TMR Distribution Outlook 2026: Consortium Affiliations Hit Lowest Point Since 2020

The percentage of travel advisors affiliating with a consortium, rather than a host or franchise, has reached its lowest point since 2020.

According to TMR’s Distribution Outlook for 2026, released today, just 40% of the 700+ advisors surveyed in the U.S. and Canada say they are affiliated with a consortium—a significant drop from 56% in 2020. While the percentage of advisors identifying with a consortium still exceeds those affiliated with a franchise or host agency, the data suggests the trend is shifting.

Specifically, 36% of advisors reported being affiliated with a host agency, up from 28% in 2020. Franchise affiliation has also seen a sharp increase, rising from 7% in 2020 to 17% today.

This shift is driven by several factors, including the arrival of new technology, expanded training programs, and a fresh wave of advisors entering the industry. Despite these changes in affiliation, the Outlook found that advisors remain overwhelmingly positive about their future prospects. They are charging service fees more than ever before and are becoming increasingly available to their clients.

Here is just a sample of what else the Outlook found was trending amongst advisors:

• Advisors choose host agencies for their training programs (77%) and data sharing and back-office help (40%). Consortia are picked for the exclusive promotions they offer (64%) and the overrides or profit sharing (27%).
• Referrals from peers (33%) and the host agency’s website (27%) are the most popular ways of selecting a host agency to affiliate with.
• Over a quarter of the advisors said that they pay between $251 and $500 in annual fees to their host agency.
• On average, advisors said they keep 80% of commissions.

The full report is available to read on-demand here.