Over the past few years, serving as a leader in the travel industry has required more dedication, innovation, insight and enthusiasm than ever — the exact qualities that TravelAge West recognizes each year with its Excellence in Leadership Awards, part of the WAVE (Western Agents Votes of Excellence) Awards.
Alex Sharpe, Signature Travel Network
This year, TravelAge West is celebrating the incredible contributions and accomplishments of Alex Sharpe, president and CEO of Signature Travel Network.
With 25 years in the travel industry, Sharpe has put his extensive experience to good use for Signature since 2011, when he joined the network as executive vice president and chief operating officer. In 2013, he became president and CEO of the member-led travel co-operative, which comprises top-tier agencies and more than 11,000 advisors, resulting in more than $10 billion in annual sales.
“Humbled would be an understatement,” Sharpe said of his reaction to receiving the award. “After seeing what our owners and advisors have done to persevere through the last two years, it’s hard to think I deserve any award. I am accepting it on behalf of our Signature staff and Board of Directors, who all gave so tirelessly to our members and partners. Service is sometimes the best form of leadership, and that was our focus.”
Signature’s Alex Sharpe (left) and Anthony Carnevale of Northstar Travel Group at the WAVE Awards
Credit: 2022 Volker CorellFurther emphasizing that dedication to service, Sharpe also recently led the formation of Travel Elevates, the charitable arm of Signature Travel Network, which supports education and economic empowerment in travel destinations around the world.
“Travel has opened the world to me and — maybe more importantly — to my kids, helping to make them more empathetic and thoughtful members of society,” Sharpe said. “My role at Signature, especially as a co-operative, has allowed me to do what feels most natural: serve. We serve our members, partners and our fellow coworkers, and that has indeed created friends for life and helped define and provide meaning to everything I do.”
Jackie Friedman, Nexion Travel Group
Many travel industry professionals have shown truly remarkable leadership during this extraordinary and unprecedented time — but few more than this year’s Excellence in Leadership Award winner Jackie Friedman, president of Nexion Travel Group. In fact, her efforts during the pandemic helped Nexion bring in more than 1,000 new members, quite a feat in one of travel’s toughest times.
“Being a good leader certainly is easier when times are good,” Friedman said. “The true test is when we face adversity. I have learned that open communication and transparency are key to helping the team face the challenges head on, and I am so proud of the people I work with. I am truly blessed.”
Friedman started her career as a frontline travel advisor in Canada. Since moving into management roles, she has become known as the “godmother of travel advisors,” thanks to her success in recruiting new advisors to the industry and her dedication to helping them flourish as entrepreneurs.
In addition to leading Nexion since 2007, Friedman serves as the dean for the Travel Leaders of Tomorrow advisor training program; as president of the Family Bonds Foundation (an initiative to help those in the industry and community who are in need); as vice chair of the Board of Directors for the American Society of Travel Advisors; and as director for The Travel Institute Board of Trustees. She is also part of parent company Internova Travel Group’s Executive Leadership Team and championed the Veterans in Travel scholarship program.
“I am truly honored to receive this prestigious Excellence in Leadership award from TravelAge West,” Friedman said. “They say that when you love what you do, it does not feel like work, and most days I agree with that 100%. The travel industry gets into your blood, and there is no cure. I have been doing this for almost 40 years, and I couldn’t imagine doing anything else. Although I am being recognized here, I share it with all the frontline advisors who endured the most challenging few years our industry has faced. They demonstrated leadership and courage, and they inspire me every day.”
