Avoya Travel has just completed the 2023 Avoya Travel Land Forum, which took place virtually May 23–25, and in person June 20–24 at Dreams Bahia Mita Surf & Spa Resort in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico. Hundreds of independent agencies in the Avoya Travel Network participated between the virtual and in-person events, which included a robust offering of networking opportunities and an agenda full of educational and professional development options. The hybrid event included presentations, panels and workshops from travel suppliers in the land vacation space, headlined by Mike Ehlers, vice president of groups at Apple Leisure Group Vacations; Tonya Joyce, director, regional sales at Inclusive Collection by World of Hyatt; Kevin Carter, director of strategic partnerships at Collette; and many more.
The in-person event was hosted by Inclusive Collection by World of Hyatt, which celebrated the event, the Avoya Network’s engagement and sales performance, as well as the continually growing partnership with Avoya.
Some of the technological initiatives highlighted were upgrades to trip records for land products within Avoya’s proprietary SaaS technology, Agent Power, which allow for increased efficiencies and analytics; the seamless integration of Avoya Hotels into Agent Power, allowing for one-stop-shop planning and booking services within one software ecosystem; and the upcoming integration of Sabre Red 360 into Agent Power, offering an easy-to-use flight booking engine that iterates off of the existing Avoya Flights program to enhance the use of a graphical user interface system in lieu of GDS systems. It was also announced that the Avoya Flights beta test ends June 30, 2023 at which point the program opens to the entirety of the Avoya Network.
Avoya also unveiled a number of statistics regarding its land business over the past few years. When comparing bookings on land products year-to-date in 2023 compared to the same point in 2019, some of the key figures included a 25 percent increase in booked land sales, a 40 percent increase in sales with preferred land partners and a 30 percent increase in new-to-Avoya travelers on land vacations. Additionally, those independent agencies attending the Avoya Travel Land Forum have achieved a 340 percent increase in land vacation sales when compared to 2019.
In addition to a wide array of networking opportunities—including roundtables and office hours with suppliers, cocktail parties, dine-arounds on property and multiple themed dinner parties—advisors were given time each day to explore the property and become more familiar with the product to help them better sell all-inclusive vacations to travelers. Avoya also partnered with a local charity, an orphanage named Manos de Amor, to help raise funds for the children. Nearly $5,500 was raised between independent agencies, suppliers and Avoya and its staff, in addition to a significant amount of clothing donations. Another highlight of the event took place at the Welcome Dinner, where nearly two dozen independent agencies were recognized for achievements, including top seller of land products, highest closing rate percentage and more. Avoya’s most prestigious award, the Avoya Flowerfly Award given to an independent agency that displays outstanding integrity, professionalism and character, acting as an ambassador for Avoya, was given to Chuck Conine, owner of Travel with Charley LLC, a member of the Avoya Network.
To learn more, visit www.avoyanetwork.com.
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