Written by Malana VanTyler
In a travel industry filled with glossy marketing and too-good-to-be-true promises, BWJ Travel has gained a reputation the old-fashioned way: through personal reviews. Over the last several years, the host travel agency founded by brothers Edwin and Jacob Sarkisyan has seen a surge of public feedback from both clients and agents. Many of those reviews reveal a story far deeper than a star rating. They point to a company shaped by family history, hands-on support, and a belief that travel can bring people together.
While BWJ Travel is now a rapidly expanding national agency, its foundation ties back to a bootstrap beginning. Before launching BWJ, the Sarkisyan brothers grew up inside their father’s travel business, SVH Tours & Travel, a small agency their father started in the early 1990s as a new immigrant trying to support his family.
The brothers watched him assist clients one by one, often showing videos of Cancun vacations he had filmed himself, long before digital marketing existed. What stayed with them was not the logistics, but the way he treated people.
Those early lessons now inform BWJ Travel’s culture and, according to reviews, its growing reputation.
The Agent Perspective: Training, Support and Community
Many BWJ Travel reviews come from people who joined the agency with no industry experience. In a competitive space where training often varies widely, BWJ’s model appears to resonate strongly. Several agents describe the program as more structured and supportive than they expected.“I worked with another agency before BWJ and it was awful, no support, no training, nothing. BWJ actually teaches you how to succeed,” wrote Joshua, one of the agents who switched networks after feeling abandoned by his previous host agency.
Other agents mention the company’s live trainings, direct access to leadership, and systems designed to simplify what is often an overwhelming field for newcomers. BWJ’s Travel Agent Portal, live booking calls, regular supplier webinars and direct access to a dedicated booking advisor are frequently cited as reasons agents feel confident booking travel.
One such success story is Curt Chandler, who joined BWJ Travel in 2023 with no experience. His review has become a source of inspiration for others.
“I began with no knowledge of travel booking. They provided training and support, and now I earn over $5K per month while working from home,” he wrote.Curt’s rapid growth eventually led BWJ to hire him as its full-time booking advisor, where he now coaches new agents through their first bookings.
Nick Potter, another agent, echoed that sentiment. “Was so nervous but BWJ training walked me through it all. Got my client a Carnival cruise with excursions and upgrades. Got my first commission check and I’m hooked.” A recurring theme among reviews is the feeling of belonging. Instead of the isolation many independent agents describe in other agencies, BWJ seems to offer a community. The Sarkisyan brothers host live weekly sessions, answer booking questions directly and encourage collaboration among agents. A recent agent put it bluntly:
“Honestly thought this was gonna be like every other online ‘travel job,’ but BWJ actually delivers. I got training, clients and made $1K my first month.”
Client Reviews: Personalized Service and Unexpected Perks
Beyond agent feedback, hundreds of client reviews highlight the hands-on approach BWJ agents bring to each trip. Many describe scenarios where BWJ consultants secured deals, upgrades or perks that travelers could not access online.“I thought I found the best deal for my Hawaii trip, until BWJ showed me a secret package deal with a free resort credit and VIP perks,” wrote Dawn White.Other clients describe BWJ’s ability to secure exclusive experiences. “I was going to book my Greece trip online until my BWJ agent found a package that wasn’t even public yet. Saved me $700 and came with a free cooking class,” wrote Ruth Williamson.
Some of the strongest reviews detail how BWJ agents step in when things go wrong. One traveler recalled a crisis that unfolded just before a honeymoon.
“Our airline canceled our flight to Hawaii last minute. I called Amanda at BWJ in a panic and within 30 minutes, she rebooked everything, even getting us a free upgrade at our resort as an apology from the airline,”wrote Sean.
Another traveler faced a missed flight to Tokyo due to delays.
“The airline was zero help,” wrote Danny. “My BWJ agent rebooked me within an hour, got me a hotel for the night and even secured a refund.”Across the board, reviews suggest BWJ agents often stay with clients from the initial planning stages through the end of their trip, checking in, troubleshooting and offering support far beyond what automated platforms provide.
Group Travel: BWJ’s Hidden Strength
Some of the most detailed reviews involve group travel, a segment that can overwhelm even traditional agencies. BWJ’s experience working with major suppliers allows agents to secure competitive rates for large parties.A customer named Norman Watson shared his experience planning a 14-person trip to Jamaica. “Edwin’s team took care of it all. Flights, resort, group discount, transfers, flawless. I didn’t have to lift a finger.”
Wedding groups, corporate retreats, and family gatherings appear to be a growing specialty for BWJ Travel. One bride-to-be wrote, “Planned my wedding in Mexico with BWJ and they handled everything for 40 plus guests. I didn’t have to chase RSVP details, they did it all.”
These reviews suggest that BWJ’s host agency model gives their consultants more flexibility and personalized oversight than typical online platforms that handle group travel primarily through forms and automated processing.
Why Reviews Matter to BWJ’s Core Values
Trust, perseverance and respect are the core values the brothers say define the company, and those values seem to show up repeatedly in public feedback. Many reviews note how BWJ Travel treats clients and agents with patience and transparency. Others highlight the agency’s willingness to solve problems in real time.A recent review from Carl Backer described how support staff helped fix an issue with a cruise booking. “Had an issue with a client’s cruise and Mary in support got on the phone with the supplier and handled it. Honestly, I don't know how I’d do this without her.”
Another traveler summed up the experience this way: “I always plan my own travel but decided to try BWJ. Best call I made.”
For the Sarkisyan brothers, reviews are more than testimonials. They represent the continuation of their father’s legacy.
“People trust us with their trips, and that means something,” Edwin said. “We do everything we can to earn that trust.”
Where BWJ Travel Goes from Here
As BWJ Travel continues to grow, the company remains anchored to the values it started with. The agency supports consultants across the country, partners with top-tier suppliers and continues expanding its training systems. The brothers believe that as long as people value personal service, BWJ’s model will thrive.Reviews show that travelers are drawn not only to deals or destination packages but to BWJ’s combination of family-driven values and modern systems. Travelers want someone who answers the phone. Agents want to feel supported. BWJ has built a network that serves both.
The mission remains the same as it was in that small California office three decades ago: bring people together through travel.
As one client wrote after returning from a bucket-list trip to Japan, “BWJ planned my dream vacation. Kyoto temples, Tokyo nightlife, a private Mt. Fuji tour and a cooking class in Osaka. They didn’t just book a trip. They made it a memory.”
For BWJ Travel, that experience captures exactly what the company aims to deliver.
