Happy 20th Birthday to NEST

The Network of Entrepreneurs Selling Travel (NEST) in Oyster Bay, N.Y., is Turning 20 This Month.

NEST is American Marketing Group's (AMG) marketing group dedicated only to home-based travel agencies. Today, the network has 500 agencies and continues to grow; so far this year, it has added 27 members whose annual sales total $78 million.

But when it first started, NEST grew slowly. That wasn't from lack of demand, though. Despite receiving 1,000 applications in April 2004, its first month in operation, NEST only admitted 100 agencies based on its membership standards.

"A sizable number of the original members from that first year are still with NEST today," the company said.

Michelle Bouzek, owner of Vacations in Paradise in Austin, Texas, is one of them. Bouzek's agency has been a member from the beginning.

"I've stayed with NEST for all these years because of the incredible support and opportunities they've provided me and my business," she said.

NEST was born to meet a growing demand at the time: Agencies were closing storefronts and moving home thanks to technology that meant they could work from anywhere with Internet access.

"We knew we needed to start a new network as a lifeline connecting home-based advisors and suppliers," NEST president Kathryn Mazza-Burney said.

In the lead-up to NEST's launch, AMG considered several different names for the network, Splash and Wave among them.

It used a 12-stop "road show," the "Success Series," to recruit agencies.

NEST's first conference was held in Las Vegas in 2005.

Wayne Spector, NEST's recently promoted senior vice president, said the network's success can be attributed to the fact that "it has stayed true to its core values" of championing home-based advisors.

Agencies can join NEST by invitation only. They must be independent, booking directly with suppliers as opposed to through a host. Agencies must also have a minimum level of sales with NEST's preferred suppliers.

As part of their membership, agencies receive dedicated help from a business analyst. NEST also pays 100% commission to advisors and offers profit-sharing opportunities, among other benefits.


The NEST Advantage

NEST Products and Services

State-of-the-art Technologymore_vert
State-of-the-art Technologyclose

You can rely on our technology to customize marketing programs and solutions  tailored to your needs.

Our technology ensures you are covered in all areas to seamlessly reach your clientele and offers the best, most competitive pricing.

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Powerful Partnershipsmore_vert
Powerful Partnershipsclose

We've spent more than four decades building solid relationships with the top suppliers. Our partnerships allow us the ability to negotiate competitive pricing that is passed on to our agents.

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NEST is here to help

 

450 Agency Members

Strong and growing

Dedicated Business Analyst

Helping you become more profitable

Home-Based and Proud

Since 2004

NEST
 71 Audrey Ave, Oyster Bay, NY 11771
 888-245-6378
  info@jointhenest.com

CAREERS
For information on career opportunities at NEST:
 888-245-6378
  info@jointhenest.com

MEDIA INQUIRIES
  media@jointhenest.com