I want to do something a little different this month and just take a moment to express my gratitude. You may have already heard, but I am proud to share that I was recently chosen as the recipient of the first annual Advocacy Award by Travel Leaders Network. The recognition was presented to me at EDGE in Nashville, and I was beyond honored to receive it.

But I’d like to give credit where credit is due. I was only able to receive this honor thanks to the tireless efforts of our Nexion community, our dedicated staff, and our advocacy allies at ASTA and elsewhere. You all made this possible, and my appreciation runs deep.
I am truly humbled to be the first honoree of this award. My journey in the travel industry began as a front-line travel advisor in Toronto, and over the years, I took on leadership roles at Sabre before becoming the President of Nexion in 2007. I’m so proud of the way Nexion has grown since that time, and the powerhouse host agency that it has become. I owe that to all of you as well.

Despite the often-unpredictable landscape of travel, you have shown great adaptability and perseverance, going above and beyond to ensure smooth journeys and unforgettable experiences from your clients. Your expertise, attention to detail, and commitment to quality service are truly commendable.

Throughout my career, I have been honored with several industry accolades, but this one feels extra special to me, purely because of how passionate I am about advocacy. The current state of the travel industry may be strong, but without advocates fighting for our collective interests, the long-term health of the industry is not a foregone conclusion. While it’s nice to imagine that progress is an inevitable thing that just follows some watercourse way, the truth is that it’s something we make through continuous action.

So with that, thank you, thank you, thank you for your tireless work and advocacy on behalf of the travel advisors everywhere! I can’t wait to see what the future has in store for us.

Jackie