Headquarter Happenings: TRAVELSAVERS and NEST Outline High-Touch Growth, Tech Upgrades, and Practical AI at Travel Market

Emphasizing intentional network growth, strategic technological integration, and the irreplaceable role of human advisors, leadership from TRAVELSAVERS and NEST gathered with agency owners and preferred partners in San Antonio for the Travel Market conference, held last week at the JW Marriott San Antonio Hill Country Resort & Spa.

Addressing attendees during a joint press conference and executive panel on Friday, leaders outlined double-digit growth expectations, strict network selectivity, and a suite of new technology and lead-generation tools designed to simplify back-of-house operations-giving advisors more room to focus on high-value selling.

“Our innovation strategy has always been laser-focused on helping advisors grow stronger, more profitable businesses while delivering exceptional value to travelers,” said Nicole Mazza, Chief Marketing Officer of TRAVELSAVERS and NEST.

“For more than 56 years, we’ve developed solutions that help agencies sell more and operate more efficiently. We’re building on that legacy today with powerful new tools, expanded partnerships, and advanced marketing capabilities that give our advisors a competitive advantage now and into the future.”

Selective Growth Over Sheer Numbers

Despite high industry demand for consortia affiliations, TRAVELSAVES and NEST executives emphasized that quality, advisor engagement, and protected territories remain prioritized over network volume.

Kathryn Mazza-Burney, Chief Sales Officer of TRAVELSAVERS and President of NEST, told the press that TRAVELSAVERS U.S. maintains a strict geographic cap of one agency per 50,000 population. The network currently stands at 1,600 U.S. agencies, having added five new leisure-focused agencies in 2026 representing $78.9 million in preferred sales. The gains build on momentum from 2025, when 11 agencies joined the network, bringing $86.9 million in preferred partner sales.

“We’re selective-we don’t open up the network to everybody,” Mazza-Burney said. “We’re looking for the ones who are looking to be connected and engaged in the network. For us, it’s all about engagement. If you’re not engaged, you’re not going to be profitable.”

Mazza-Burney pointed to broader macro trends fueling advisor demand, noting that travel has expanded into a $12 trillion global industry projected by the World Travel & Tourism Council to reach $17.1 trillion by 2036. Phocuswright data further shows that more than 25 percent of travel bookings are made through agencies as travelers seek professional guidance for increasingly complex itineraries.

“Savvy travelers are discovering that booking through an advisor results in a superior experience,” Mazza-Burney said. “Agencies are looking for a network that helps them capture this growing demand, and that’s exactly what TRAVELSAVERS delivers. We empower advisors to grow faster, operate more efficiently, and create exceptional experiences for their clients.”

Meanwhile, TRAVELSAVERS Canada encompasses 325 agencies, adding 10 new agencies in 2026 that generated $87 million in preferred sales.

On the home-based side, NEST now exceeds 500 agencies after bringing on 36 new high-producing home-based agencies in 2026 representing $91 million in preferred sales. NEST maintains a strict production threshold requiring agencies to generate at least $500,000 in preferred business.

Financial Momentum and New Preferred Partners

Building on a 15% revenue increase in 2025, network sales across TRAVELSAVERS and NEST in 2026 significantly outpaced the previous year across almost every segment.

Ocean cruise and river cruise sales both jumped 14%, FIT land sales grew 7%, guided tours rose 8%, and overall hotel room nights increased 8%-headlined by a 28% year-over-year surge in Mexico room nights. Looking ahead, 2027 bookings are already pacing in the double digits across most travel segments.

To help advisors capitalize on evolving demand, the networks expanded their preferred portfolio to over 200 preferred suppliers, 51,000 hotel partners worldwide, and 1,400 luxury properties within The Affluent Traveler Collection (ATC), which added 97 properties over the past year.

Recent portfolio additions include Choice Hotels, Global Hotel Alliance, and Grupo Posadas on the lodging side, alongside luxury operator Audley Travel, tour additions Funjet Vacations and Blue Sky Tours (completing preferred coverage across all five ALG Vacations brands), and expanded OnLocation coverage with Abercrombie & Kent DMCs and Live Life Safaris. The networks also forged new destination partnerships with tourism boards including Visit San Antonio, the Mexican Caribbean Tourism Board, Costa Rica, Gran Canaria, Baja California Sur, and Finland.

Streamlining Technology and Marketing

To reduce back-office friction, TRAVELSAVERS and NEST introduced several major platform enhancements, led by a centralized Marketing Hub integrated directly into the tripXpress itinerary platform. The hub consolidates campaigns, promotions, social media assets, direct mail, and performance analytics into a single interface.

“By bringing resources, insights, and execution together in one place, the Marketing Hub transforms how advisors promote their businesses,” said Tim Paul, Vice President of Marketing.

The networks also expanded consumer lead generation by adding destination expertise and niche specialty filters to advisor search tools across consumer websites. These digital marketing efforts drove nearly 18 million impressions (a fourfold increase year-over-year) and 323,000 site clicks.

On the technology front, a new partnership with agency management platform Tern joins existing integrations with Travefy and Tres to streamline booking, payment, client management, and reporting directly back to network systems.

Consumer Trends: Strong Demand and Evolving Booking Windows

A survey of U.S. and Canadian network advisors conducted in August 2026 underscores sustained consumer optimism alongside shifting travel habits.

Two-thirds (66%) of TRAVELSAVERS and NEST advisors expect their sales volume to increase next year, while 40% expect shoulder season travel to increase over last year. Notably, 10% of surveyed advisors reported that traditional shoulder seasons no longer exist due to year-round demand.

Booking windows remain split, with 38% of clients booking 6 to 12 months in advance and 25% booking within 3 to 6 months out. However, 40% of advisors noted that clients are generally booking closer to departure dates compared to last year.

Travel insurance uptake remains strong, with 67% of clients purchasing coverage, while two-thirds of clients demonstrate equal or greater willingness to spend on travel.