Avoya Travel, an American Express Travel Representative

I have been an Independent Agent since NOV 2016, so 2 years. I have attended two conferences, San Bernardo and Long Beach in my two years. # 1 is a POSITIVE ATTITUDE from every support person, MasterMind team, IT, Accounting, Avoya University, Marketing and others all present themselves with full access to assist in every manner. Always the consummate professionals. This all starts with the Andersons who respects us like family. Thanks to them all. # 2 is AGENT POWER AP6 is by far the most outstanding software to use. Do you remember when GOOGLE EARTH first appeared and what a wow that was, AP6 beats it hands down. My previous company, American Express Centurion we handled 5 applications to do what AP6 handles in seconds. The way it cross functions, updates are accepted across windows already open. It is a life saver! It is a daily pleasure to have my business under Avoya.

The technology is cutting edge. The program is easy to do. The support and trainers are just the best there are. I came in to this industry completely at zero knowledge but in less than 3 mos I feel so confident and happy about being part of this organization. They give me the right kind of push to get me going and the everything else just falls in place. Very happy with my decision to join.

I have had great experience working as an independent agent with Avoya Travel. They have Live Leads which helps in increasing your business, and have an excellent support staff who will help you with any issues you may have in conducting your business smoothly. They have an educational course which helps you tremendously if you are new to the travel industry. Their affiliation with American Express gives a boost to the reputation of your company. I am happy to have selected Avoya Travel as my host agency.

The Avoya team is amazing! The marketing is wonderful. AP is fantastic....and has saved me from making some very costly mistakes. The training you get from Avoya and the mastermind team is incredible, and best of all there is no cost. I tried to do this on my own, but there was no way I could get my business up and running. After a brief 2-3 year break I came back and have loved Avoya every since. I will stay with Avoya until I decide to retire and travel full time. I love AVOYA!

They are very Knowledgeable about keeping you up to date with all the travel industry. Have lots of webinars.

About a year and a half ago the reviews on this website were key in my choice of a host agency, so I think it is only fair to also leave one for others.
I was close to spending a significant amount of money on a cruise franchise, when luckily someone who had been in the business suggested I check out Host Agencies. A google search led me to this website. After my research and with the help of the information on this site, I narrowed it down to about 4 or 5 and spoke personally with representatives from all of those.
Although I had sales experience I had no travel industry experience.
All around I am extremely happy with my decision to join Avoya. Great "professional development" (they don't call it training), great support, and commissions are paid quickly. My mother had worked in the business before with another company and it was always a battle for her to get her commissions. This is not the case with Avoya. When Avoya gets paid, I get paid quickly and correctly.
There are more leads through the Avoya live lead system than I have time to take ( or work effectively.)
Most importantly to me is through Avoya, I can often get my clients great deals and exclusive promotions.
I have no reservation recommending Avoya to others.

Avoya University professional development courses and the advice from Avoya staff via webinars is amazing!

In this company it's all about moving up as long as you put in your work. And they are all about helping you succeed. Because we don't treat this like a business we treat it like family and in return we get those customers coming back because they know they can trust we will get the job done and take very good care of them.

I will try to be as simple as possible. The Avoya Network is great or at least has been for me... why??? for my surprise after I joined the network I was able to book not 1 but multiple cruises per day (when connected to live phone leads) to the point I still have reservations all the way to 2020, of course I should give credit to myself as I guess I may be a good sales man..??? well, I don't consider myself a sales man at all and don't want to be, however, I do strongly believe that if you love what you do your customers can feel it so there you go... the result.. the sale (I do have 20 yrs of customer service experience and I am a world cruiser). When I signed up with Avoya I was aware of the 70/30 commission rule which was ok for me (this is not my main income) as they do a lot of marketing to get those leads... however... here is the issue and please pay attention. When a customer books a vacation with you they will call you back and want to talk to you and so do you, right??? That customer normally will have questions and may need to make changes, special requests, etc .. of what I call a "Maintenance Call" to their reservation... here we go....at this point by the time you are done and customer go in their Vac... that 30% becomes like making $1.00 an hr or less sometimes as if you know this industry you can spend hours on the phone with the Vendors. Avoya call center does not help you at all with maintenance calls.... and WAIT... don't you dare to be unavailable... because if you are multiple times... let me tell you... DRAMA, DRAMA, DRAMA.... the call center/customer service line are instructed to open a "CSE" (Customer Service Event) to the agencies in the network and those CSE are bad for you... in my case and at this point I can say... the call center/customer service dept are in my "I don't like them"... they have opened on me so many CSE for even stupid minor things that don't even make sense...let me give you an example: Customer comes back from their cruise calls back to complain about their onboard acct....ONBOARD ACCT... that has nothing to do with the agency... guess what.. I got CSE... the other day... I claimed a live lead... I picked up the line.. couldnt hear the call center agent...she didnt call back.. there you go another CSE.... why is the call center doing all these..???? the answer is very easy management.... and the name of the manager is Steve Hirshan a very prepotent man and extremely PROPERLY RUDE... when I say properly rude.. I mean... he writes very nice but you can feel how prepotent he is by the way he expresses himself in writing.. you can actually even find replies from him in these reviews in which he uses caps on when replying to negative reviews (remember he is manager). I have never met Steve Hirshan neither never spoken with him on the phone and I have no desire to ever meet him or speak with him. Again, Avoya travel is great because of their leads but not because how it is managed, they have so much room for improvements. I was accused by Steve Hirshan that I booked an Avoya Customer with another company as I am affiliated with several major big companies (as I disclosed this since day 1). I explained to him that I did not book that customer, however, his reply once again as prepotent as he is... "yes you did... no confusion .. it is fact and I have no intention of offering you any further Avoya clients". One thing Steve Hirshan doesn't know is I am actually a network myself... and I did not book the customer in question but again... Steve Hirshan (God) is the manager so he has spoken. I really think in order for new agencies to keep making the Avoya Network as great as it is... Avoya Travel needs to get rid of Steve Hirshan... Avoya Travel/Netwwork is great because of their leads NOT because the way it is managed... leads generate income.. that's the bottom line so Steve Hirshan is not doing anything for those customers to call Avoya... the affiliated agencies are the ones who are performing the sale and with Steve Hirshan's management style is really a nightmare/road block to be within the Avoya Network. Avoya Travel/Network needs to revise their rules in commission and the call center/customer service should at least provide a little assistance to the agencies in the network, like taking payments or simple minor things which at the end help the affiliated agency and the customer. I am aware that we are Independent Agencies and that the call center doesn't work for us as I am sure that's what the prepotent Steve Hirshan will reply to this review... HOWEVER, Steve Hirshan.. our affiliation is no free of charge.. and the bottom line the one who will benefit the most on this is the Customer. Thank you!

Excellent host agency, with incredible people supporting you and the best program for booking and invoicing. Prompt payment to agents.