Avoya Travel®, an American Express Travel representative and one of the leading travel companies in North America and beyond, today announced the success of its recent National Conference, which provided a high-energy and motivational forum for its professional Network of Independent Agencies and Preferred Suppliers. Entitled Passport to Innovation, the sold-out conference revealed a new series of developments that offer advantages for travel professionals and consumers, and celebrated the continued success of Avoya’s Independent Agencies and Preferred Suppliers.

Held both in New Jersey and onboard Norwegian Cruise Line’s Breakaway out of New York, Avoya brought together a record number of Independent Agencies, Preferred Suppliers, and top industry leaders, along with Avoya Executives and Support Staff. The programming was centered on the theme of innovation and attendees participated in Avoya’s largest ever trade show, small-group learning sessions, seminars, networking, and were among the first to experience the groundbreaking Norwegian Breakaway.

“Avoya Travel is constantly creating ways to enhance the vacation experience for travelers, Independent Agencies, and Preferred Suppliers, and it was rewarding to reveal so many groundbreaking advancements at our National Conference,” said Brad Anderson, Co-President of Avoya Travel. “It was also an honor to sail onboard the brand-new Norwegian Breakaway and partner with Norwegian Cruise Line, a company that shares our drive to be innovators and leaders in the travel industry.”

Avoya revealed several pioneering developments, including updates to Avoya’s patent-pending and exclusive Live Leads™ program and Agent Power™, its proprietary Travel Agency Operating System™ that helps travel experts be more efficient and provide travelers with exclusive vacation deals. In addition, Avoya unveiled enhancements to its consumer website and impending plans to expand its vacation options. The company also shared its new Avoya Academy™, an in-depth and in-person educational program for Independent Agencies.

“Avoya Travel continuously innovates and invests in the vacation experience, both for travelers and its travel experts, so it was an honor to host their elite Network of Independent Agencies onboard Norwegian Breakaway,” said Andy Stuart, Executive Vice President, Global Sales and Passenger Services for Norwegian Cruise Line. “We deeply admire Avoya’s integrity and have been thrilled by the extraordinary and ongoing growth of Avoya Travel.”

At Avoya’s conference, the company also recognized the accomplishments of its Network, including the newly created ‘President’s Circle’. This awards elite Avoya Independent Agencies producing more than two million dollars in sales annually, which according to the 2012 Home Agent Market Survey only about 1.1 percent of agencies achieve. Avoya also honored a record number of top producing ‘Best of the Best’ Independent Agencies for their exemplary customer service and overall excellence in sales exceeding one million dollars. More than $150,000 in reward prizes from Preferred Suppliers were given to attendees, including those Independent Agencies with top sales for each of Avoya’s Preferred Suppliers.