Signature Travel Network announced that Dan Ilves of TravelStore was the 2019 recipient of the Michelle Morgan Leadership Award at its annual sales conference in Las Vegas on December 4. In addition to the title Ilves received a $1,000 donation from the Michelle Morgan Memorial Fund to his preferred charity on his behalf.
“I am so humbled and honored to receive this award in the name of someone so special to all of us in Signature,” said Ilves upon receiving the award. “No one stands alone, and this recognition is a result of being surrounded by such amazing passionate professionals at TravelStore, at Signature and our preferred suppliers.”
In 2013, Signature Travel Network’s board of directors chose to create a Michelle Morgan Leadership Award as a way of honoring the memory and work of Morgan and recognizing other travel industry professionals “who embody the qualities that made her successful in both her professional and personal life.” Previous award recipients include:
- Carol Lekki, president, Carol’s Travel Service
- Tim Smith, former owner, Carefree Vacations
- Vicki Freed, senior vice president of sales, trade support and service, Royal Caribbean
- Cathie Lentz-Fryer, president, CTA Travel
- Betty Cox, former owner, Travel Concepts
Morgan led Signature Travel Network from $30 million in agency sales to over $5 billion in sales during her 22 years of service. According to Signature, she was known for lifting up the small agency owners and allowing them to battle with the big guys. She developed personal relationships with everyone in the industry from travel agency owners, front-line sales personnel and supplier representatives, believing that building solid relationships was a key to good business and success.
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