Signature Reports Growth and Member Gains

travel agentWith seven new agencies and strong sales over the past year, Signature Travel Network reports it enters 2014 with a positive outlook and renewed focus on member engagement. The network now includes 215 member agencies with 417 retail locations throughout the United States and Canada. Collectively, Signature members generated over $5 billion in annual travel sales. the group says.

New members added in 2013:

  • Divine Destination Weddings, Granite Bay, CA 
  • Hill Barrett Travel, Woodinville, WA 
  • Jet Set World Travel, Inc., Chicago, IL
  • Kathleen Stahl Travel Services, Des Moines, IA
  • Maupin Travel, Inc., Raleigh, NC 
  • Travel Machine, Lafayette, LA
  • A Way To Go Travel, Greensboro, NC

Effective January 1, 2014:

  • Conlin Travel, Ann Arbor, MI

“Over the course of 2013, our network enjoyed tremendous growth in terms of membership and collective sales. We directly attribute this success to the strong relationships that we have with our members." said Signature president Alex Sharpe

Signature also said it is adding staff to its Member Services Department. Additions include a Member Engagement Manager and will be effective by the first quarter of next year.

Recently, at its annual Sales Meeting Signature announced a host of new initiatives to grow the company. Top news included 75 new preferred suppliers, tips for targeting millennials and an expanded hotels and resorts program. 

RELATED: Top News From the Signature Sales Meeting (SLIDESHOW)

Signature also elected a new board at its Owners' Meeting back in September. 

RELATED: Signature Travel Elects New Board at Owners' Meeting

Comments offered by Signature member agents include: 

Christopher U. Conlin, president, Conlin Travel, Inc., explained why he joined the network. “By joining Signature, we now have an organization that is fully dedicated to helping us manage our leisure clients. Signature has truly figured out how to mine our leisure database and overlay it with demographic and psychographic data, allowing us to target specific customers with very specific offerings. Also, many of the daily, but time consuming, leisure travel agent tasks are now automated, making each agent much more efficient and effective at their job.  Of course, the list of preferred vendors is just right for our customers, and the favorable arrangements Signature has negotiated helps our bottom line. The staff at Signature are wonderful to work with, and they truly become part of your company.”
 
Julia P. Douglas, president, Jet Set World Travel, Inc., said: “Our affinity to Signature ultimately stemmed from the ‘cooperative’ model and mentality. The needs of the membership are truly represented and fulfilled in every initiative. We find this to be especially pertinent in their technology tools; the efficiencies Signature has created for their membership through Client Reach and Hotel Connection are unparalleled.” 

Douglas continued: “The variety of marketing materials and activities offered ensure we have something suitable for every client in our database. Additionally, the cost to participate in Signature’s marketing campaigns is very competitive, allowing us to more fully utilize the arsenal of product and measure traction. Ultimately, Signature feels like a family. The investment of the executive personnel is represented by their tenure, responsiveness, expertise and genuine relationship with the membership.”

Visit www.SignatureTravelNetwork.com