AMG to enable travel agencies to accept cryptocurrency as payment: Travel Weekly

American Marketing Group (AMG) will soon enable agencies to accept and process cryptocurrency via its proprietary booking platform, TripXpress. 

Affiliates of Travelsavers, Network of Entrepreneurs Selling Travel (NEST) and the Affluent Traveler Collection will have access to the program.

The program is expected to be launched with select cruise lines and tour operators in 2023 and will be expanded to other preferred suppliers from there. It is currently in a test phase.

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“With over $1 trillion in market capital, we felt it was time to make it possible for holders of crypto to book travel directly with our agencies,” Travelsavers COO Jim Mazza said. “We have been working for months with some of the top banks and exchanges to facilitate the process.”

The program was announced during AMG’s Travel Market 2022, held at Resorts World Las Vegas.

50th anniversary celebration

Also during Travel Market 2022, AMG celebrated its 50th anniversary. 

“There is so much to celebrate with our 50th anniversary but it goes beyond that,” chief marketing officer Nicole Mazza said. “Together with our advisors and partners, we’ve accomplished so much over the years.”

Key to AMG, she said, is its “family culture,” and the “shared values, competencies and the spirit of our team.”

During the conference, AMG announced that this year it has onboarded new agencies to Travelsavers U.S. and Canada and NEST that represent $480 million in preferred-supplier sales. More are considering joining AMG networks.

Travel sales are doing well, with year-over-year growth in a number of sectors, including insurance (up 63%), hotel revenue (40%) and room nights (24%), cruise sales (29%) and cruise group sales (15%).

AMG reported cruise suite sales are on the rise, and land vacations are up more than 50% with the largest increases in Europe and domestic destinations.

More than 800 attended the conference.

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