an ARC number. This includes travel agents who work for travel agencies, as well as independent travel agents who work for themselves.

2. How to get an ARC number?

Application process

The application process for an ARC number is relatively straightforward. To apply for an ARC number, you will need to provide the following information:

• Your business name
• Your business address
• Your business phone number
• Your business email address
• Your Social Security number
• Your credit card number

Once you have submitted your application, ARC will review your information and approve or deny your request within a few weeks. If your application is approved, ARC will issue you an ARC number and provide you with instructions on how to use it.

Requirements for obtaining an ARC number

In order to obtain an ARC number, you must meet the following requirements:

• You must be a legal resident of the United States.
• You must be at least 18 years of age.
• You must have a valid Social Security number.
• You must have a business that is registered with the state in which you operate.
• You must have a business bank account.
• You must have a credit card.

Fees associated with obtaining an ARC number

There is a one-time fee of \$250 to obtain an ARC number. There is also an annual fee of \$100 to renew your ARC number.

ARC numbers are an essential part of the travel industry. They help to identify travel agents, track transactions, and facilitate the settlement of payments. If you are a travel agent, you need an ARC number to conduct business.

What is an ARC number for travel agents?

An ARC number, or Airline Reporting Corporation number, is a unique identifier assigned to travel agencies by the ARC. ARC numbers are used to track travel transactions and ensure that travel agents are paid for their services.

How to get an ARC number

To get an ARC number, you must first apply to the ARC. The ARC application process is simple and can be completed online. Once you have been approved for an ARC number, you will be able to start using it to book travel for your clients.

How to use an ARC number when booking travel

When you book travel for a client, you will need to provide your ARC number to the airline or travel supplier. This will allow the airline or travel supplier to track the transaction and ensure that you are paid for your services.

Benefits of using an ARC number

There are several benefits to using an ARC number when booking travel for your clients. These benefits include:

• Increased security: Using an ARC number helps to protect your clients’ information from fraud.
• Faster processing: When you use an ARC number, your transactions will be processed more quickly.
• Improved customer service: Using an ARC number gives you access to better customer service from airlines and travel suppliers.

Restrictions on using an ARC number

There are a few restrictions on using an ARC number. These restrictions include:

• You must be a licensed travel agent to use an ARC number.
• You must use your ARC number for business purposes only.
• You must not share your ARC number with anyone else.

Troubleshooting ARC number issues

If you lose your ARC number, have your ARC number stolen, or if your ARC number expires, you will need to contact the ARC to resolve the issue. The ARC can be reached by phone at 1-800-826-1985 or by email at [email protected] .

An ARC number is an essential tool for travel agents. It helps to protect your clients’ information, speeds up the processing of your transactions, and gives you access to better customer service. If you are a travel agent, you should definitely get an ARC number.

What is an ARC number?

An ARC number, or Airline Reporting Corporation number, is a unique identifier assigned to travel agents by the ARC. It is used to track transactions between travel agents and airlines.

Why do I need an ARC number?

You need an ARC number if you want to sell airline tickets or other travel products to customers. Airlines require travel agents to have an ARC number in order to process transactions.

How do I get an ARC number?

To get an ARC number, you must apply to the ARC. The application process is simple and can be completed online. Once you have been approved, you will be assigned an ARC number.

What can I do with an ARC number?

With an ARC number, you can:

• Sell airline tickets and other travel products to customers
• Process transactions with airlines
• Access ARC-approved travel products and services

How much does it cost to have an ARC number?

The ARC charges a fee for each ARC number. The fee is based on the number of transactions you process each year.

What are the benefits of having an ARC number?

There are many benefits to having an ARC number, including:

• Increased sales opportunities
• Improved customer service
• Access to exclusive travel products and services

How can I learn more about ARC numbers?

You can learn more about ARC numbers by visiting the ARC website. The website provides information on the application process, fees, and benefits of having an ARC number.

an ARC number is a unique identifier that travel agents use to book travel arrangements for their clients. It is issued by the Airlines Reporting Corporation (ARC), which is a nonprofit organization that facilitates the electronic exchange of travel data between airlines and travel agents. ARC numbers are essential for travel agents because they allow them to access the ARC system, which provides access to real-time pricing and availability data from airlines. Additionally, ARC numbers allow travel agents to file electronic tickets and receive commissions from airlines.

If you are a travel agent, it is important to have an ARC number in order to book travel arrangements for your clients. You can obtain an ARC number by applying to ARC online. The application process is quick and easy, and once you have been approved, you will be issued an ARC number that you can use immediately.

Having an ARC number can be a valuable asset for travel agents, as it allows them to access the resources and benefits that ARC provides. With an ARC number, you can:

• Book travel arrangements for your clients quickly and easily
• Access real-time pricing and availability data from airlines
• File electronic tickets and receive commissions from airlines
• Stay up-to-date on the latest industry trends

If you are a travel agent, I encourage you to get an ARC number today. It is a valuable tool that can help you provide your clients with the best possible travel experience.

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How to Obtain an ARC Accredited Number

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An ARC number is issued through the Airlines Reporting Company. ARC actually gets the number from the International Airlines Travel Network, which is an industry association for the travel industry. A travel agent needs an ARC number to be able to book tickets directly with the airlines, and that number is only available to those who are ARC accredited.

ARC's Ticket Reporting Agency

One way to get an ARC number is through the Ticket Reporting Agency program. This program requires you to pay application and annual fees. You will also have to post a financial guarantee of $20,000, as of the date of publication. The ARC requires you to be a formal business entity with a unique name and employer identification number. You will have to undergo an interview and site inspection and provide a detailed personal history.

ARC's Verified Travel Consultant Program

If you don't want to go through the full program to become a ticket reporting agency, the ARC also offers a Verified Travel Consultant program. This program is less expensive and has a less exacting application process than the TRA. You will still have to apply, be accepted and go through a background check, though.

Host Agencies

If you don't care about having your own ARC number and just want to have the ability to book flights, you can also work with a host agency. A host agency is a travel agency that allows independent agents to work with it under its umbrella. When you work with one, you get access to its ARC number and to its other business systems without having to set them up for yourself.

Business Without ARC

Depending on the type of business you do, you might not need an ARC number at all. While an ARC number typically lets you book any type of travel, its primary benefit is that you can use it to book airline tickets. If you plan to just book cruises or other types of leisure travel and your customers typically book their own flights, it might be overkill. Other types of travel registrations -- like a Cruise Lines International Association number that lets you book cruises -- might meet your needs without the challenges of getting an ARC number or the cost of working with a host agency.

• Host Agency Reviews: What Is an ARC Number?
• ARC: Ticket Reporting Agency Program
• ARC: Verified Travel Consultant Program
• National Association of Career Travel Agents: Why Use a Host Agency?

Steve Lander has been a writer since 1996, with experience in the fields of financial services, real estate and technology. His work has appeared in trade publications such as the "Minnesota Real Estate Journal" and "Minnesota Multi-Housing Association Advocate." Lander holds a Bachelor of Arts in political science from Columbia University.

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When planning a trip, many people choose to work with a travel agent to help them navigate the various options and complexities of travel. But have you ever wondered what that string of letters and numbers following your travel agent’s name means? It’s called an ARC number, and it’s an important part of the travel agent’s profession.

What is an ARC number?

An ARC number is a unique identifier assigned by the Airlines Reporting Corporation (ARC) to travel agencies that have been authorized to issue airline tickets. ARC is a company that serves as a middleman between airlines and travel agents, processing ticket sales and commissions.

Why is an ARC number important?

The ARC number is important because it identifies the travel agency as a legitimate and authorized seller of airline tickets. This means that the agent has met certain requirements, such as obtaining proper licensing and bonding, and has been approved by the airlines to issue tickets.

When you work with a travel agent who has an ARC number, you can be confident that they have the knowledge and expertise to help you with your travel needs. You can also be assured that they are following industry standards and regulations, which helps protect you as a consumer.

How do I know if an agent has an ARC number?

If you’re working with a travel agent and want to know if they have an ARC number, you can simply ask them for it. They should be able to provide you with their number without any hesitation.

You can also look for the ARC logo on the travel agency’s website or marketing materials. The logo indicates that the agency is an authorized seller of airline tickets and is in good standing with ARC.

What are the benefits of working with an agent who has an ARC number?

Working with a travel agent who has an ARC number can offer several benefits, including:

• Access to exclusive fares and promotions
• Expert knowledge and advice on travel options
• Assistance in case of flight cancellations or changes
• Protection for your travel investment, as many agents offer travel insurance options

How do travel agents get an ARC number?

To obtain an ARC number, travel agents must meet certain requirements and follow specific procedures. These may include:

• Obtaining proper licensing and bonding
• Setting up a merchant account with a bank
• Completing training and certification programs
• Applying for and receiving approval from ARC

The process can be time-consuming and may require a significant investment of resources, which is why not all travel agencies have an ARC number.

The ARC number is an important part of the travel industry, indicating that a travel agency has met certain standards and is authorized to issue airline tickets. When working with a travel agent, it’s important to know whether they have an ARC number and what benefits this can provide. By understanding the role of the ARC number, you’ll be better equipped to make informed decisions about your travel arrangements and ensure a smooth and enjoyable trip.

Travel Agency Accreditation Options [+Infographic]

Hello, fearless reader—today, you are about to learn another language: travel agency accreditation acronyms (TAA . . . jk). When I was a newbie to the industry myself, my brain almost exploded trying to learn this language. It’s complex stuff, but it's all broken down here. So even if you're a newbie like me, you'll get the hang of it. We'll look at target markets for different travel agency accreditations, their application requirements, what services they provide, and then some.

Let's not dilly dally.

Travel Agency Accreditation Options [a Flowchart]

Here's what our infographic looks like, below:

If you choose to download our flowchart, the links are fun and interactive so you can easily check out the best options for you. All you need to do is sign in to download it (in all its interactive glory) below!

Psst! If you're unsure whether or not GDS is a good option for your agency, check out HAR's GDS Primer (STAT!) .

