~Andy Stuart Headlines Slate of Industry’s Most Innovative Thinkers on Preparing for Challenges and Opportunities of the New Year~

OYSTER BAY, NY (November 17, 2020) – Premier travel marketing organization TRAVELSAVERS, in partnership with sister company The Network of Entrepreneurs Selling Travel (NEST), the industry’s first and only marketing group exclusively for home-based travel advisors, will hold its Owner Focus Event (OFE) December 1-2.  The annual retreat, which for the first time will be held virtually on the eShow platform, is available expressly to member independent travel agency owners across the US and Canada and designed to embolden owners to meet the challenges and opportunities of the year ahead.

According to TRAVELSAVERS Chief Sales Officer Kathryn Mazza-Burney there has never been a more critical time for owners to prepare than right now.  “As our industry steps into a new year, buoyed by positive news of an impending vaccine, owners must begin charting their approach to customers in a new normal while revitalizing relationships with suppliers who have introduced new policies and protocols,” said Mazza-Burney.  “Challenges but also ample opportunity abound. With pent-up consumer demand for travel and a recovering economy, we look forward to offering members access to some of our industry’s most innovative thinkers on the best way forward.”

Headlining the two-day event is travel industry icon, Andy Stuart, the former president and CEO of Norwegian Cruise Line, now board member of independent cruise port operator Global Ports Holding.  A recognized cruise industry expert, Stuart is also considered one of travel’s most innovative strategists.  He is credited with developing NCL’s innovative Freestyle Cruising concept that significantly changed the cruise experience and has been an ardent supporter of travel advisors throughout his extensive career.  At TRAVELSAVERS Owner Focus Event, he will address successful leadership during turbulent times.

In addition to presentations from the executive team at TRAVELSAVERS on topics that range from the future of cruise, courting a new luxury market and improving your social presence, attendees will hear from Zane Kirby, president of ASTA and Wendy Paradis, president of ACTA on how the industry’s leading advocates are working on their behalf; and from Oceania’s Cathy Denroche on the importance of communication and the role of travel advisors to help usher in the next era of travel.

Best-selling author of Becoming Preferred and sales pro expert Michael Vickers will give a seminar on how to identify clients’ stress and create distinctive value strategies to help agency owners out-position, out-sell and out-experience the competition.

“Resiliency and finding opportunity in difficulty are the tasks before us,” said Mazza-Burney.  “But this much I know is true: travel will be back, and our agency owners will be prepared, ready to welcome clients and new customers to the world beyond their own homes once again.”

About TRAVELSAVERS®

TRAVELSAVERS is an international travel marketing organization with a retail chain of more than 2,500 independently owned, full-service travel agencies in over 35 countries that together generate more than $22 billion in annual travel sales. Offering a comprehensive range of products and support services to help its licensed agencies maximize sales though a select group of suppliers, TRAVELSAVERS agencies stand out as travel leaders in their local communities. The marketing company also features a unique exclusive territory system based on populations of 50,000, so agency owners maintain control over clients and prospective leads in their exclusive area. TRAVELSAVERS is part of American Marketing Group, Inc. (AMG), essential business partners for the travel advisor community.

About NEST™

Founded in 2004, The Network of Entrepreneurs Selling Travel (NEST) is the industry’s first and only marketing group exclusively for home-based travel advisors. The company focuses entirely on helping home-based travel advisors achieve greater success financially, professionally and personally by championing solutions and opportunities just for them. From supplier negotiations to marketing, education to networking, and a complete portfolio of technology solutions, NEST delivers what home-based travel advisors need, when they need it. NEST also supports the changing needs of suppliers, helping them to effectively reach the rapidly growing, home-based distribution channel to train, motivate, cultivate and compensate them. NEST is part of American Marketing Group, Inc. (AMG), essential business partners for the travel advisor community.

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