Nexion Celebrates 20 Years
Nexion®, the travel industry’s premier host travel agency, is proud to announced that it is celebrating the company’s 20-year anniversary throughout 2015. Nexion’s announcement is especially compelling as today also marks the 20th anniversary since U.S. airlines first capped – and then cut – travel agency commissions. Nexion’s proven success demonstrates the perseverance and growing importance of independent travel agent professionals in an ever-changing industry.
“It’s no coincidence that Nexion first emerged in the wake of airline commission cuts. Travel agencies were left questioning their business model, and Nexion’s primary focus initially was to offer agencies an alternative to managing their own ARC fulfillment and GDS contract commitments,” stated Nexion President Jackie Friedman, CTC, CTIE. “Nexion provided a solution that enabled agents with new options for their business and the flexibility to work wherever and whenever they wanted to better serve their clientele. We’ve continued to evolve as we’ve anticipated where the market and direction of our industry had been heading. Nexion has always been incredibly receptive to change in order to ensure the success of our agents. Twenty years later, Nexion still offers tremendous opportunity for agents who want to sell airline tickets.”
During the past two decades, Nexion has transformed the way independent travel agent professionals are defined and viewed among both industry professionals and suppliers. With more than 3,300 independent, leisure and corporate travel professionals – many of whom joined Nexion from an established brick-and-mortar travel agency – Nexion continues to be seen as an industry frontrunner and thought leader.
Nexion attributes the trend of professionalism among independent travel agents to the technology, training, events and marketing programs that Nexion continues to provide its agents. This includes extensive training on how to sell air and increase air bookings. In addition, SNAP! (Simple Nexion Air Program) launched in 2011, offers agents a dynamic, easy-to-use, non-GDS booking platform for air, car, hotel and rail reservations. However, Nexion agents can also service their corporate and leisure customers through Amadeus, Apollo, Sabre and Worldspan GDS systems. As a result of the robust contracts Nexion has in place with supplier partners, agents have the opportunity to earn significant commissions on their bookings.
Friedman continued, “In addition to all the experienced, long-time travel agent professionals who have migrated to Nexion over the past 20 years, there are agencies that have retained their brick-and-mortar locations but have chosen to affiliate with Nexion in order to manage their air fulfillment. Our average sale per agent increased 9.9 % in 2014, as compared to 2013. We are in sync with our agents and work together to grow our mutual businesses; it takes a lot of trust, but the results continue to prove beneficial.”
“When we first joined Nexion in 2000, we were able to hit the ground running due to all of the supplier partner contacts Nexion provided to us. Throughout the years, Nexion has continued to develop and strengthen the relationship they have with suppliers and advocate on behalf of its agents,” said Nancy Grant of Pleasanton Travel Inc. in Pleasanton, CA. “Nexion has always been working one step ahead of our needs, and they constantly deliver excellence. Nexion has made all the difference in terms of success for our agency, and we are so happy that we joined up with such a great team!”
As Nexion staff and agents reflect on the strong foundation that has been established – including the creation of Nexion Canada in 2013 – there is also much to look forward to, including its CoNexion 2015 annual convention, taking place aboard Norwegian Cruise Line’s Norwegian Getaway, September 26 through October 3, 2015. This will be the first time in Nexion’s history that its largest and most-influential meeting will be held at sea.
“The momentum heading into our 20th year is huge. We have so many great surprises and announcements in store for our agents; this year is sure to be NEXceptional,” said Friedman.
Independent travel professionals and small non-ARC brick-and-mortar agencies interested in learning more about how to Be NEX and succeed as a professional business owner, backed by Nexion’s many great benefits are encouraged to call 800-747-6813 or email [email protected]
