Avoya Travel sees first signs of recovery and makes plans for 2021
Avoya Travel, one of the travel industry’s most innovative brands, experienced a significant increase in sales in the fourth quarter of 2020 compared to previous months during the COVID-19 pandemic, with December seeing the best month of sales since April of 2020. In addition to the optimism surrounding vaccines and the pent-up demand for a return to leisure travel, Avoya attributes the recent sales success to many of its initiatives rolled out in 2020 including the Avoya Smart Leads program, enhanced Marketing Resource Center, new Independent Agency affiliation promotion, Avoya Conversations text messaging technology, and the extremely successful educational and networking-focused virtual events Avoya hosted in 2020.
avoya spent much of 2020 focused on developing new technologies designed to streamline the selling process for Independent Agencies in the Avoya Network. Whether it was the Avoya Smart Leads program aimed at targeting existing customers who are most likely to book again, the best-in-class assets in the Marketing Resource Center geared toward engaging travelers on their next vacation plans, or access to more efficient methods of communication with travelers via Avoya Conversations, Avoya saw the investment in new optional resources for Independent Agencies culminate in a successful fourth quarter.
The virtual events hosted by Avoya in 2020 were focused on helping Independent Agencies in the Avoya Network prepare for the resumption of travel post-pandemic, including the new health and safety protocols of Avoya’s supplier partners and updates to their products. The robust lineup of networking opportunities at the events helped to cultivate lasting and collaborative relationships, a further boon to Avoya’s fourth quarter success.
Avoya is optimistic about its position of strength heading into 2021 and the recovery of the travel industry. “We’re extremely encouraged by the positive signs we’re starting to see surrounding the return of leisure travel and the momentum Avoya has gained going into 2021,” said Jeff Anderson, Co-President of Avoya Travel. “With the distribution of vaccines increasing every day, we’re confident that travelers are excited to get back out there and we’re ready to provide the world-class service Avoya is known for.”
Avoya also announced its schedule of future optional virtual events planned throughout 2021 for Independent Agencies in the Avoya Network, which will focus heavily on educational and professional development opportunities as well as Independent Agency and supplier networking. Currently planned online events include an Avoya Mastermind Academy from February 10-12, an Avoya Land Forum from May 4-7, and the annual Avoya Conference from December 6-10. Each of the events was hosted virtually for the first time in 2020 and received overwhelmingly positive feedback, leading to a return of the events in a virtual format for 2021. The demand for these events has been so high for the Avoya Network that the first Avoya Mastermind Academy for 2021 sold out the same day the event was announced to the Avoya Network.
