Avoya changes conference venue and doubles the amount of content and engagement.
FT. LAUDERDALE, FLA. – Avoya Travel has announced they are changing the “venue” for their annual Avoya Conference to an online platform following the recent success of their first-ever Avoya Mastermind Virtual Land Forum. Originally scheduled to take place onboard the Celebrity Equinox October 20-26, 2020, the 2020 Avoya Conference will now feature two separate events spanning eight total days, October 19-22, 2020 and December 1-4, 2020.
The two-part Conference was adapted to an online platform to protect the health and safety of the Independent Agencies in the Avoya Network, Avoya Travel’s staff, and Avoya’s preferred supplier partners considering the current environment.
Known in the industry for their out-of-the box thinking and innovation, Avoya is capitalizing on the unique advantages offered by a virtual format to provide even more educational content and powerful networking opportunities, while making the event accessible to even more Independent Agencies in the Avoya Network; Avoya already has more registrants signed up for the two-part Conference than the original headcount for the in-person Avoya Conference.
“The Avoya Conference is always a tremendous opportunity for Independent Agencies in the Avoya Network to gather together with their peers and Avoya’s supplier partners for dynamic networking events while learning new product information and industry best practices,” said Steve Hirshan, SVP of Sales at Avoya Travel. “With the unprecedented challenges our industry is facing, it’s more important than ever for travel agents to be informed and up-to-date on the changes and enhancements happening in the travel industry. By pivoting to an online conference we’re now able to provide even more valuable content to a larger group of Independent Agencies than we could with a traditional in-person event.”
The agenda for the two-part conference was curated based on the notion that there are two crucial segments of knowledge a travel professional needs to have to effectively sell travel in today’s current health and economic climate. The first is understanding how the experience of travel is changing and what the “new normal” will be for a variety of travel types – from cruising to escorted tours to all-inclusive resort stays. The second is having a relationship with the suppliers that an Avoya Independent Agency wants to specialize in selling, understanding who each supplier is, the relationship they have with Avoya, and developing a relationship with Avoya’s specific supplier representative to help grow their business and provide an incredible customer service experience.
The Avoya Conference: Part One (October 19-22, 2020) is geared toward providing extensive networking opportunities for Avoya’s Network of Independent Agencies and Avoya’s Preferred Suppliers, focusing on relationship-building through 1:1 and small group settings with communication made possible by cutting-edge technology, both during and after the event.
The Avoya Conference: Part Two (December 1-4, 2020) is centered around preparing Independent Agencies in the Avoya Network to sell travel during the 2021 Wave Season and beyond with a specific emphasis on enhancements to health and safety practices, updates on products and protocols, and the “new normal” of life while traveling in a post-Covid 19 world.
The Avoya Conference will also feature keynote speaker Nancy Friedman, the Telephone Doctor, who will be presenting in a General Session as well as a dedicated workshop focusing specifically on telephone sales skills and customer service. With the vast majority of the Avoya Network operating their independent businesses virtually and working with travelers throughout the world, it’s never been more important for the Independent Agencies in the Avoya Network to have access to education aimed at honing their sales and communication skills and continuing to increase the level of service they provide.
“Avoya Travel has always been known for staying ahead of the curve and evolving with the current times; adapting their Conference to not just one but two online events is just another example of Avoya’s ingenuity and imagination,” said Nikki Upshaw, Senior Vice President, Sales for Oceania Cruises. “We’ve been impressed with the innovative advancements they’ve made for their Network of Independent Agencies as well as partners like us during these uncertain times. We’re looking forward to the success of the Avoya Conference and are excited to learn more about what’s next for Avoya.”
Vicky is the co-founder of TravelDailyNews Media Network where she is the Editor-in Chief. She is also responsible for the daily operation and the financial policy. She holds a Bachelor's degree in Tourism Business Administration from the Technical University of Athens and a Master in Business Administration (MBA) from the University of Wales.
She has many years of both academic and industrial experience within the travel industry. She has written/edited numerous articles in various tourism magazines.
