Ignacio Maza’s passion for far-flung places has inspired his career as executive vice president of Signature Travel Network, a consortium of travel agencies. As well, his self-admitted sense of wanderlust for travel near and far has taken him to more than 100 countries. He’s sailed on 80-plus cruise ships.
Travel advisor burnout is a real concern in the industry today. Monika Leuenberger, president of Avenues of the World Travel in Flagstaff, Ariz., well knows that. She called it a "huge issue" in the industry, one that has driven capable people to different careers.
Luxury Travel Advisor recently caught up with Ignacio Maza, executive vice president of the Signature Travel Network, to get his intel in how luxury travel advisors can create sophisticated itineraries for demanding clients.
Signature Travel Network celebrated members’ service, collaboration and sales excellence at its annual conference in Las Vegas, Nevada. As many as 30 individuals were honored as part of the network’s 2022 Advisor Recognition Awards. Additionally, awards were presented to eight individuals who were recognized by their colleagues and preferred partners for their excellence in the areas of sales, service, mentorship, innovation, and giving back to communities around the world through travel.
At Signature Travel Network’s 2022 conference, Monika Leuenberger of Avenues of the World Travel, Flagstaff, Arizona, was awarded the Michelle Morgan Leadership Award. In 2013, Signature Travel Network’s board of directors chose to create a Michelle Morgan Leadership Award as a way to honor the memory and work of Morgan and to recognize other travel industry professionals who embody the qualities that made her successful in both her professional and personal life.
Last week, more than 2,100 people attended the annual Signature Travel Network Conference, which took place at The Venetian Resort Hotel Casino in Las Vegas. Attendees included about 1,300 travel advisors — with nearly 400 attending the event for the first time — along with more than 800 preferred partner attendees that included representatives from 45 new network partner companies. Attendance well exceeded 2021’s conference.
By KENNETH SHAPIRO
November 9, 2022
Signature Travel Network is celebrating its members and partners at its annual 2022 Conference at The Venetian in Las Vegas, which kicked off yesterday, Nov. 8, and will end on Friday, Nov. 11. The theme for this year’s event is “Together” to celebrate the strong partnerships and collaboration that fueled the industry’s recovery coming out of the pandemic and is contributing to its collective growth into the future.
Michelle and Belinda Crews launched Elevations Travel in 2019. Both had been working at an Atlanta agency for many years; Belinda as the office manager and Michelle as a top-producing luxury travel advisor. Throughout their tenure, the two had the vision that with their combined skills they could create an independent, profitable, boutique-size business together.
