Apple Vacations has joined a number of cruise lines and CCRA in ending its business relationship with Joystar, the host agency that has failed to pay thousands of dollars in commissions to its independent contractors.
However, any existing bookings placed through Joystar are still legally Joystar's, said Tim Mullen, senior vice president, and cannot be moved to another agency without Joystar's written consent.
Joystar, like other agencies, he said, paid Apple net and thus collected commissions up front unless a credit card was used. In that case, he said, Apple will pay those commissions directly to the booking agent "in the event Joystar ends its business."
He said that in previous months, Joystar agents "have been on occasion canceling future Joystar bookings and rebooking under another agency name and incurring whatever cancelation penalties there are. But there are not a lot of [Joystar bookings] to begin with."
Travel Impressions also has ceased taking Joystar bookings, but declined to comment.