⭐️ HAR Article Highlights: ⭐️

• Accreditation 101: What is Travel Agency Accreditation and Who Is It For
• Accreditation 201: Travel Agency Accreditation Options In Depth

Go Directly to the Accreditation Organization You Want to Explore:

Iata & iatan.

• Host Agency

Travel Agency Accreditation 101

What is a travel agency accreditation? At its most basic, accreditation is a unique number assigned to travel professionals so their business is recognized by suppliers as a travel agency . It gives travel agents the ability to book travel, receive commissions, and—with some accreditations—issue airline tickets.

I like to think of travel agency accreditation options like different credit cards — Visa, Discover, AmEx. Some accreditation numbers are more widely accepted than others, but they all do the job. And just like credit cards, accreditation organizations won’t hand out their numbers willy nilly to anyone who wants one; there’s a vetting process and eligibility requirements.

What is Travel Agency Accreditation For?

Short answer: If you want to be recognized as a travel agency, you need an accreditation number. Typically, accreditation organizations market themselves to three different kinds of travel professionals:

1. Independent Agents: For this article, by independent agent I mean an agent that is not hosted—whether they are home-based or storefront. In short, an independent agent can’t sell travel without an accreditation number.

2. Hosted Agents:  These are agents or agencies under a host agency’s umbrella. ( What is a host agency? ) It gets a little trickier here. Because these agents use their host agency’s accreditation number, they do not need to have their own accreditation.

In fact, that’s one of the benefits of using a host agency is you don’t have to worry about the financial and administrative responsibility of applying for and maintaining your accreditation. Also, with many host agencies, you will have access to multiple accreditations. BUT some hosted agents choose to also get their own accreditation in addition to aligning with a host agency. (I'd say this is the exception, not the rule.)

3. Corporate Travel Department (CTD):  Some accreditation agencies (ARC and IATA) have specific programs for CTDs (a wedding planner, for example, or any company that books a significant amount of air for their employees). We're not going to go too deep into this option because if you're on the site, this probably isn't you. But if this IS you, give me a holler in the comments or at [email protected] because I'm happy to provide any extra info you're looking for (if I can!).

There you have it. As a travel professional, you can gain access to accreditation through a host agency and/or apply for your own. So let's dig deeper because that's where the gold is.

Travel Agency Accreditation 201

Wading through accreditation options can make your eyes blur and your head spin. It's like trying to remember the names of your 50 cousins at a family reunion: There are IATA and IATAN. There’s ARC as well as their VTC and CTD programs. There’s CLIA and CCRA’s TRUE#. That's just the beginning.

Some offer air ticketing; some don't. Some accept agents outside the U.S.; some don't. Choosing the right travel accreditation is like finding the right-sized tool for a job. If you’re a leisure agent with a comparatively lower volume of air ticketing, getting an accreditation with ticketing is like chopping carrots with an ax.

So which tool is right for you? Below you can check out info on accreditation options. We include information on eligibility requirements, geographical locations accepted and cost — as well as other details.

ARC Accreditation

(Airlines Reporting Corporation)

Explaining ARC to people outside the industry or who are new to it can be tough. So first things first: ARC is a travel agency accreditation company that only works with U.S. agencies.

That’s their base. ARC is owned by airlines and was created to handle financial transactions between agencies (thousands of them) and airlines (hundreds of them). We’re talking about transactions to the tune of $95.3+ billion in 2023 1 . Whoa.

ARC is like the accounting arm of the airlines: You buy a ticket, that money goes directly to ARC, and then ARC sends the moola to the airlines. And it’s not a one-way street either. If you book a ticket that earns commissions ( more on travel agent commissions here ), the airlines pay the commission to ARC, who sends that money back to you.

And just like with Visa (sorry to harp on the credit card metaphor), if you have a beef with fraudulent activity on your card, you call VISA—not the merchant directly. The same goes for ARC—they broker interactions between agencies and airlines. 

ARC has three accreditation options. We'll walk through their three options, tell you what type of agent each are geared toward, and then you'll get more info on our side-by-side ARC comparison chart below, as well as a sample application.

ARC Accreditation Options: A Comparison Chart

Below is a side-by-side comparison of ARC accreditation options:

1. ARC Accredited Agency

At its most basic, ARC travel agency accreditation is for U.S.-based travel agencies (or host agencies) that book air through the GDS.

Long story short, if you're a travel agency that primarily sells leisure, straight up ARC might be too big a tool (think, trying to use a sledgehammer when what you need is a pickaxe).

While you technically don't need any prior experience, the application process is rigorous and lends itself to independent agencies that are a bit more established. To qualify you'll need:

• A background credit check
• Submission of a tax ID number and required state licenses (such as verifying seller of travel)
• Submission of a Personal History Form for owners and officers
• An established bank account with ARC
• Bond, letter credit, or a cash deposit of $20,000
• An agency office must have an ARC Specialist Qualifier (ASQ), Manager, and administrator for MyARC (Don’t worry! It can be the same person!).
• Onsite interview with agency owners—ARC representatives will run through the Agent Reporting Agreement (ARA) requirements, overview ARC benefits and make sure the application is complete and accurate.

Long story short, if you're a travel agency that primarily sells leisure, straight-up ARC might be too big a tool (think trying to use a sledgehammer when what you need is a pickaxe). If that's the case, check out ARC's VTC as an alternative.

Here's the rest of the details and a sample application below:

Sample of ARC's Accredited Agent Application

Here's a peek behind the curtain of an ARC application!

2. Verified Travel Consultant: ARC's VTC

When you get down to the brass tacks, ARC's VTC is the  non-ticketing alternative to ARC. It's a lower-cost accreditation and is good for independent travel agencies who a.) don't book a lot of air but b.) want supplier recognition and/or to book directly through vendors.

VTC's are allowed a maximum transaction limit of $25,000 in service fee transactions per week and $10,000 per transaction.

Applying for ARC's VTC is less intensive than the ticketing option (read: no $20k financial obligation, phew!). But their application process still has a lot of overlap with ARC's ticketing accreditation. To apply you'll need:

• A background and credit check
• The submission of a tax ID number and required state licenses
• The submission of a Personal History Information form for owners and officers

Aside from no air ticketing, another major difference between VTC and an air-ticketing ARC accreditation is that ARC imposes transaction limits upon VTC-accredited agencies . VTC's are allowed a maximum transaction limit of $25,000 in service fee transactions per week and $10,000 per transaction.

Sample ARC VTC Application

Unlike the ARC accreditation, the VTC application is completed entirely in ARC's portal. Here's what you can expect:

3. Corporate Travel Department, ARC's CTD

If you're here, congrats! You are a diamond in the rough when it comes to our readership! *High five!* I'd love to know who you are!

ARC's CTD is specifically for businesses that regularly issue airline tickets to their employees (and only to their employees).

Why do I say this? Because ARC's CTD is specifically for businesses that regularly issue airline tickets to their employees (and only to their employees). An example may be a pharmaceutical company that sends employees to multiple conferences or a wedding planner that wants to scout destinations. If you're a straight-up travel agency, ARC's CTD is not for you!

A CTD is good for businesses that book a high volume of air for their employees. CTDs can either invest in their own GDS or hire a third party (like a travel management company) for booking tickets.

Beyond that, the CTD operates much like the ARC accreditation in terms of eligibility, application process, and capacities. Here's what you need to apply:

• An IRS Employer Identification Number (EIN)
• A bond, letter of credit, or cash deposit in the minimum amount of $20,000
• The agency office must have an ARC Specialist Qualifier (ASQ) and a Manager Qualifier (MQ). 2 (Don’t worry! The MQ and ASQ can be the same person!)

Insider Info: Primary reason travel agency accreditation is denied? The agency doesn't meet the requirements of the Agent Reporting Agreement (ARA). It's a very very long list with tons of legal mumbo-jumbo—but essentially if you're eligible for accreditation and forthcoming in your application, you should be in good shape.

Sample ARC CTD Application

The ARC CTD application is a doozie. Here's what you can expect:

CLIA Credentials

(Cruise Lines International Association)

There are two quick things I need to mention about a CLIA Industry ID Number (which I'll refer to as a CLIA Number from here on out):

1. CLIA doesn’t consider their CLIA Number an accreditation number. So why are they still in this article? Well, because CLIA still offers unique booking numbers/credentials to travel agencies that function same way accreditation does. An agency gets its CLIA number, makes a booking, and suppliers recognize that number and attach it to total agency sales.

2. Using your host or storefront agency's CLIA# doesn't necessarily mean you're a CLIA member. Weird. I know. If your host or storefront agency has a CLIA number, that’s at the agency level. You’ll need to get your own membership (IAM, or Individual Agent Membership) if you want the perks of: CLIA's coupon book, EMBARC ID cards, access to their professional development, and other goodies that come with CLIA.

While CLIA's agency memberships are geared toward vendor recognition, the IAM will not accredit your agency . Rather, IAM's emphasis is marketing your travel agency to clients and granting access to CLIA's education programs and other perks. So if you're a solo agent who wants the supplier recognition we were talking about earlier, you need to get a Travel Agency Membership (TAM). 

In total, CLIA has accredited approximately 50,000 Travel Agent Members and partnered with over 13,000 Global Travel Agencies.

Read our entire article on the CLIA Industry ID Number here !

CLIA Credentials: A Comparison Chart

Here's a side-by-side comparison of what CLIA offers in terms of credentials and/or membership. It's important to note that, while included, CLIA's IAM is not a booking credential.

Here's a closer look at their options:

1. CLIA's Travel Agency Membership (TAM)

CLIA's TAM is for travel agencies with fewer ICs that focus on selling cruises or for those who are interested in growing the cruise segment of their biz.

There are no requirements set in stone to apply for a Travel Agency Membership, and, because there's no air-ticketing, the application process is quick (when compared to ARC or IATAN).

Rather than submitting piles upon piles of business documentation, the CLIA application requires you to sign an affidavit stating that your business is in good standing, following all your local rules and regulations, and that everything you state in your application is truthful.

