NEW YORK — First in Service Travel LTD (F1S) recently wrapped up its F1S SUMM1T at the recently opened Virgin Hotels New York.
The company said its first-ever two-day event was a celebration of its growth since the pandemic. Annual sales now surpass US$300 million and F1S’s total number of advisors is at an all-time high.
The SUMM1T attracted 100+ First in Service travel advisors, including its top 10 producers, from across the U.S., Canada, Colombia, France, Mexico, Portugal and Spain.
“Our primary purpose for the F1S SUMM1T was to bring together our advisors and supplier partners to celebrate our shared success after a thriving year of renewed growth,” said F1S CEO Fernando Gonzalez. “In recognition of the integral role our key partners have played in our unprecedented, extraordinary growth, it became obvious that they needed to be included to further facilitate and strengthen their dialogue with our advisors.”
Gonzalez’s ‘State of the Union’ update revealed that travel sales are currently projected to increase by 30%, year over year. The estimate is propelled by the strength of the advisors within F1S who, on average, already contribute $2 million each in annual sales. That number is expected to grow significantly in 2023 and beyond, according to Gonzalez. He also used his address to honor the top 10 producing F1S advisors, all of whom were in attendance.
In addition to facilitating advisor-supplier conversations, as well as building sessions around specific advisor requests and needs from marketing to trends in travel, other highlights of the F1S SUMM1T included The F1S Helps Casino Night served as an evening of giving back to benefit the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI), as well as Support to Life, an organization supporting the areas and people impacted by the recent earthquake in Turkey and Syria. Over $8,000 was raised, and with matched funds by F1S, over $16,000 will be donated to the two organizations.
“Based on the extremely positive feedback we received from our advisors and key partners alike, our F1S SUMM1T was a resounding success. They genuinely appreciated how we positively reinforced the F1S ethos of openness and provided a community of friendship and comfort,” said F1S President, Erika Reategui. “Everyone was extremely ‘present,’ providing a sense of inclusion that really set the tone. I was repeatedly told how conducive our event was in further strengthening our bond with key suppliers – this will help us as we forge our path forward together.”
Julia Hayburst, travel advisor, First in Service, Toronto, said: “I’d like to extend a heartfelt thanks for hosting such a fantastic F1S SUMM1T. I know that a tremendous amount of work went into producing the event. I truly enjoyed getting to know so many advisors for the first time. It was wonderful to meet with suppliers – many of whom I’ve known for years. I’m so proud to be an F1S affiliate and look forward to future successes!”
Travelweek’s Deputy Editor Cindy Sosroutomo interviewed F1S CEO Fernando Gonzalez in March 2022, as the company was emerging from the pandemic after setting up shop in Canada in 2019. The interview is here.
