Industry Insights
Leaving a Host Agency: How TRUE Accreditation Empowers Independent Travel Advisors
Originally published in 2025. Updated in 2026 to reflect current industry guidance. Ready to Leave Your Host Agency? Imagine Owning Your Travel Business—For Real Imagine waking up knowing that every decision you make for your travel business is entirely your own. No...
A Year of Travel, Partnership, and Unexpected Opportunity
Just one year ago, Robin James and Carolyn Renee Murray made a decision that would change the direction of their professional lives. Both women had already built successful and fulfilling careers, but travel had always been something more than just a hobby. The...
Celebrating the Women Shaping the Travel Advisor Industry
Every March, Women’s History Month provides an opportunity to recognize the achievements, leadership, and influence of women across industries. In the world of travel advising, this recognition carries special meaning. For decades, women have been at the heart of the...
Elevate Client Safety: Suggest STEP Every Time
Why the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) Should Be Recommended to Every Client In today’s ever-changing travel landscape, safety and preparedness are more important than ever. As a travel advisor, you do more than plan dream vacations—you help protect your...
Croatia Full of Flavors: Launching Our New Partnership in New York City
On March 25, 2026, CCRA proudly celebrated the launch of our new partnership with the Croatian National Tourist Office during a special industry event in New York City: “Croatia Full of Flavors.” Hosted at Graybar 19 in the heart of Manhattan, this immersive...
Serving Clients with Accessible Needs: A Travel Advisor’s Responsibility and Opportunity
Travel is transformative. It opens doors, builds memories, and connects people to the world. But for clients with accessible needs, travel can also bring uncertainty and risk if their requirements are not fully understood and properly supported. As a travel advisor,...
Top Questions from Members in 2025
This blog answers the most common questions we receive in the Memberships mailbox about renewing, access issues, certificates, supplier validation, applications, and events. (Patterns derived from your inbound email data and your current outbound guidance.)...
Booking With Pride: A Travel Advisor Guide to LGBTQ Clients
Understanding the LGBTQ Travel Market The global LGBTQ+ travel market is valued in the hundreds of billions, and it continues to grow. LGBTQ travelers tend to travel more frequently, stay longer, and spend more per trip than the general market. However, their travel...
TACS & FastPay Commission Processing for Hilton Bookings: A Step by Step Guide for Travel Advisors
TACS & FastPay Commission Processing for Hilton Bookings: A Simple Guide for Travel Advisors If you book Hilton properties for your clients, understanding how commissions are processed can save you time, prevent delays, and ensure you’re paid correctly. Hilton...
It’s Wave Season—Here’s Why This Is Your Prime Time to Shine
Ah, January. While the world shakes off holiday glitter and settles into winter routines, something powerful ignites in the travel industry—Wave Season. For experienced travel advisors, this isn’t just another seasonal trend. It’s the most important cruise booking...
Events You Don't Want To Miss!
Join us as we bring the industry’s top suppliers together in an intimate environment so you can spend some quality time with them, get to know their offerings and establish real relationships to help your travel business grow. You’ll experience unique travel industry discussions with some of the best and brightest in the industry, and get the training you need from the suppliers you want. See where we’re going next!
The TRUE Code Explained
The TRUE Code is a unique travel accreditation number issued by CCRA to identify independent travel advisors and agencies who operate outside of the traditional host agency model. It allows travel professionals to book directly with suppliers and receive commission payments without middlemen.
Why the TRUE Code Matters
As the travel industry evolves, more advisors are choosing independence. But working without a host agency doesn’t mean working without credibility or support. The TRUE Code provides:
- Direct supplier access
- Commission payments made directly to your agency
- Industry recognition and legitimacy
- A unique accreditation number you own
Whether you’re starting your own travel business or breaking away from a host agency, the TRUE Code is your key to unlocking a fully independent business.
How the TRUE Code Works
Once approved, your agency receives a unique TRUE number that suppliers around the world recognize. You can book travel, manage reservations, and earn commissions—all under your own brand.
TRUE is accepted by hundreds of global travel suppliers, including tour operators, cruise lines, hotels, consolidators, and more. These suppliers verify your credentials using the TRUE database and remit payments directly to your business.
Who Should Apply for a
TRUE Code?
- Independent travel advisors ready to work solo
- Travel agency startups seeking industry legitimacy
- Advisors leaving a host agency for more freedom
- Professionals looking to build a brand they fully own
How to Get Started
Applying for TRUE accreditation is simple:
- Set up your business entity (LLC or sole proprietorship)
- Submit an application with basic business info
- Pay a low annual fee
Once approved, you’ll get your TRUE number and be listed in the supplier database.