Avoya Travel Celebrates Return of In-Person Events Onboard Celebrity Apex

Networking Opportunity Marks First Event in Person Since the Beginning of the Pandemic

Ft. Lauderdale, Fla. – November 01, 2021 – Avoya Travel®, one of the travel industry’s most innovative brands, has just concluded its first in-person educational and networking event since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic onboard the Celebrity Apex from October 24 – 28, 2021. The highly anticipated event, hosted in partnership with Celebrity Cruises, welcomed nearly 200 Independent Agencies and Licensed Agents in the Avoya Travel Network™ as well as over 20 of Avoya’s preferred supplier partners.

The optional networking event served as an opportunity for the Avoya Network to connect and network in-person after such a tumultuous time in the travel industry and to re-energize and connect with fellow Independent Agencies, supplier partners, and Avoya executives and staff. The majority of the event was structured to be an open schedule so attendees could interact with Network members and suppliers at their leisure and have time to truly immerse themselves in the Celebrity Apex product. Structured time was dedicated to the highly praised Roundtable Sessions, which served as a chance for Independent Agencies to have conversations with each supplier partner in intimate, small group settings where they could learn about health and safety protocols, new products, and ask questions to help them grow their independent businesses. 50% of the Independent Agencies in attendance booked at least $1 Million in sales in 2019 and 30% have already booked over $500,000 in 2021, offering an opportunity for travel suppliers to build collaborative relationships with a large number of highly successful Independent Agencies.

Avoya Network members in attendance felt recharged and energized by the experience of learning and networking in person once again and were raving about experiencing Celebrity Apex first-hand. “The Avoya Networking Event on Celebrity Apex was absolutely incredible. Celebrity Apex is beyond amazing in all she has to offer travelers, and the attention to every detail truly made the ship exquisite. I can’t wait to share the experience with my clients,” said Beverly Brent, owner of Brent Travel LLC, a member of the Avoya Network. “The dedicated time to network with fellow advisors and suppliers was a wonderful learning opportunity. I personally have learned so much from one-on-one time with them and also through the fabulous Roundtable Sessions. I can’t thank Avoya, Celebrity Cruises, and the supplier sponsors enough for the opportunity.”

In addition to the valuable interactions with Avoya’s preferred supplier partners, Avoya executives delivered an insightful presentation to Avoya Network members highlighting the strength of Avoya’s model and the bright future of the company in 2022 and beyond as it continues to develop the Avoya 2025 plan and work toward being the number one vacation platform. Key elements of the presentation included the continual enhancements of the Avoya Marketing Resource Center™ and the importance of preparing for the steady increase in demand for leisure travel vacations as the world continues to recover from the effects of COVID-19.

“While Avoya has hosted many highly successful virtual events during the course of the pandemic, there is no substitute for face-to-face interactions and in-person education and networking; we are thrilled to have been able to gather together onboard the cutting-edge Celebrity Apex and celebrate a return to normalcy,” said Steve Hirshan, Senior Vice President of Sales at Avoya Travel. “The Independent Agencies in attendance were extremely engaged and excited for the opportunity to strengthen important relationships and work toward building their businesses back better than ever before as the return to travel continues in earnest. Avoya is grateful to Celebrity Cruises for hosting our event as well as our other supplier partners that participated.”

Avoya has several more in-person and hybrid events planned throughout 2022 and the 2021 Avoya Travel Conference will be held virtually December 6 – 10, 2021.

To learn more visit: www.AvoyaNetwork.com.

About Avoya Travel

Headquartered in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida, Avoya Travel® provides services to more than 1,000 Independent Agencies in the Avoya Network™. Avoya has a longstanding reputation for providing unmatched resources and services to thousands of companies including cruise lines, tour companies, resorts, and the Independent Agencies in the Avoya Network, one of the largest and most successful independent travel agency networks in the world. Family-owned, Avoya’s Shared Success™ model is built on a foundation of Integrity and Professionalism™. Avoya has been an American Express Travel Representative for more than 30 years, and is one of their largest producers of cruises, tours, and vacations through its Network of Independent Agencies.

Some of the innovative services and resources offered by Avoya include optional marketing programs like Live Leads™, the first, the best, and only patented solution for offering new travelers exclusively to Independent Agencies in the Avoya Network; unparalleled agency business support services; fully integrated, proprietary, and patented SaaS technology, Agent Power™; award-winning professional development and education programs; American Express Travel benefits; Instant Commission™ and more.

Through Avoya’s platform travelers worldwide can be connected to an elite network of independently owned and operated travel agencies and can enjoy exclusive discounts, amenities, and first-class customer service. Highly recognized and awarded by cruise lines, tour companies, resorts, and others, Avoya Travel has received numerous accolades, including being repeatedly named Travel Partner of the Year by Norwegian Cruise Line, Royal Caribbean, Celebrity Cruises, Carnival Cruises, American Express, Oceania Cruises, MSC Cruises, and more.

Travel agency owners, travel professionals and others interested in receiving the unmatched services, marketing, support, and technology needed to own and operate their own travel business should contact Avoya Travel at 800-521-2597 or visit www.AvoyaNetwork.com. Travelers interested in booking their next vacation with an expert Independent Agency in the Avoya Network should call 800-753-1463 or visit www.AvoyaTravel.com.