SAMPLE OF CLIA's Travel Agency Membership Application

More of a visual learner? Feast your eyes on a sample of CLIA's TAM application. (Note: This application is from 2023): 

2. CLIA's Premier Agency Membership (PAM)

Well, this is going to be a short section, because CLIA's Premier Agency Membership is invite-only. CLIA's PAM is for large agencies with more than 500 ICs.

The other detail I can add (that's not mentioned in the comparison chart) is that CLIA will not accept any MLM travel agencies (or host agencies) as a premier membership.

3. CLIA's Individual Agent Membership (IAM)

CLIA's IAM is the black sheep insofar as it's not a booking credential. So why do I mention it here? Because it's so dang popular and I guarantee someone would write me in about a week there was no info on it. So I'm trying to beat you to the punchline!

We write all about the IAM itself in this overview of CLIA . But at its most basic, an IAM allows advisors to take advantage of their myriad travel agent education and certification opportunities. Not only that but then you can plug into other CLIA fun, like: their travel agent finder, their travel agent coupon book, their Embarc ID card, and more.

If you want an IAM, you'll need to go to your CLIA-credentialed host agency or travel agency. While CLIA recommends IAM's have a history of cruises to the tune of $5k in annual cruise commissions, it's ultimately up to your CLIA-credentialed agency if you can apply or not.

SAMPLE OF CLIA's Individual AGent Membership Application

Here's an IAM application . . . don't forget to alert the CLIA-credentialed agency you're affiliated with that you'd like to apply before you shell out any dough!

(International Air Transport Association & International Airlines Travel Agent Network)

IATA is an abbreviation for "International Air Transport Association." IATAN is an abbreviation for "International Airlines Travel Agent Network." Their full names were so long I couldn't even fit it in a subheading. (Kind of like Daenerys' full title on Game of Thrones.)

Okay. I need to take a deep breath because IATA/IATAN is, quite frankly, the behemoth when it comes to accreditation options. I mean HUGE. They’re the Visa of the travel agency accreditation world, and their accreditation number (known as “the IATA Code”) is accepted globally.

When it comes to accreditation options, they’ve got a little something for everyone:

• IATAN Travel Service Intermediary (U.S.-based, no air-ticketing)
• IATAN Airline Appointed (U.S.-based with air-ticketing capabilities)
• IATA Accredited (International, with air-ticketing capabilities)
• IATA TIDS (International, no air-ticketing)

Wait, wait. Why the ‘N’ after IATA?!? IATAN is essentially a U.S.-branded version of IATA. When you see an ‘N’ in IATA, think United States-based agencies. (It’s a stretch, I know.)

At the end of the day, IATAN comes wrapped up in a different package than IATA, but the contents are essentially the same. Same global recognition, same-looking accreditation numbers, same services. In fact, it's so similar that when it comes to travel agency accreditation numbers, many U.S. agents will use IATA# and IATAN# interchangeably.

For this article, I won't go into as much depth on IATA because eligibility, fees and the application process are all different for EVERY country. Yowzers. So if you have questions about an IATA application for a specific country, the best thing is to contact IATA directly.

Okay. Put on your SCUBA gear folks, we're going fathoms below.

IATAN Accreditation: A Comparison Chart

Below are the barebones of IATAN accreditation options. Take a look to see which one might apply to your agency.

Here are more details!

1. IATAN Non-Ticketing

IATAN non-ticketing is an accrediting option available to any U.S.-based travel agency—home-based, storefront, meeting-planner entity, or Corporate Travel Department—with 2+ years' experience in the industry.

To apply you need:

• Proof of 2 years of experience
• Proof of Business License
• Proof of Business ownership
• Proof of Seller of Travel for agencies based in California, Florida, Hawaii, or Washington
• Proof of Bank Account
• Proof of E&O insurance : This requirement is waived for agents who can document they have 2 years of full-time experience within the last ten years in the travel industry.
• Two letters of recommendation from either:
• An IATAN Accredited Agency (with IATA #)
• A National or International travel industry supplier
• A Certified Travel Associate/Counselor (CTA or CTC), Certified Meeting Professional (CMP), Certification in Meeting Management (CMM), CSEP (Certified Special Event Professional)

Here's what to expect if/when you want to apply for IATAN's non-ticketing accreditation:

This is a sample of their application, which is actually the exact same one you'll need for the air-ticketing one, which you'll discover below!  

2. IATAN U.S.-Based Ticketing

IATAN's airline-appointed agency application has just a few additional requirements in addition to the ones listed in its non-ticketing application. The air-ticketing application is the same as the non-ticketing application .

But the big difference is that to apply for IATAN air-ticketing you need to complete the application plus provide proof that you are ARC-accredited.

The moral of the story is, if you're already ARC-accredited, it's going to be smooth sailing. If you're not already ARC accredited, then check out ARC's requirements to book air .

IATA Accreditation Overview (for Agencies Outside the United States)

An IATA offers two accreditation options for agencies located outside the United States:

• IATA Accreditation (with Ticketing): An accreditation for any agency located outside the United States that would like to book air and receive global recognition from suppliers.
• IATA's TIDs : IATA's non-air ticketing option for agencies outside the United States.

The tricky thing about IATA is that the application processes, financial requirements, eligibility requirements, and fees vary from country to country. If you want to find more information on your specific location, go to this IATA source .

TRUE Accreditation

(Travel Retailer Universal Enumeration)

I first thought TRUE was the only travel agency accreditation that wasn't an acronym. Alas, I was wrong. TRUE stands for "Travel Retailer Universal Enumeration." (I feel like this knowledge may come in handy during Jeopardy, someday).

Those with a TRUE accreditation are CCRA-accredited. The big distinction is that the TRUE code (an accreditation) is administered by the CCRA (a travel association). 

The majority of TRUE agents sell cruises and traditional tours. A TRUE accreditation is an especially great option for advisors with a travel agent niche that utilizes more boutique suppliers or DMCs. 

Why? TRUE is open to working with smaller boutique tour operators that may not be on other accreditations' supplier lists. TRUE offers the flexibility for agents to work with suppliers using net rates in addition to more common commission structures ).

On its site, TRUE markets itself as an option for hosted advisors who want the flexibility to work with boutique suppliers/ take net rates outside their host’s preferred supplier relationships. (This, of course, is in addition to advisors who want accreditation only).

TRUE is open to working with smaller boutique tour operators that may not be on other accreditations' supplier lists.

As an added bonus, TRUE also offers accreditation to travel advisors outside the U.S. (see a list of included countries below) and seems committed to expanding its services globally. 

On the flip side, it's also important to note that Marriott does not recognize the TRUE number for agents and Disney does not offer a discount to TRUE agents. Here’s a list of suppliers you can book with a TRUE code .

Since this article was last updated, TRUE has consolidated its offerings to a single membership/accreditation level. In its newer incarnation, a TRUE membership covers up to 25 advisors.

TRUE Accreditation Info Chart

TRUE has one accreditation option for travel advisors. Here's a look:

Here’s detailed information on applying for TRUE accreditation.

TRUE Accredited Travel Agency Membership

The majority of TRUE participants are leisure agents. TRUE is also a great option for specialized agents who want to work with suppliers that other accreditation organizations or hosts may not work with. 

The travel agency accreditation level is for smaller outfits and covers agencies with up to 25 travel agents ICs or employees. 

TRUE’s preliminary application (posted below) is relatively simple at first glance. But once you submit your initial application and $399, you’ll need to follow up with supporting documents.

Here’s what’s required:

• You must be a corporation, LLC, or sole proprietor. (Sole proprietors need proof of a registered DBA, Assumed or Fictitious Name)
• 6 months of travel selling experience. 
• 3 business references to support your application. 
• Proof of an active business bank account in good standing.
• Pass a background screening (if necessary).
• Satisfy all seller-of-travel requirements for your state (if necessary).

You may think I’m putting the cart before the horse since you don’t submit this documentation until after you apply. BUT, if you have all these materials handy so they’re ready to go, it could expedite your application. 

TRUE Accredited Travel Agency Sample Application

Here's the TRUE Accredited Travel Agency Application below. After you complete the application, TRUE will ask you for supporting documents to verify you meet their qualifications.

Host Agencies

Usually, host agencies are the star of the HAR show. And if you’re not sure what a host agency is, it’s worth knowing— this article will explain what a host agency is . Even though we’re highlighting accreditation organizations, we can’t overlook the route of getting your travel agency accreditation through a host agency.

A few points of note:

• Host’s Commission Rate: Since host agencies have a whole lot of independent agents under one travel agency accreditation number, agents using a host typically receive a higher commission level with most vendors than they would on their own ( more on travel agent commissions ). At the end of the day, that means more commissions for you.
• Supplier Recognition: The flip side is that because you all share the same accreditation number, you’re technically seen as one agency. In your dealings with vendors, the host acts as an intermediary between you and the vendor.

Host agencies are especially great options for new-to-industry advisors ( see our host agency list ). Newer advisors can work through a host as they build the experience needed to apply for an accreditation down the line if that tickles their fancy. Some agents also opt to go through a host and apply for their own travel agency accreditation number.

At the end of the day, there’s no right or wrong answer, it’s up to you!

Wrapping Up & Major Thank Yous

Do you feel like your brain just ran a marathon? Well, if you've made it this far, it's safe to say that you're pretty fluent in TAAA. But if you have any questions, drop a line in the comments below

In case you were wondering, the people behind these travel agency accreditation organizations are a friendly bunch. And really really smart. I couldn't have learned any of this without their help—they are the brains behind this operation. So please let me express my endless appreciation to Albert Tjoeng, Head of Corporate Communications with IATA, Danielle Haney, Senior Manager, Trade Relations for CLIA; and Randy Spoon, Manager, Content and Media Relations for ARC.

Bridget Lee made the beauteous flowchart and thank goodness because my brain cannot do that! Fearless Abbey  von Gohren, HAR's Admin Assistant who goes way above and beyond her job requirements did the heavy lifting in our latest update of this beast of an article!

And to YOU! Wow, if you read this far drop me an email at [email protected] with "Animals and Accreditation" in the subject and I will reply with an adorable animal video.

Editor's Note: This post was originally published in Nov. 2018. We annually update this article with the most current info on travel accreditation. The publish date above reflects the most recent updates.

