The 2025 Avoya Travel Conference was held onboard MSC World America earlier this month, and across the week-long sailing, more than 600 attendees participated in networking sessions, community building opportunities and educational workshops.
Marc Kazlauskas, who was named CEO of Avoya Travel in August, was inspired by the enthusiastic business building he witnessed at the event.
“The 2025 Avoya Travel Conference marked a defining moment for our company,” he said. “It was a week that reflected the best of Avoya — our community, our innovation and our commitment to driving unprecedented levels of advisor success in the years ahead."
Attendees were privy to an extra special conference session, too. Avoya staged its first-ever interview conducted in the style of “Hot Ones,” during which Kazlauskas posed questions to Phil Cappelli (chief sales officer for Avoya) and Mickey McBride (vice president of partnerships) as they ate incredibly spicy chicken wings.
Post conference, Kazlauskas, Cappelli and Sam McCauley, senior vice president of marketing for Avoya, hosted an online “Avoya Future Briefing” with media. They were also joined by Karl Treier, Avoya’s new chief technology officer. Here’s what we learned about what’s coming down the pipeline at Avoya Travel.
The Power of Tech
Kazlauskas kicked off the briefing by highlighting the historical strength of Avoya, including its proven track record of tremendous travel advisor support and sales. He credited some of that success to the “industry-leading technology” Avoya has long provided its affiliates, while also recognizing that the organization must continue to grow its offerings in an ever-advancing tech world.
“Technology is in our DNA, and here, we're going to double down,” Kazlauskas said. “We're going to build smarter systems, we're going to put [forth] faster automation. We want tech that doesn't just make our independent advisors [or IAs] work faster, but that makes them feel like the future is on their side every day."
To that end, Avoya announced a partnership with travel CRM company Tern while onboard MSC. Tern has rapidly become known for its itinerary and workflow tools, and Kazlauskas is eager to see how those tools bolster network agencies.
Chief tech officer Treier also shared that Avoya will make a “substantial increase in platform investments across technology and marketing.” As AI becomes a consistent part of travel advisor businesses, Avoya will increasingly incorporate AI in its platforms, driving “new interactive experiences for customers and enhanced experience in terms of itinerary building,” according to Treier. Avoya’s Agent Power platform will also debut an updated look and new interactive features that grow its efficiency. Advisors can expect to see new elements roll out into 2026.
Conference participants networked both onboard MSC World America and on shore excursions.
Credit: 2025 Avoya TravelExpanding What Avoya Sells
McCauley says that Avoya has been a very strong player in the cruise and land tour markets for a long time. Now, the goal is to increase Avoya’s share in markets such as air and luxury travel.
“You’re going to see Avoya forge some new ground, not just in expanding the portfolio product, but in moving up that value chain and that value ladder,” he said. “You're going to also see us strike some new partnerships and strategic alliances. We're going to go bigger than we ever have in 2026.”
Year-over-year data from Avoya shows market share growth already. At the conference, Avoya reported 92% growth in river cruise sales, a 69% jump in escorted tour sales and a 110% increase in air sales. McCauley says Avoya will invest increased marketing efforts (and dollars) in order to keep building product diversity and adding new partnerships to its portfolio.
Additionally, Kazlauskas says that Avoya will also continue to recruit new-to-the-industry advisors. New agents can dive into the field with help from Avoya’s training programs.
Prioritizing Culture
Kazlauskas may be new to the Avoya team, but he already sees the company’s culture as a feather in its cap — it’s a great place to work, he says, and it's also a great place to work for.
“No fake smiles, no spin — just respect, transparency and candid, consistent communication,” he said. “That’s how we treat each other."
Kazlauskas says Avoya staffers listen, act, then listen again. And that pattern moves the needle, making for happy employees, independent advisors and supplier partners. And happy people do better business.
