Nexion named Host Agency Partner of the Year; Travel Leaders Network Honored as a 50-year ASTA Member

NEW YORK, N.Y. (August 29, 2018) – At the recent 2018 ASTA  Global Convention, Travel Leaders Group businesses received two notable accolades from the organization. Nexion was named Host Agency Partner of the Year and Travel Leaders Network was celebrated for over 50 years of ASTA membership.

Nexion, a leading host agency for independent travel professionals, was named ASTA’s Host Agency Partner of the Year. The annual award is given to a host agency that has gone above and beyond in supporting ASTA to advance its mission to promote and defend the travel agency community. In presenting Nexion with the award, Ann Chamberlin, Senior Vice President at ASTA, pointed to the company’s growth in ASTA members, the institution of a monthly payment plan for ASTA membership fees and serving ASTA on the executive level.

“Nexion amazes us in the way they go above and beyond each time ASTA has a call for action,” Chamberlin remarked. “From the top down, they are committed to helping us elevate the travel industry and travel agents. We congratulate them on being the Host Agency Partner of the Year.”

Jackie Friedman, CTC, CTIE, President of Nexion said, “ASTA is an organization vital to travel agents and we strongly encourage our members to join ASTA and become involved on the local and national levels. Over the years, ASTA has provided excellent training and support to Nexion members and we are thrilled to be honored as their Host Agency Partner of the Year.”

Travel Leaders Network, another Travel Leaders Group company, was honored by ASTA for its more than 50-year membership in the organization.

“At Travel Leaders Network, we believe that supporting our broader industry through active participation in ASTA makes our company stronger,” said Roger Block, CTC, President of Travel Leaders Network. “Factoring in our predecessor companies, we have had a five-decade association with ASTA and it has been a very fruitful, mutually beneficial relationship. We are looking forward to the next 50 years!”

ASTA also marked a change in board leadership at the convention. Outgoing chair Jay Ellenby and incoming chair David Hershberger are both Travel Leaders Network members.

Travel Leaders Group CEO Ninan Chacko, CTC, commented on the leadership change as well as ASTA’s name change. “Travel Leaders Group is proud of its strong and continuing support of ASTA,” said Chacko. “We congratulate David Hershberger of the Travel Leaders location in Cincinnati, Ohio, on his new role as chair of ASTA and thank Jay Ellenby of the Travel Leaders location in Bel Air, Maryland, for his dedicated service and leadership as chair. These two industry leaders and travel advisors are outstanding examples of the thousands of travel professionals who make up our extraordinary industry and exemplify the smart thinking behind ASTA’s name change to the American Society of Travel Advisors.”

About Travel Leaders Group
Travel Leaders Group (www.travelleadersgroup.com) is transforming travel with a commitment to our vacation and business travel clients through our progressive approach toward each unique travel experience. Having already assisted millions of travelers, Travel Leaders Group manages leisure, business and franchise travel operations under a variety of diversified divisions and brands. With over 7,000 agency locations, Travel Leaders Group ranks as one of the industry’s largest traditional travel agency companies.

2018: Year of the Travel Agent
Travel Leaders Group has named 2018 Year of the Travel Agent. Over the last decade, the travel agency industry has flourished through technology, the growth of travel options and personalized service. Travel Leaders Group represents more than 52,000 travel agents with unmatched expertise in 135,000 destinations and 53,000 areas of interest. Travelers and suppliers have rediscovered the value a professional travel advisor delivers to the travel experience. Travel agents help to move people around the world, and keep our economy growing.