• Source: ARC Sales Statistics ↩
• A manager qualifier is a full-time employee who exercises daily supervision of, and responsibility for, the operations of that CTD location and has the authority to make management decisions. ↩

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Airline Reporting Corporation: ARC Accreditation Options and Steps to Get It

• Business ,   Travel
• Published: 17 Apr, 2021
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What is ARC?

Airline sales summary 2019, source: ARC

Why get ARC accreditation?

Issuing air tickets.

The flight booking algorithm explained

The problem is that airlines won’t just let anybody sell their seats haphazardly, so partnering with accredited agents basically guarantees airlines that they will get paid. With ARC, you’ll be able to seamlessly book tickets directly from airlines or through GDSs . However, note that not all types of ARC accreditation give the ticketing power (with the VTC option, you can’t issue tickets yourself).

Recognition and credibility

Another crucial reason for getting the ARC accreditation number is industry recognition. Once you get an ARC unique ID number, you are included on the ARC’s Agency List, recognized by travel professionals industrywide. Since the accreditation is basically a validation of your legal status and clean background, it’s a sign of credibility and trustworthiness for all your suppliers and other partners. This credential eliminates the need for additional checks, saves time and effort, and simplifies the collaboration.

Access to data, tools, and events

Today, data collection and analytics are the main support for business development. ARC uses modern technologies to gather travel data and offers a number of solutions to support travel agencies’ business intelligence , analytics, and reporting processes. With its tools, you can monitor your own performance, compare it to your competitors', and view industry trends. We’ll describe available products a bit further on. Besides, once you participate with ARC, you can also take part in industry conferences, working groups, webinars, and other events that enable you to keep up to date and improve your business.

ARC accreditation requirements and process

ARC accreditation types comparison

ARC Accredited Agency (Full accreditation): for selling air tickets

It’s the main accreditation type and the one that enables travel agencies to issue airline tickets. To be eligible for full ARC accreditation, you have to meet the following requirements :

• Location -- your agency has to be registered and authorized to do business activity in the United States, the US Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico, and/or American Samoa.
• Financials -- you’ll have to provide a bond, letter of credit, or cash deposit in the minimum amount of $20,000. There’s also a $2,300 application fee to be paid.
• Personnel -- there must be a designated agency manager and an ARC Specialist in your office (it can be the same person). To become an ARC Specialist, you must pass the ARC Specialist Training and Certification Program and then pass the examination. ARC also requires all staff members involved in daily agency operations be US citizens or be authorized to work in the US.
• Documents -- you’ll have to provide entity papers, an Employer ID Number, and any licenses for local jurisdictions.

For more details, check the Industry Agents' Handbook (IAH). It contains all the industry-related instructions and rules and will assist you in your daily operations. Once the requirements are met, the application process is fairly simple.

• Review the eligibility criteria and the Agent Reporting Agreement (ARA). It's basically the contract between your agency and ARC that delineates your partnership and outlines the rights and obligations of parties.
• Complete the application form (that would include your personal and professional history and background).
• Submit your application, payment, and all the required supporting documents. You can send them via email or via US mail.
• Wait for the application to be reviewed and documentation verified. It usually takes about 10 days.
• Pass an interview. An ARC specialist will contact you to schedule an in-person interview at your agency.

The whole application process can take up to 90 days before you are notified of the final decision. Here’s the FAQs on the application process for more information.

ARC Verified Travel Consultant (VTC): for non-ticketing travel professionals

ARC has a non-ticketing accreditation option -- VTC. It provides all other participation benefits (such as industry recognition and access to the ARC toolkit) except for the ability to issue airline tickets. So, it’s well worth considering, if you can partner with a consolidator or a host travel agency that would take charge of ticketing. VTC is also a lot cheaper and there are fewer requirements -- basically, you only need to be US-based. Here’s what you have to do to become an ARC VTC .

• Review the VTC Agreement and IAH.
• Download and complete the application form .
• Submit the application form together with supporting documents and pay the $195 application fee.
• Wait for verification (may take up to 30 days).

Check the VTC FAQs to learn more about the VTC program.

ARC Corporate Travel Department (CTD): for big non-travel businesses

A study shows that US companies spend over $111.7 billion on business travel every year, so having an in-house travel program is an effective solution to managing corporate travel expenses. The ARC CTD is designed not for travel agencies, but for corporations to help their travel departments manage their relationships with travel product suppliers. It can be useful for businesses that regularly book travel services for their employees (for example, international consulting companies or ones that frequently take part in trade shows, conferences, and other industry events). Basically, with CTD accreditation, corporations act as travel agents and book directly with GDSs and airlines. They can also outsource the ticketing activities to a third party, i.e., a travel management company . In any case, such accreditation eliminates extra mediators, allows corporations to save on travel agents’ commissions, and simplifies the booking, billing, and bookkeeping process. The participation requirements are not unlike those for full accreditation:

• Location — the US, the US Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico, and/or American Samoa;
• Financials — a bond, letter of credit, or cash deposit of at least $20,000 plus a $3,000 application fee;
• Personnel — one or several employees combining the roles of a designated manager, an ARC Specialist , a Document Retrieval Service (DRS) Security Manager, and My ARC Primary Administrator;
• Documentation — all legal documents, including IRS Employer Identification Number (EIN); and
• Security standards for handling paper documents — as described in Section B of the Industry Agents' Handbook (IAH).

The application process is also straightforward and similar to the one we described above.

• Review the requirements and the Corporate Travel Department Reporting Agreement (CTDRA).
• Complete the application form (including a completed Personal History Form for one corporate officer involved with the CTD).
• Submit your application, payment, and all the required supporting documents.
• Wait for the application to be reviewed and documentation verified.
• Pass an in-person interview at your corporation.

The whole application process can take up to 90 days. If you want to know more, here’s a CTD FAQs .

ARC toolkit

ARC Agency BI interface

Aria is another business intelligence tool for viewing and analyzing sales activities through a variety of metrics. You can either access information online, or download a raw data file. By analyzing ARC ticketing data, Aria helps detect passenger patterns and main destinations of interest. ARC Pay is a credit card processing service that simplifies handling travel-related transactions. It includes

• ARC Pay GDS (formerly TASF) to process payments within GDSs,
• ARC Payment Hub (formerly Agent’s Choice) for non-GDS transactions, and
• ARC Pay with Uplift to offer the buy now, pay later option.

Memo Analyzer for Agencies dashboard

ARC vs IATAN accreditation: why and when you need both

IATAN , or International Airlines Travel Agent Network, is a department of IATA and provides the same services, but for US-located travel businesses only. It also certifies travel agencies, but the trick here is that to be accredited with IATAN , you first need to have an ARC accreditation. Moreover, the agency code number provided by IATAN would be exactly the same as your ARC number. So you might be wondering what’s the point of going through another hassle of getting the IATAN accreditation. Well, long story short, there are two reasons. First, being with IATAN still brings with it a certain status and industry recognition. And second, some travel suppliers offer discounts to the IATAN ID cardholders. That’s why many ARC-certified agencies also get and maintain IATAN accreditation. Here, we’re not going to dive into procedure details as we’ve already described the accreditation process for IATAN in a dedicated article.

Other options: business without ARC

ARC accreditation offers travel agencies a number of benefits. However, it’s not the only way of running a travel business. For example, if you are a new company and can’t afford to obtain this credential, or maybe you don’t plan to sell air -- here are some other options. Host agencies . A host travel agency is usually a well-developed company that has the sought-for credentials and shares them with other agents, allowing them to work under its umbrella. Such a relationship can save you the time and effort of getting your own certification, but in exchange you’ll have to split the commission you’re getting as an agent. Consolidators . In the travel industry, consolidators are wholesalers that buy tickets in bulk and then resell them for higher fares. Such companies usually have all the recognized accreditations and established connections with major suppliers, so partnering with them would open access to discounted fares as well as GDSs and other travel products suppliers. Non-flight travel markets . If your business focuses on managing travel that doesn’t involve issuing air tickets, you can totally do without the ARC certificate. Arranging city tours, booking cruises, or organizing mountain hikes are just some of the possible ideas.

Can you be a Travel Agent
 Without a Host Agency?

Is “Going it Alone” the right choice for your Travel Business? Host Travel Agencies offer a lot of options to their partners but how do you know what’s right for you?

Written By: Tom Ogg, Founder and Co-Owner – TravelProfessionalNEWS.com

While the vast majority of new travel agents will opt to work with a host agency, there are circumstances where an agent might elect to go completely independent of a host agency and start their own travel business. This would be as viable option if your business plan is to specialize in a very specific market with just a limited number of suppliers or, if you are going to market recurring itineraries on a repetitive basis. Examples of these ideas would be if you are going to sell surf trips to Namibia, Africa focused on Desert Point or, if you plan on running cow tuna fishing trips to the Tres Marias Islands off of Nayarit, Mexico.

Another plan would be if you were going to sell corporate travel and get into airline ticketing using service fees. Agents specializing in selling business travel were doing great up until the COVID pandemic hit, but there are signs that it will come back as the pandemic is slowing down. There are a lot of benefits of having an ARC Appointment which plugs you into the entire gamut of travel suppliers out there. Once again, if you decide to go in this direction realize that there are costs involved, as well as potential liability.

The concept of being a generalized agent serving a normal clientele independent of a host agency, while once a popular idea, has given way to the operational and economic reality of working through a substantial host agency. The route you choose requires careful deliberation on your part. Your knowledge level and experience in the travel industry is a critical factor. So, let’s take a look at the various ways that you can establish your travel business without aligning your self with a host travel agency and you should understand the benefits of both working with a host, and going independent.

Travel Agent Identification Number Systems

At one time, an agency’s ARC (or IATA) number was used for identifying a travel agent’s ability to claim commissions. Of course, any supplier could elect to pay commissions to a non-ARC appointed travel agency, as the airline appointment from ARC didn’t actually matter to anyone, other than the airlines that issued the appointment. The Agency Reporting Agreement that is executed when an ARC appointment is consummated between the ARC member carriers and the travel agent is the document that establishes the agency relationship.

