Following a year in which it recorded double-digit growth, luxury travel advisor group, Signature Travel Network has wrapped its 2024 annual conference with a record turnout, drawing 2,701 attendees to The Venetian in Las Vegas from 11-14 November.
Centred on this year’s theme, “Leveraging the Signature Advantage”, the event united members, media and industry experts for an action-packed four days of collaboration, workshops and networking.
Signature’s growth was front and centre, with 2024 financial year results showing a 15 per cent overall boost driven by cruise sales (up 19%), luxury land sales (up 14%) and specialist partnerships (up 17%). According to the group, forward bookings for 2025 are also promising, with river cruises leading at 23 per cent growth and guided vacations up by 19 per cent.
The conference included a memorable keynote from Bert Jacobs, co-founder of Life Is Good, alongside peer-to-peer roundtables, workshops and sessions focused on emerging tech for travel consultants.
Attendees, including 745 first-time advisors, also dived into key discussions on the latest travel booking data, innovation trends, and advisor success stories.
Among the event’s highlights was the welcome reception, which was sponsored by Tourism Australia.
Reflecting on Signature’s commitment to boosting advisor success, Signature Travel Network President and CEO Alex Sharpe said, “the Signature advantage is built on the foundation of our community’s collective strength”.
“When we come together, we create an environment where expertise is shared, relationships are strengthened and innovations flourish”.
Sharpe said this year’s conference represented “a vital opportunity for our members and partners to leverage their connections and collective knowledge to drive success and deliver exceptional travel experiences”.
Among those present at the event was a large contingent from TravelManagers Australia.
TravelManagers’ Operations Manager, Troy Coelho said seven out of TravelManagers’ ten representatives at the conference were first-time participants.
“We joined more than 2,700 attendees for a wide-ranging program that was designed to maximise networking and learning opportunities,” said Coelho, who described the event as an invaluable opportunity to interact with like-minded agents from around the world.
“It included peer-to-peer roundtables, interactive sessions and workshops that addressed the technological innovations shaping the future of travel consulting and marketing.”
JoAnne Weeks, Director of US-based Acendas, said the conference was “always a highlight of our year… where real collaboration happens”.
“From back-to-back supplier meetings to catching up with fellow advisors and diving into eye-opening workshops, every minute counts,” she remarked.
For more information on Signature Travel Network, visit https://www.sigtn.com.
Karryon Luxury caught up with Alex Sharpe on a recent visit to Australia, along with newly-appointed Managing Director AU/NZ, Lisa Harrison. Read that interview here.
