Signature Travel Network wrapped its annual Sales Meeting and Trade Show on Sunday, December 11, 2016 at the Mandalay Bay Resort in Las Vegas.
19 New Agencies
At the event Signature welcomed 19 new member agencies.
New members for 2016 included:
- Adelman Travel Services, Inc., Milwaukee, Wisconsin
- BCD Travel, Atlanta, Georgia
- Bursch Travel, Waite Park, Minnesota
- Casto Travel, San Jose, California
- Five Star Alliance, Washington, D.C.
- Four Corners Travel and Concierge Inc., Boca Raton, Florida
- Galaxy Travel & Cruises, Fort Lauderdale, Florida
- Gulliver’s Travel Service, Fort Worth, Texas
- Pennsylvania Travel Inc., Paoli, Pennsylvania
- Prestige Travel, Hazlet, New Jersey
- RubysTravel.com, LLC, Wayne, New Jersey
- The Travel Gallery, Tequesta, Florida
- Travel Central, Metairie, Louisiana
- Vista Travel, Colonia, New Jersey
- Windsor Travel, Houston, Texas
- World Travel Service, Tulsa, Oklahoma
New 2016 international affiliates:
- Corporate Travel Services (CTS), Mexico City, Mexico
- Embarque Turismo, Ribeirão Preto, Brazil
- Platinum Travel Corporation, Sydney, Australia
Signature’s objective is to connect members with each other and with supplier partners. Prospective domestic members must have $2 million in annual preferred cruise, tour, and insurance supplier sales and use ClientBaseand Res Cards, and are required to engage in Signature’s technology and marketing programs and maintain membership with the ASTA.
Organization to Underwrite Costs on Pocket Travel Consultant App
In tech news, Signature announced plans to significantly underwrite the member cost associated with its custom-designed Pocket Travel Consultant application, as well as improve its capabilities, at its annual Sales Meeting & Trade Show taking place in Las Vegas.
Using AXUS Travel App’s technology and interface, this mobile itinerary platform aims to strengthen communication between travel consultants and their clients during the planning stages, as well as throughout the actual trip.
“We are excited to announce that Signature Travel Network will reduce the annual price of its Pocket Travel Consultant app to as low as $20 per travel consultant,” said Karen Yeates, Signature’s executive vice president of information technologies, in a written release. “The regular price for a consultant seat with AXUS Travel App is more than $240 annually, so Signature’s significant investment in this program will provide a massive reduction in cost. I hope this change enables 100 percent of our consultants to engage.”
In addition to underwriting much of the member subscription cost, Signature Travel Network has invested in Pocket Travel Consultant by building an auto-import from its members’ CRM tool, ClientBase, so information can easily be transferred between the two platforms. Signature's destination guides, cruise itineraries, hotel descriptions, images and amenities were also added to this proprietary application.
This initiative falls in line with Signature Travel Network’s continued focus on expanding its mobile technology program by investing in the development of new tools, and its commitment to making resources more affordable for members to use, Signature said.
Launched in 2011, and then relaunched with AXUS Travel App in 2015, Pocket Travel Consultant features thousands of itineraries created by Signature members on a monthly basis. The innovative platform combines travel itineraries and destination information into one program. Additionally, air, hotel and car rental reservations are consolidated and presented to clients in a fully integrated format.
Pocket Travel Consultant makes it easy for travelers to stay on schedule, track flights and get directions, Signature said. In addition, it is a direct line to travel consultants, making it easy for clients to ask questions while traveling. Travelers can enable push notifications for schedule changes, as well as important announcements regarding security and weather updates. Since travel itineraries are stored in the application, it is easy for users to view past itineraries, collaborate with a travel consultant about future plans and share information with friends and family.
Over 2,200 Signature members and preferred supplier partners are meeting at the event to learn, network and explore new opportunities within the travel industry.
Expanded Hotel Program for 2017
Finally, the company provided a preview of its expanded hotels and resorts program.
The 2017 collection has 978 hotels, resorts, lodges and spas in 460 unique destinations worldwide. In total, 77 new hotels and resorts have joined the collection for 2017, which represents an 8 percent increase year over year.
All participating hotels offer a suite of complimentary benefits including breakfast for two daily, Wi-Fi and a special Signature benefit, such as a $100 hotel/resort credit, lunch/dinner for two, once during each stay, spa treatments, airport transfers or other privileges. These Signature benefits are in addition to late check-out, early check-in, upgrades based on availability and preferential rates.
Signature’s 2017 hotels and resorts directory was released on December 5, 2016. The new hotel directory is customized for Signature member agencies, as well as the 25,000+ pages of proprietary online content available to front-line consultants and consumers through members’ websites. The program also includes its own proprietary booking engine.
Notable additions to Signature’s preferred program include city hotel properties such as Baccarat Hotel New York, D’Angleterre Copenhagen, The Eden Hotel Rome, Grand Hyatt Melbourne, The Beaumont Hotel London, TAJ Cape Town, W Bogotá, Mandarin Oriental Singapore, Peninsula Beijing, Hotel Neri Barcelona, Dewberry Charleston, The Chatwal New York, Ritz-Carlton Georgetown, Pendry San Diego, InterContinental Lisbon, Hotel Splendid Venice, The Strand Yangon, Leela Palace New Delhi, Thompson Seattle, Langham Chicago, and other notable properties. For travelers seeking countryside retreats, Signature added Mont Rochelle Hotel in South Africa’s Cape Winelands, Killarney Park in Southwest Ireland, Casa da Calçada in Portugal’s Douro Valley, The Salamander Resort in Middleburg VA, and Castello di Casole in Tuscany, among several notable additions.
Addressing renewed client interest in activity and adventure, Signature added Anantara Golden Triangle in Thailand, The Leela Udaipur India, explora Valle Sagrado in Peru, Amanemu in Shima Japan, Hacienda AltaGracia in Costa Rica, and other lodges and retreats worldwide. Signature also announced the addition of resorts such as Zemi Beach House in Anguilla, Park Hyatt St. Kitts, Seafire in Grand Cayman, El Mangroovein Costa Rica, Grand Hotel Miramare and Grand Hotel Excelsior Vittoria in Italy, the new Grand Velasresort in Los Cabos, Puente Romano resort in Spain’s Costa del Sol, and the recently opened Andaz Scottsdale AZ.