Suppliers, other than the ARC member carriers, have accepted an ARC number as a sign that a travel agent is, in fact, a travel agent. However, no agency relationship was created by the ARC appointment, other than with the ARC member air carriers. Suppliers could, in fact, appoint anyone as an agent by assigning their own number or by accepting some other criteria or designation agreed upon by the agent and supplier, which would create the agency relationship between the two parties.

Since the travel industry’s economic transformation there are fewer and fewer ARC appointed travel agencies. Many entities have stepped in to develop a numbering system for travel agents to replace the ARC appointment system. While late to join in on the evolution, even ARC has developed a program for non-traditional ARC appointed agents to join their numbering system. Known as the “VTC” program, ARC’s numbering system has entered the fray as a viable alternative.

One of the main concerns of the travel agent community is having a supplier-owned organization determine who is (and who is not) a travel agent, rather than the agency community. The process had to have standards, so that suppliers could accept those who qualified as actual agents. Ever since the “card mill” explosion of the 1990s, just about anyone could print up an ID card (with a number on it) and claim to be a travel agent and they did.

To make matters even more confusing, many states have adopted seller of travel laws that require travel agents to register within the state by posting a bond, and/or paying a registration fee and/or joining a consumer restitution fund. These laws have been of some benefit to travel agents, as they raised the barrier from an investment perspective, discouraging those looking simply to pretend to be travel agents in order to garner perks from suppliers. The plain truth is, in most states, anyone can print up a business card and claim to be a travel agent.

There are really only a few credible travel agency numbering systems that suppliers recognize as legitimate, and following is a breakdown of the various programs:

ARC, Airlines Reporting Corporation (www.ARCCorp.com)

You can still consider applying for an ARC Ticket Reporting Agency appointment from your home; as long as you can get a commercial business license indicating your business is a commercial entity that meets all of the other ARC criteria to qualify for an appointment. You may visit the Airlines Reporting Corporation website at   ( https://www2.arccorp.com/products-participation/travel-agencies/agency-participation/ )

The ARC (VTC) Verified Travel Consultant Program

The VTC program is designed for those agencies that ticket through alternative methods such as using a host agency or consolidator to accomplish the task. In late 2007, ARC introduced its VTC (Verified Travel Consultant) program. The VTC program is tailored specifically for independent agencies who want to be recognized in the travel industry, but do not issue airline tickets and other accountable documents. In addition to the standard 8-digit ARC number, travel professionals are equipped with a host of innovative products and services to support their success.

Not only is VTC membership one of the least expensive options, it is also one of the most effective and widely accepted in the industry, making it an easy choice. Maintaining VTC status is also fairly simple: Agencies are required to follow the VTC agreement and satisfy the affordable annual fee. Check out becoming a VTC at this link ( https://www2.arccorp.com/products-participation/travel-agencies/become-an-arc-verified-travel-consultant/ )

IATAN, International Airline Travel Agent Network (www. IATAN.org)

IATAN was the original organization to issue travel agent ID cards. The IATAN ID card was the standard for a number of years. As the industry continues to change, so do all the various types of accreditation. IATAN’s accreditation recognizes a diverse sector in the industry including store front and home based. Once accredited, you are assigned a unique and individual IATA numeric code and you then gain access to all IATAN programs such as Personal Registration, IATA/IATAN ID Card, Agent Experience and a Listing in CheckACode and other universally purchased products.

The non-ticketing accreditation that IATAN used to offer was known as the TSI (Travel Sales Intermediary). While TSI is still a recognized program they have put all who meet their requirements into a combined accreditation for entity types. An entity is defined as a business (proprietorship, partnership, or corporation) that is engaged in the sale and/or brokerage of travel and travel related services such as cruises, tours, hotels, car rental, bus and rail transportation and meeting planning. Non-ticketing entities range from individual home-based business to large corporation and do not hold airline agency appointments or issue airline tickets or other such accountable documents.

The key requirements are proof of legal form of business, proof of commitment to travel business sales, fiduciary responsibility, ethical responsibility, qualified staff (as applicable), proof of state and local licensing and an Errors and Omission Insurance policy. The E & O may   be waived if specific requirements are met. You can review all of this information at www.IATAN.org as well as the fees association with accreditation.

Pseudo Identification Numbers

As discussed, any supplier can elect to create an agency relationship with anyone they choose. The vast majority of industry suppliers will issue you a “pseudo ARC number”, so that, when you call the supplier, they can find you in the computer. If you have a narrow niche market, specialize in special groups or intend to work with only a few suppliers on a repetitive basis, this might be your best option. The way you “open an account” with a supplier is to approach their sales department with a request to establish an agency relationship and obtain an ID number that you would use when making reservations.

This alternative costs you nothing and is very effective when dealing with a narrow list of suppliers. Be aware though that the supplier will expect you to be both knowledgeable and professional in your approach. You should have a marketing plan and specific objectives that are both understandable and relevant to the supplier. Pseudo ID numbers could be your telephone or Social Security number, some other meaningful number or simply a number that you or the supplier create to serve the purpose. Usually, these numbers will have 8 digits to match the length of the field in the supplier’s computer system designed to accommodate the numbering system that they use

CLIA, Cruise Line International Association

CLIA offers two membership categories for travel professionals and it is important to understand the membership levels clearly. The CLIA Travel Agency Membership provides you with a CLIA Industry ID Number which is used to book directly with the CLIA Cruise Line Members and other Executive Partners. CLIA’s Individual Agent Membership is designed for agents working through a host agency. For the purposes of booking travel directly with the vendors and receiving commissions in full and not acting as a hosted agent through a host agency, the agency membership category is the choice to that end. To check out CLIA visit Cruising.org.

Other Travel Agent ID Numbers

After deregulation, ARC was quite slow to come up with a solution for non-air ticketing travel agencies so IATA, who is in charge of issuing travel agent ID numbers started selling numbers to the various niche associations that had popped up during the chaos. ASTA / NACTA had “TravelSellers.com” and OSSN had TRUE. Once the ARC’s VTC program was introduced TravelSellers.com was shut down. OSSN ended up selling to CCRA who then merged with another company.

As you can see it is quite possible to start a travel business without a host agency however, host agencies make it so much easier to get the training and support that you will need to succeed that it just makes sense to go in that direction unless you are fully established in a niche market and do not need the training and support.

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ARC Accreditation Services

Do you want to issue airline tickets to your customers quickly? Are you a travel agency located in the United States? If so, learn more about ARC accreditation below.

Apply for ARC Accreditation with The License Company today!

Arc accreditation application.

ARC Full Accreditation Application

Step 1 of 4

• Applicant Name * Enter the name of the individual applying for the license. This is typically the travel agency owner or the person applying on their behalf. We’ll gather your business information on the next page. First Last
• Email * Enter Email Confirm Email
• I am the sole owner of the travel agency.
• I am a partial owner of the travel agency.
• I’m not an owner of the travel agency.

