Advisor Speak

Recommend Standard Image TemplateAmerican Marketing Group—Stepping into the New Year Stronger, Bolder, BrighterBy Paloma Villaverde de RicoAmerican Marketing Group (AMG)—parent company to such brands as TRAVELSAVERS, the Affluent Traveler Collection and NEST (there are 19 brands in total)—is not only celebrating 50 years of partnering with you, but it’s also looking to the future with a “stronger, bolder and brighter” vision. As Nicole Mazza, the group’s CMO, noted during the company’s recent conference, which took place in Las Vegas, “Together with our advisors and partners, we’ve accomplished so much over the years. Our philosophy is firmly anchored by our family culture…. What Rick Mazza started 50 years ago serving the travel agency community has continued to grow thanks to innovation, creativity, service, technology and our people, which has contributed to our success and will pilot us for the next 50 years.” In fact, adds Mazza, “We’re rebuilding an industry today that is thriving like never before.” She points to the fact that AMG affiliates of TRAVELSAVERS US and Canada as well as NEST brought in new agencies representing $480 million in preferred supplier sales. As Kathryn Mazza-Burney, chief sales officer, notes, sales are on the upswing and the momentum is strong for 2023, because when it comes to who is invited into the AMG family, “we’re not looking for everybody and anybody. We need to make sure that the accounts we’re bringing on are the right accounts; that they’re going to utilize our products and services, that they’re going to utilize our preferred suppliers, and we’ve seen some great success.” This year looks quite strong, says Mazza. “Currently, within our affluent space [in 2022] we’re at 93 percent of where we were for 2019. We’re trending in Q1 of 2023 to be 110 percent of where we were in 2019. We’re really excited about the growth we’re seeing in the years to come.” In fact, projections within the organization are robust for all travel types with year-over-year growth for insurance at 63 percent, hotel revenue at 40 percent and room nights at 24 percent, cruise sales at 29 percent, land at 24 percent and cruise group sales at 15 percent. Land travel has seen the largest increase with Europe and domestic destinations trending the highest with 50+ percent growth. This optimistic forward trend is due, in large part, to the strong ties the advisors feel to AMG as the organization truly offers a plethora of tools to help you be successful. For instance, in November 2021, AMG launched KORE, a comprehensive training program designed to educate those new to the industry. “Education is key to the integrity of this industry,” says Mazza-Burney. “Our team is focused on educating new advisors.” Adds Steve Phillips, sr. director of education and training, “The travel industry is growing again and currently its growth is outpacing current staff levels. KORE was designed to solve that dilemma.” And adding to its already robust verticals is NEST Plus, which was created by the people at NEST (Network for Entrepreneurs Selling Travel) to offer independent contractors the opportunity to do business in a hosted environment. Advisors keep up to 95 percent commission and have a dedicated Business Analyst to support their business goals. “We had advisors that were coming to us that were looking at different models. This was not a vertical that we had in our group. We’re trying to ensure that whatever your business model is, we have the product for you,” says Mazza. She adds to that her father, Rick Mazza, the company founder, is “probably the biggest visionary I know and there’s always another brand that he’s thinking about.”Your Peers Are Saying…Karen Krugliak, owner/manager of Brit Olom Tours, Inc., a member of the Affluent Traveler Collection, says what she likes about AMG is that “it’s a family. They know me; they’re accessible; they’re very forward-thinking. Being part of the Affluent Traveler Collection, which is a very boutique collection, I’m not one of thousands of agents, and I feel like the support is the best it could be for me because I am part of the AMG family. “I like the [2022] conference slogan, ‘stronger, bolder, brighter’ because [our agency] went through a really tough time and I feel AMG was there every step of the way, giving us encouragement and saying this too will pass and we’re going to be prepared to support you on the other side of this. I’m super excited about the future.”

COVEREXPLORA JOURNEYSTable of ContentsPALLADIUMPALLADIUM SPREADEditor's NotesSANDALSSANDALS SPREADIndustry InsightsPALLADIUM 1Advisor SpeakSpecial Section: Cruising into 2023Onboard Review: 10 Top Hits on Board Celebrity BeyondOnboard Review: Virgin’s Valiant Lady—For the Young at HeartOnboard Review: MSC Seascape—A Peek Inside MSC Cruises’ Newest ShipSEABOURN SCSEABOURN CRUISESEXPLORA JOURNEYS SCLove & Luxury in Mexico and the CaribbeanAn Interview with Frank Maduro: Advisors are Key for KarismaAn Interview with Armin Asceric: SunSwept Resorts Delivers in the Wellbeing SegmentSANDALS SCEMPORIO CANCUN SCEMPORIO CANCUNSAINT LUCIA SCSAINT LUCIAOnsite Review: Palladium & Wyndham Couple UpGlobal: G’day, Mates—Three Tour Operators Talk Down UnderOnsite Review: QatarGOWAY TRAVEL SCEDU HOUSE ADAMERICAN CRUISE LINES