TravelAge West
Search Sponsored by

Explore TravelAge West

Destinations

Back
  • Africa & Middle East
  • Asia & South Pacific
  • Caribbean
  • Central & South America
  • Europe
  • Hawaii
  • Mexico
  • USA & Canada

Travel Types

Back
  • Family
  • Adventure
  • Cruise
  • River Cruise
  • Tour Operators
  • Luxury
  • Hotels
  • Culinary
  • Romance
  • Wellness
  • Sustainability

Directories

Back
  • Hotels
  • Cruise
  • Job Seeker Center

Interactive

Back
  • Click & Win
  • Geo Quiz
  • Slideshows & Video

Professional Development

Back

Industry Insight

  • Business Features
  • Interviews
  • Events
  • Opinion
  • Tech
  • Podcasts
  • Coronavirus and Travel
  • Need to Know Research

Education

  • Certifications
  • Digital Guides
  • Fams
  • Thought Leadership
  • Advertiser Spotlight
  • Webinars
  • Quick Q's

Events

  • Global Travel Marketplace
  • GTM West
  • WAVE Awards
  • Future Leaders in Travel Retreat

Get Us in Your Inbox

I accept the T&C and Privacy Policy.

Search TravelAge West

Clear Field
Kelly Rosenfeld // (c) 2012 Kelly Rosenfeld
Kelly RosenfeldSenior Editor

Share

  1. Home
  2. Events

Signature Travel Network Touts a Positive Future for Agency Members at Owners’ Meeting

Sep 13, 2021
Consortia/Host Agencies  Coronavirus  Events  Travel Agents  
Signature Travel Network Touts a Positive Future for Agency Members at Owners’ Meeting
Signature shared positive signs for the future, including new members and increased sales, during its recent Owners’ Meeting.
Credit: 2021 Rawpixel.com/stock.adobe.com

Optimism and resilience were the main themes on display during Signature Travel Network’s 2021 Owners’ Meeting, with a general session held Sept. 10 that featured updates on the network’s technology, marketing, events and training efforts, as well as a look at luxury travel trends and overall company progress.

Alex Sharpe, president and CEO of Signature, delivered the good news of Signature’s recent growth, having added 33 members since its 2019 Owners’ Meeting, bringing the network’s total to 210 members in the U.S. and 71 international agencies. Signature also added 115 new hotel partners in 2020 and 80 in 2021, many of which are located in the U.S., reflecting increasing demand for domestic travel and a greater focus on land options. And member portfolio cruise sales have increased 54.4%, with land rising by 10%.

While he noted that 2021 bookings have fallen off a bit due to the Delta variant of COVID-19 — which also caused Signature to switch the meeting from an in-person event in Hawaii to a virtual update — the outlooks for 2022 and 2023 are more positive. In addition, the company is focused on helping its members navigate the continuing uncertainties of the time, with increased training opportunities to address challenges such as ever-changing international travel restrictions, rules and regulations. 

Virtual events have been another high point for Signature during the pandemic, generating 2,700 bookings with over $35 million in revenue. 

RELATED: Signature Travel Network Offers New Tools and Resources to Help Partners Boost Business

Get Us in Your Inbox

I accept the T&C and Privacy Policy.

Looking ahead, the company plans to invest further in the luxury sector. Ignacio Maza, Signature’s executive vice president, shared trends from this market, where strong pent-up demand, growth in discretionary savings and a new outlook on life are combining to make travel a top demand.

“Once in a lifetime is now,” he said,  summing up the mindset of today’s affluent traveler.

Overall, a great deal of flexibility is still needed to navigate the ongoing challenges of the travel-planning landscape, but Signature executives all expressed confidence in the future of the industry and the company.

“Signature’s strength and advantage has always been our dynamic, diverse and nimble membership working with the top partners in the industry,” Sharpe said. “The past 18 months have shown these attributes and partnerships to be critical in not just weathering the storm, but ensuring our owners, members and Signature team are well-positioned to quickly capitalize on the recovery. We are moving full-speed ahead, even if there may be a few speed bumps in our path.” 

During the Owners’ Meeting, Signature also elected a new board of directors. Olga Placeres of Preferred Travel of Naples in Naples, Fla., succeeds retiring board chair Eric Maryanov, while Scott Caddow of Legendary World in Las Vegas is the board’s vice chair. A treasurer, secretary and seven directors were also appointed to the 2021/2022 board. 

The Details
Signature Travel Network

Tell Us What You Think! forum

Related Content

Travel Advisors Head to Chicago for ASTA’s Global Convention

Travel Advisors Head to Chicago for ASTA’s Global Convention

  • Most Read
  • Most Shared
  1. Brightline to Orlando Has Officially Opened
  2. Top 10 Wellness Retreats in Mexico for Travelers
  3. Review: Norwegian Viva
  4. 3 Can't-Miss Outdoor Activities Near New Orleans
  5. Is All of Maui Closed? These Officials and Businesses Say “No.”
  1. Brightline to Orlando Has Officially Opened
  2. On the Ground in Maui: Signature’s Owners’ Meeting Highlights ‘Respectful, Compassionate’ Tourism to the Island
  3. Review: Norwegian Viva
  4. A Complete Guide to This Year's Theme Park Halloween Celebrations
  5. Go, Postpone, Cancel or Move Maui Travel? Advisors Share How They're Managing Upcoming Bookings

From Our Partners

TravelAge West

About TravelAge West

  • About Us
  • Contributors
  • Sales Team
  • Contact Us
  • My Profile

Advertise

  • Advertise With Us
  • Write For US
  • Media Kit
  • Upload Ad Material
  • Digital Ad Specifications
  • Reprints
  • Subscribe to Print

Stay Connected to TravelAge West

Get Us in Your Inbox

I accept the T&C and Privacy Policy.


Northstar Travel Group

Northstar Travel Group

  • Travel Weekly
  • Travel Weekly Asia
  • Travel Weekly China
  • TravelPulse
  • TravelPulse Canada
  • TravelPulse Quebec
  • Meetings & Incentives
  • Travel Technology
  • Corporate Travel
  • Hotel Investment
  • Data Products
  • AGENTatHOME

Copyright © 2023 Northstar Travel Media, LLC. All Rights Reserved. 301 Route 17 N, Suite 1150, Rutherford, NJ 07070 USA | Telephone: (201) 902-2000

Load Carousel Here
Load Video Here