Ownership Information Section

• Name Enter the name of the business owner. First Last
• Home Address * Street Address City State / Province / Region ZIP / Postal Code
• Ownership Percentage Please enter a number from 1 to 100 .
• Ownership Percentage
• Owner 2 Name First Last
• Owner 2 Address Street Address City State / Province / Region ZIP / Postal Code
• Ownership Percentage Please enter a number from 1 to 99 .
• Owner 3 Name First Last
• Owner 3 Home Address Street Address City State / Province / Region ZIP / Postal Code
• Hidden Total Ownership Percentage
• I’m a sole proprietor.
• Select your state of incorporation/organization: AL AK AZ AR CA CO CT DE FL GA HI ID IL IN IA KS KY LA ME MD MA MI MN MS MO MT NE NV NH NJ NM NY NC ND OH OK OR PA RI SC SD TN TX UT VT VA WA WV WI WY
• Insert EIN: EIN stands for Employer Identification Number and is obtained from the IRS.
• Business or Prospective Business Name *
• PARTNERSHIP
• SOLE PROPRIETOR
• Business Address * This is the physical location of the agency. Do not use a PO box, virtual office, or similar. You can insert your mailing address later if different from your physical location. Street Address City State / Province / Region ZIP / Postal Code Country Afghanistan Albania Algeria American Samoa Andorra Angola Anguilla Antarctica Antigua and Barbuda Argentina Armenia Aruba Australia Austria Azerbaijan Bahamas Bahrain Bangladesh Barbados Belarus Belgium Belize Benin Bermuda Bhutan Bolivia Bonaire, Sint Eustatius and Saba Bosnia and Herzegovina Botswana Bouvet Island Brazil British Indian Ocean Territory Brunei Darussalam Bulgaria Burkina Faso Burundi Cabo Verde Cambodia Cameroon Canada Cayman Islands Central African Republic Chad Chile China Christmas Island Cocos Islands Colombia Comoros Congo Congo, Democratic Republic of the Cook Islands Costa Rica Croatia Cuba Curaçao Cyprus Czechia Côte d'Ivoire Denmark Djibouti Dominica Dominican Republic Ecuador Egypt El Salvador Equatorial Guinea Eritrea Estonia Eswatini Ethiopia Falkland Islands Faroe Islands Fiji Finland France French Guiana French Polynesia French Southern Territories Gabon Gambia Georgia Germany Ghana Gibraltar Greece Greenland Grenada Guadeloupe Guam Guatemala Guernsey Guinea Guinea-Bissau Guyana Haiti Heard Island and McDonald Islands Holy See Honduras Hong Kong Hungary Iceland India Indonesia Iran Iraq Ireland Isle of Man Israel Italy Jamaica Japan Jersey Jordan Kazakhstan Kenya Kiribati Korea, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Republic of Kuwait Kyrgyzstan Lao People's Democratic Republic Latvia Lebanon Lesotho Liberia Libya Liechtenstein Lithuania Luxembourg Macao Madagascar Malawi Malaysia Maldives Mali Malta Marshall Islands Martinique Mauritania Mauritius Mayotte Mexico Micronesia Moldova Monaco Mongolia Montenegro Montserrat Morocco Mozambique Myanmar Namibia Nauru Nepal Netherlands New Caledonia New Zealand Nicaragua Niger Nigeria Niue Norfolk Island North Macedonia Northern Mariana Islands Norway Oman Pakistan Palau Palestine, State of Panama Papua New Guinea Paraguay Peru Philippines Pitcairn Poland Portugal Puerto Rico Qatar Romania Russian Federation Rwanda Réunion Saint Barthélemy Saint Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha Saint Kitts and Nevis Saint Lucia Saint Martin Saint Pierre and Miquelon Saint Vincent and the Grenadines Samoa San Marino Sao Tome and Principe Saudi Arabia Senegal Serbia Seychelles Sierra Leone Singapore Sint Maarten Slovakia Slovenia Solomon Islands Somalia South Africa South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands South Sudan Spain Sri Lanka Sudan Suriname Svalbard and Jan Mayen Sweden Switzerland Syria Arab Republic Taiwan Tajikistan Tanzania, the United Republic of Thailand Timor-Leste Togo Tokelau Tonga Trinidad and Tobago Tunisia Turkmenistan Turks and Caicos Islands Tuvalu Türkiye US Minor Outlying Islands Uganda Ukraine United Arab Emirates United Kingdom United States Uruguay Uzbekistan Vanuatu Venezuela Viet Nam Virgin Islands, British Virgin Islands, U.S. Wallis and Futuna Western Sahara Yemen Zambia Zimbabwe Åland Islands
• Mailing Address This is your mailing address and NOT the physical location of the agency. You may use a PO box, virtual office, or similar. Street Address City State / Province / Region ZIP / Postal Code Country Afghanistan Albania Algeria American Samoa Andorra Angola Anguilla Antarctica Antigua and Barbuda Argentina Armenia Aruba Australia Austria Azerbaijan Bahamas Bahrain Bangladesh Barbados Belarus Belgium Belize Benin Bermuda Bhutan Bolivia Bonaire, Sint Eustatius and Saba Bosnia and Herzegovina Botswana Bouvet Island Brazil British Indian Ocean Territory Brunei Darussalam Bulgaria Burkina Faso Burundi Cabo Verde Cambodia Cameroon Canada Cayman Islands Central African Republic Chad Chile China Christmas Island Cocos Islands Colombia Comoros Congo Congo, Democratic Republic of the Cook Islands Costa Rica Croatia Cuba Curaçao Cyprus Czechia Côte d'Ivoire Denmark Djibouti Dominica Dominican Republic Ecuador Egypt El Salvador Equatorial Guinea Eritrea Estonia Eswatini Ethiopia Falkland Islands Faroe Islands Fiji Finland France French Guiana French Polynesia French Southern Territories Gabon Gambia Georgia Germany Ghana Gibraltar Greece Greenland Grenada Guadeloupe Guam Guatemala Guernsey Guinea Guinea-Bissau Guyana Haiti Heard Island and McDonald Islands Holy See Honduras Hong Kong Hungary Iceland India Indonesia Iran Iraq Ireland Isle of Man Israel Italy Jamaica Japan Jersey Jordan Kazakhstan Kenya Kiribati Korea, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Republic of Kuwait Kyrgyzstan Lao People's Democratic Republic Latvia Lebanon Lesotho Liberia Libya Liechtenstein Lithuania Luxembourg Macao Madagascar Malawi Malaysia Maldives Mali Malta Marshall Islands Martinique Mauritania Mauritius Mayotte Mexico Micronesia Moldova Monaco Mongolia Montenegro Montserrat Morocco Mozambique Myanmar Namibia Nauru Nepal Netherlands New Caledonia New Zealand Nicaragua Niger Nigeria Niue Norfolk Island North Macedonia Northern Mariana Islands Norway Oman Pakistan Palau Palestine, State of Panama Papua New Guinea Paraguay Peru Philippines Pitcairn Poland Portugal Puerto Rico Qatar Romania Russian Federation Rwanda Réunion Saint Barthélemy Saint Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha Saint Kitts and Nevis Saint Lucia Saint Martin Saint Pierre and Miquelon Saint Vincent and the Grenadines Samoa San Marino Sao Tome and Principe Saudi Arabia Senegal Serbia Seychelles Sierra Leone Singapore Sint Maarten Slovakia Slovenia Solomon Islands Somalia South Africa South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands South Sudan Spain Sri Lanka Sudan Suriname Svalbard and Jan Mayen Sweden Switzerland Syria Arab Republic Taiwan Tajikistan Tanzania, the United Republic of Thailand Timor-Leste Togo Tokelau Tonga Trinidad and Tobago Tunisia Turkmenistan Turks and Caicos Islands Tuvalu Türkiye US Minor Outlying Islands Uganda Ukraine United Arab Emirates United Kingdom United States Uruguay Uzbekistan Vanuatu Venezuela Viet Nam Virgin Islands, British Virgin Islands, U.S. Wallis and Futuna Western Sahara Yemen Zambia Zimbabwe Åland Islands
• Please list any DBA (Doing Business As) you'd like listed on the application If multiple DBAs exist, please use a comma to separate them.

ARC Application Questions

• ARC Accreditation Application Processing Services
• ARC Application Fee – Head Office or Branch Office ARC Application Fee
• Product Name 2 Product Name 2
• What's your expected gross amount of air transportation sales in first year following your ARC approval?
• What's your expected gross amount of air transportation sales in second year following your ARC approval?
• What sales volume do you need to make a profit in your first year after your ARC approval?
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• Consent * THE LICENSE COMPANY LLC TERMS OF SERVICE AGREEMENT Last Updated: 06.22.21 Thanks for using The License Company, LLC (Company) for your business needs. We provide various services to individuals and businesses seeking professional licensure and other related needs herein referred to as Client. The Company is not a law firm. The Company and its employees do not provide legal advice and any opinions, correspondence, or other communication should not be construed as legal advice. Additionally, the information Client obtains on the Company’s website is not, nor is it intended to be, legal advice. We strongly recommend the Client contact an attorney and/or your accounting professional if you have questions regarding the legal and/or tax ramifications of incorporation, business structure, registration, and other like or similar issues. OUR SERVICES The Company provides services related to professional licensure to businesses and individuals. These services include but are not limited to: 1. License Application Processing; 2. License Application Research; 3. State Incorporation Application Processing; 4. State Incorporation Application Research; 5. Fictitious Name Registration Application Processing; 6. Third Party Registration Application Processing; and 7. Other related services as agreed upon. The Company is not a law firm and does not offer legal advice. The opinions and representations made by the Company or its employees should not be construed as legal advice. SCOPE OF SERVICES The Company agrees to provide certain services as agreed upon by the Client and the Company from time to time. The scope of our services will be communicated to Client in writing prior to commencement. The Company may charge additional fees for services which are not expressly agreed upon in writing. These services include but are not limited to: 1. Any of those services listed under “Our Services” in the paragraph listed above; 2. Any additional services outside of the initial agreed upon service(s); 3. Postage, mailings, and other shipping costs as they relate to the agreed upon service(s); 4. Third-party vendor fees relating to the agreed upon service(s); and/or 5. Any additional services and fees required as a result of Client’s actions or inactions as they relate to the agreed upon scope of work, the recommendations of the Company, or as required by law. PAYMENT AND FEES The Company charges fees for the services it provides. Additionally, fees may be levied by states, counties, municipalities, licensing authorities, and third-party vendors. Third-party vendors include but are not limited to: 1. Registered Agent Services; 2. Credit Reporting Agencies; 3. Insurance Agencies and Companies; and 4. Other third-party vendors related to your requested services not included in the list above. Client is responsible for all fees charged to the Client by the Company, including those resulting from third-party vendors listed above, as they relate to the service or services being provided. Further, the Client is responsible for all fees paid by the Company on the Client’s behalf or at the Client’s direction as they relate to the service or services being provided. The Company does not consent to any waiver of fees due from the Client unless previously agreed upon in writing. Payment for any service to be performed by the Company on the behalf of the Client is due prior to commencement of those services. If the Company performs any service or pays any fees related to the service on behalf of the Client prior to receiving payment, in no way does that constitute a waiver of those fees by the Company unless previously agreed to in writing. RECURRING PAYMENTS AND SUBSCRIPTIONS Client is responsible for all recurring payments and subscription fees charged for services performed by the Company at the Client’s request. By providing a payment method, Client agrees that they have read and understand the Terms of Service Agreement. Additionally, Client authorizes The License Company, LLC and its affiliates and third-party vendors to use the payment method for recurring services and charges incurred on behalf of the Client. This authority will remain in effect until the Client requests in writing that the Client would like to cancel such recurring payments. However, cancellation of the recurring services does not relieve the Client of their obligation to pay amounts due for purchases and services which have been made by The License Company, LLC on behalf of the Client. REFUND POLICY Client’s payments for Company’s services and other fees is earned upon receipt of the Client’s payment except in those states where prohibited and requirements by Federal Law. LIMITED LIABILITY PROVISION The Company, its employees, agents, and representatives shall not be held liable by Client, its employees, agents, and representatives for damages incurred as a result of using the Company’s services. The Company shall not be liable for lost wages, profits, or any other damages as a result of the use of the Company’s services. The Client is responsible for the accuracy of any and all information provided to the Company. The Company cannot and does not warrant that its services are or will be free of errors although the Company does take a reasonable effort of care to minimize and/or eliminate them. As such, the Client is responsible for the accuracy of the information being used as a result of utilizing the Company’s services and the risk for damages associated with those services. Additionally, Client agrees that any and all tax payments and filings are solely the responsibility of the Client. With the exception of the Company’s gross negligence or willful misconduct, the Client’s damages shall be limited to the cost of the Company’s services billed to the client excluding any third-party fees paid for by the Company on behalf of the Client. MISCELLANEOUS This agreement shall be governed under the laws of Florida. Any action brought to enforce this agreement must shall be brought in the courts of Volusia County, Florida. Each party waives any challenge to this jurisdiction and also waives a jury trial. In the event that one or more of the provisions of this agreement, for any reason, are to be found invalid, illegal or unenforceable, the invalidity, illegality, or unenforceability shall not affect any other provisions of this agreement. Client may not assign this agreement or rights and remedies listed herein to any third party. The Company shall not be held liable by third parties and action under this agreement may only be brought by the Client. Failure by any party not to enforce any clause of this agreement shall not constitute a waiver of a particular provision of this agreement or this agreement in its entirety. THE LICENSE COMPANY LLC PRIVACY POLICY Last Updated: 6.22.21 YOUR PRIVACY IS CRITICALLY IMPORTANT TO US. The License Company LLC is located at: The License Company LLC 55 E Granada Blvd Unit 1415 Ormond Beach, FL 32175, United States 8444842466 It is The License Company LLC’s policy to respect your privacy regarding any information we may collect while operating our website. This Privacy Policy applies to https://thelicensecompany.com (hereinafter, “us”, “we”, or “https://thelicensecompany.com”). We respect your privacy and are committed to protecting personally identifiable information you may provide us through the Website. We have adopted this privacy policy (“Privacy Policy”) to explain what information may be collected on our Website, how we use this information, and under what circumstances we may disclose the information to third parties. This Privacy Policy applies only to information we collect through the Website and does not apply to our collection of information from other sources. This Privacy Policy, together with the Terms and conditions posted on our Website, set forth the general rules and policies governing your use of our Website. Depending on your activities when visiting our Website, you may be required to agree to additional terms and conditions. WEBSITE VISITORS Like most website operators, The License Company LLC collects non-personally-identifying information of the sort that web browsers and servers typically make available, such as the browser type, language preference, referring site, and the date and time of each visitor request. The License Company LLC’s purpose in collecting non-personally identifying information is to better understand how The License Company LLC’s visitors use its website. From time to time, The License Company LLC may release non-personally-identifying information in the aggregate, e.g., by publishing a report on trends in the usage of its website. The License Company LLC also collects potentially personally-identifying information like Internet Protocol (IP) addresses for logged in users and for users leaving comments on https://thelicensecompany.com blog posts. The License Company LLC only discloses logged in user and commenter IP addresses under the same circumstances that it uses and discloses personally-identifying information as described below. GATHERING OF PERSONALLY-IDENTIFYING INFORMATION Certain visitors to The License Company LLC’s websites choose to interact with The License Company LLC in ways that require The License Company LLC to gather personally-identifying information. The amount and type of information that The License Company LLC gathers depends on the nature of the interaction. For example, we ask visitors who sign up for a blog at https://thelicensecompany.com to provide a username and email address. SECURITY The security of your Personal Information is important to us, but remember that no method of transmission over the Internet, or method of electronic storage is 100% secure. While we strive to use commercially acceptable means to protect your Personal Information, we cannot guarantee its absolute security. ADVERTISEMENTS Ads appearing on our website may be delivered to users by advertising partners, who may set cookies. These cookies allow the ad server to recognize your computer each time they send you an online advertisement to compile information about you or others who use your computer. This information allows ad networks to, among other things, deliver targeted advertisements that they believe will be of most interest to you. This Privacy Policy covers the use of cookies by The License Company LLC and does not cover the use of cookies by any advertisers. LINKS TO EXTERNAL SITES Our Service may contain links to external sites that are not operated by us. If you click on a third party link, you will be directed to that third party’s site. We strongly advise you to review the Privacy Policy and terms and conditions of every site you visit. We have no control over, and assume no responsibility for the content, privacy policies or practices of any third-party sites, products or services. HTTPS://THELICENSECOMPANY.COM USES GOOGLE ADWORDS FOR REMARKETING Https://thelicensecompany.com uses the remarketing services to advertise on third party websites (including Google) to previous visitors to our site. It could mean that we advertise to previous visitors who haven’t completed a task on our site, for example using the contact form to make an inquiry. This could be in the form of an advertisement on the Google search results page, or a site in the Google Display Network. Third-party vendors, including Google, use cookies to serve ads based on someone’s past visits. Of course, any data collected will be used in accordance with our own privacy policy and Google’s privacy policy. You can set preferences for how Google advertises to you using the Google Ad Preferences page, and if you want to you can opt out of interest-based advertising entirely by cookie settings or permanently using a browser plugin. PROTECTION OF CERTAIN PERSONALLY-IDENTIFYING INFORMATION The License Company LLC discloses potentially personally-identifying and personally-identifying information only to those of its employees, contractors and affiliated organizations that (i) need to know that information in order to process it on The License Company LLC’s behalf or to provide services available at The License Company LLC’s website, and (ii) that have agreed not to disclose it to others. Some of those employees, contractors and affiliated organizations may be located outside of your home country; by using The License Company LLC’s website, you consent to the transfer of such information to them. The License Company LLC will not rent or sell potentially personally-identifying and personally-identifying information to anyone. Other than to its employees, contractors and affiliated organizations, as described above, The License Company LLC discloses potentially personally-identifying and personally-identifying information only in response to a subpoena, court order or other governmental request, or when The License Company LLC believes in good faith that disclosure is reasonably necessary to protect the property or rights of The License Company LLC, third parties or the public at large. If you are a registered user of https://thelicensecompany.com and have supplied your email address, The License Company LLC may occasionally send you an email to tell you about new features, solicit your feedback, or just keep you up to date with what’s going on with The License Company LLC and our products. We primarily use our blog to communicate this type of information, so we expect to keep this type of email to a minimum. If you send us a request (for example via a support email or via one of our feedback mechanisms), we reserve the right to publish it in order to help us clarify or respond to your request or to help us support other users. The License Company LLC takes all measures reasonably necessary to protect against the unauthorized access, use, alteration or destruction of potentially personally-identifying and personally-identifying information. AGGREGATED STATISTICS The License Company LLC may collect statistics about the behavior of visitors to its website. The License Company LLC may display this information publicly or provide it to others. However, The License Company LLC does not disclose your personally-identifying information. AFFILIATE DISCLOSURE This site uses affiliate links and does earn a commission from certain links. This does not affect your purchases or the price you may pay. COOKIES To enrich and perfect your online experience, The License Company LLC uses “Cookies”, similar technologies and services provided by others to display personalized content, appropriate advertising and store your preferences on your computer. A cookie is a string of information that a website stores on a visitor’s computer, and that the visitor’s browser provides to the website each time the visitor returns. The License Company LLC uses cookies to help The License Company LLC identify and track visitors, their usage of https://thelicensecompany.com, and their website access preferences. The License Company LLC visitors who do not wish to have cookies placed on their computers should set their browsers to refuse cookies before using The License Company LLC’s websites, with the drawback that certain features of The License Company LLC’s websites may not function properly without the aid of cookies. By continuing to navigate our website without changing your cookie settings, you hereby acknowledge and agree to The License Company LLC’s use of cookies. E-COMMERCE Those who engage in transactions with The License Company LLC – by purchasing The License Company LLC’s services or products, are asked to provide additional information, including as necessary the personal and financial information required to process those transactions. In each case, The License Company LLC collects such information only insofar as is necessary or appropriate to fulfill the purpose of the visitor’s interaction with The License Company LLC. The License Company LLC does not disclose personally-identifying information other than as described below. And visitors can always refuse to supply personally-identifying information, with the caveat that it may prevent them from engaging in certain website-related activities. BUSINESS TRANSFERS If The License Company LLC, or substantially all of its assets, were acquired, or in the unlikely event that The License Company LLC goes out of business or enters bankruptcy, user information would be one of the assets that is transferred or acquired by a third party. You acknowledge that such transfers may occur, and that any acquirer of The License Company LLC may continue to use your personal information as set forth in this policy. PRIVACY POLICY CHANGES Although most changes are likely to be minor, The License Company LLC may change its Privacy Policy from time to time, and in The License Company LLC’s sole discretion. The License Company LLC encourages visitors to frequently check this page for any changes to its Privacy Policy. Your continued use of this site after any change in this Privacy Policy will constitute your acceptance of such change. CREDIT & CONTACT INFORMATION This privacy policy was created at termsandconditionstemplate.com. If you have any questions about this Privacy Policy, please contact us via email or phone. I agree to the privacy policy and terms of service.
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Who’s ARC and why would I want to register with them?

ARC stands for Airlines Reporting Corporation. They provide settlement services to travel agencies issuing airline tickets. In other words, they make it easy for your agency to issue airline tickets directly to your clients.

How much does ARC accreditation cost?

Full ARC accreditation costs $2300. However, there are additional costs to consider. For example: You’ll need to incorporate a business. You may also need to register with your state department. Further, you may need to provide a surety bond or other financial assurance.

What’s an ARC VTC (Verified Travel Consultant)?

An ARC Verified Travel Consultant is different from full accreditation. It allows you to obtain and ARC number quickly and much cheaper than full accreditation. The cost for this program is $195. However, this program only allows you to obtain an ARC number and participate in a few other ARC options. It doesn’t allow you to issue airline tickets directly like the full verification process. You can read a little more about the differences here ?

How long will it take?

Generally, ARC accreditation can take up to 90 days. However, this time period starts only when you submit your application to the Airlines Reporting Corporation. Gathering the information can be time consuming if you haven’t done it in the past.

Can The License Company help with my ARC accreditation?

Yes! We help many travel agencies with their state licensing and affiliate accreditation. As mentioned above, the process can be time consuming. You must submit the proper documents to move to the interview portion of the approval process. This is where we come in. Our experience generally results in a faster approval then going it alone. In fact, many of our ARC accreditation clients come to us after there application is found to be deficient. You can learn more about what we do here .

How do I get started with The License Company?

It’s easy! We start by collecting some information about you and your agency. This lets us know more about your particular situation. For example: Have you incorporated? Do you also require a state license? Then, we determine the best course of action and information needed to submit your ARC accreditation application. Finally, The License Company prepares, compiles, and submits your application to the Airlines Reporting Corporation. We then monitor your application and respond to additional requests for information, if any. Finally, we see your application through the interview process and final ARC decision. Click on one of the buttons below to be taken to our online ARC Accreditation Application or ARC VTC Accreditation Application.

You may also be interested in our other Travel Agency Registration Services

Click here to view our other travel agency registrations services such as the required licenses to sell travel in California, Florida, Hawaii, and Washington.

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Kristi Mackedanz

Unique luxury travel curator, my travel specialties, bride-to-beach: destination weddings & honeymoons.

Congratulations on your engagement! As your dedicated luxury travel advisor, I'm thrilled to help you embark on the magical journey of planning your destination wedding and honeymoon. 

Imagine exchanging vows at the exquisite Secrets Moxché or UNICO 20°87° Hotel Riviera Maya, where luxury meets... Read more from my Bride-To-Beach: Destination Weddings & Honeymoons bio.

Koalas and Kiwis: Australia & New Zealand

Australia is one of the most remote countries in the world, and strangely enough, one of the most popular destinations to visit.

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Luxe Bucket List Escapes

Travel is an investment in yourself, and like any premium investment, it should have amazing results. With over 20 years of experience in curating custom getaways, I've had the privilege of experiencing and understanding the pinnacle of luxury travel. 

My approach to designing your perfect... Read more from my Luxe Bucket List Escapes bio.

Hang loose ... Island Style

Indulge in the Essence of Aloha, Where Luxury Meets Paradise! 

Hawaii - a tapestry of breathtaking landscapes and unparalleled luxury, perfect for your dream honeymoon. Each island offers a unique experience, weaving together to create the ultimate romantic getaway.

Imagine... Read more from my Hang loose ... Island Style bio.

European Luxury Cruises on the River

Have you ever been on a river cruise? I recently had the pleasure of taking a Viking River Cruise in Europe. After this experience I certainly hope to sail another river in the future.

One of the nicest things about a cruise is that you only have to unpack once and you get to see multiple cities.... Read more from my European Luxury Cruises on the River bio.

Taking a Walk on the Wild Side

South Africa, a jewel at the tip of the African continent, offers an unparalleled blend of luxury, adventure, and natural splendor – perfect for unforgettable honeymoons and extraordinary family getaways. 

Imagine waking up to the roar of lions in the iconic Kruger National Park, where the... Read more from my Taking a Walk on the Wild Side bio.

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The outback meets the reef .

Sal Salis Ningaloo Reef is a remote beach-side safari camp in the dunes of the Cape Range National Park. It’s located just an hour ride from the Learmonth Airport, a military airport for the Royal Australian Air Force. This is an extraordinary luxury lodge located in Western Australia.  You’ll be... Read more.

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Expert on australia, spring break family vacation, mom/son spring break trip.

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Great mother/son spring break vacation

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• Destination Weddings
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Travel Leaders

(763) 231-8870, (608) 784-9820, travel leaders plymouth, (763) 577-2300, (715) 425-8200, (507) 281-1014, (651) 731-9706.

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Russian travel agency

Discover russia with gurus.

• visa-free shore excursions in St.Petersburg
• all-inclusive tour packages for main Russian cities
• skip-the line entrance to museums and sights
• guided tours in any language
• accommodation and transfers during UEFA 2020

Click on one of the pictures below to get more information!

Your Russian adventure is just a click away!

No matter where you want to travel in Russia, you will always be guided by our locals experts who will make you feel welcomed and provide you with high-end service, from the moment you arrive till the moment you decide to go home.

We know it takes careful planning and time to travel to such distant destinations and we are ready to take that burden off your shoulders, so that you could just sit back, relax and enjoy your trip!

when and where you are planning to come and what you wish to do.

Step 2: Your personal manager will contact you within 24 hours and confirm all the details with you.

Step 3: Look for our sign and smiley guide who will become your local friend during your trip in Russia.

Message from SPb GURU CEO

«Hi, everyone!

My name is Liliya Golovanova and I am head of sales department at SPb GURU.

Having been a tour guide in Saint-Petersburg for several years, I often saw situations when guests were rushed through a very exhausting tour itinerary without getting to know the place or feeling pleased with what they were offered to do, when they were overcharged for accommodation and activities, which would turn out to be completely different from what they had been promised. I think it is a shame, because we are responsible for the first impression our guests will have about our country and memories that they take back home with them. That is why in our company we have gathered a team of professionals that treat clients as family. We try our best to make your stay unforgettable.In fact we want to make you feel as if you were visiting a local friend in Russia.

We guarantee that what you are promised is what you will get. We guarantee that your trip will be smooth and secure. We guarantee that Russia will become one of your favorite destinations!»

Check out our videos about Russia!

AAA St. Petersburg

Updated 3 months ago

Services Offered

Verified by Business

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1518 66th St N

Saint Petersburg, FL 33710

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DREADFUL experience at the front desk. We have been members for 24 years and NEVER been treated with such indifference & disrespect. Absolutely a ZERO for customer service.

Fast and Friendly. I have no idea where these negative reviews are coming from. I went to AAA St. Petersburg to get an International Driving Permit. I was greeted immediately in a friendly way. The lady who took my photo was also friendly. The whole process took about 10 minutes. I did prepare a completed form beforehand.

Really enjoyed working with Cheryl Finnerty on my Royal Carribean cruise. It was a terrific experience and a great price from AAA! The Coco Cay club was worth the extra money for the Lobster dinner, private beach and pool. Thank you to Cheryl for suggesting this option. It made the trip really special for us!

We called for service on a dead battery and the service technician said they didn't have the battery they would have to come back the next day with the battery because it was still under warranty from the first time they replaced it. When they came back they worked from 10:45-1:45 and weren't able to replace the battery and said we would have to have the vehicle towed to a place that could replace the battery. It is now 1:56 and we are still waiting for a tow truck for a dead battery call we placed yesterday. I would NOT recommend AAA for service at all.

I needed an international drivers license so I called to confirm my pic would be taken at this site. I was told to come in anytime. I arrive 30 min after I Called. . The woman at the front desk was marginally nice and the woman who took my picture for the license was beyond grumpy and rude; the camera did not work instantly, took her quite a while to get the camera to hook to the internet. She was annoyed my eyes close when I smile and the pic had to be redone. The atmosphere here is not comfortable. Will never go back to this site.

The WORST customer service... lied that they close at 5 the it was 5:30. With free rod side service with my insurance company and GPS on my phone BYE BYE AAA

Horrible experience at St Petersburg 66th location location at 4pm on March 28,2023 . The AAA branch manager that hired and retains this person ( details to follow) must either be an idiot or related to her . My negative experience was with a sharp tongued , female employee at the so called customer " service" counter . Did not catch her name-but mid 50's , short dyed blond hair , 5 ft 2 " , 20 lbs overweight , wearing prescription glasses . She has a really ,really bad customer service skill set ... very nasty over- get this ...a map I ordered. The entire staff AND Manager MUST know this person right ... ? The details of this adventure ... well suffice to say that after my 20 year membership at AAA , I was going to terminate membership on the spot. A Really nice older black lady ( her colleague ) figured out the issue and was actually embarrassed about her colleagues4 caustic behavior. Wake up and have the courage to terminate crappy employees before you lose customers ! Mark

rude employees! very short answered. not wanting to help needing to be spoonfed all information. we have been members since 1986.. I hope Terri has a better day and she gets so additional customer service training she needs. looking in to going with Good Sam's.

We are so thrilled to have Cheryl Finnerty at AAA helping us plan our next cruise. So very helpful - thinking of things before you know it needs to be thought of. We love Cheryl!!

Worst customer service experience in my whole life. Made a first call at 10:12pm needing roadside assistance and we were promised help by 12:25am. Being an hour away from home with two kids in the backseat, we decided to wait. Nobody came. Made around 15 calls pleading for help (all we needed was the tool to change a tire, we had everything else) and we were told we had to wait till 3:37am. Not only that, but the help actually arrived at 4:28am, over 6 hours later. And yes, we've called multiple businesses and emergency numbers (since AAA was no help), and everybody was either closed or didn't have the proper tools). NEVER AGAIN! Considering canceling the membership entirely.

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Travel Agencies

Arc empowers travel agencies, arc agency accreditation.

ARC gives U.S. travel agencies the ability to easily ticket flights worldwide on more than 200 airlines and provides access to financial solutions, revenue opportunities and industry expertise to help agencies better manage their relationships with these global air travel suppliers.

ARC's Verified Travel Consultant Program

ARC also allows travel professionals to brand themselves as ARC travel agents, but without air ticketing abilities, by becoming an ARC Verified Travel Consultant (VTC). Participants receive a unique agency ID number and are included in ARC’s Agency List, recognized by industry suppliers worldwide.

Products to Grow and Improve Your Business

ARC Pay's credit card processing service provides ARC-accredited travel professionals with a simple and efficient way process credit card payments for any travel-related good or service.

ARC’s Agency BI tool provides agencies with a consolidated view of their air travel data and peer benchmark comparisons.

Memo Analyzer offers powerful insight into Memo Manager data to help travel agencies measure performance and understand memo drivers.

Aria provides agencies with a customizable raw data file of their ARC-settled sales transactions, including credit card and segment-level information.

ARC provides settled airline ticket data for effective benchmarking, performance validation and identifying opportunities in an evolving market.

ARC’s Memo Manager is a web-based tool that automates memo processing, communication and payment between airlines and travel agencies.

Useful Resources for Travel Agencies

View helpful information, including answers to frequently asked questions, the Agent Reporting Agreement (ARA), the Industry Agents' Handbook (IAH), Accreditation Marks, ARC Number verification and more.

ARC Specialist Training & Certification

The ARC Specialist Training and Certification Program provides travel agents with training, an examination and certification to become an ARC Specialist (AS).

How Can We Help You?

Monday-Tuesday 9 a.m. - 9 p.m. ET Wednesday-Friday 9 a.m. - 7:30 p.m. ET Phone 1-855-816-8003 Fax 1-703-816-8088

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Welcome to St. Petersburg, Russia!

The Petersburg Voyage travel agency welcomes you in St. Petersburg, Russia! Our tour company offers you various Private and Group Tours and Excursions in St. Petersburg and its outskirts. Any personal sightseeing program with the desired schedule, duration, and places of interest to visit can be worked out for you; or you can choose one of our Typical Programs, among which you will surely find the tours you are searching for! You will see all the main Saint-Petersburg sights and attractions with our Tour Packages (Shore Excursions for Cruise Passengers available).

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