Internova Travel Group is ending its Apex program with American Express effective Jan. 1.
Apex enables Internova agents who have completed a required course to service Gold and Platinum American Express card members with exclusive discounts and amenities. Advisors can also use cardholders' Membership Rewards points to book travel.
The program was announced in June 2018, when Internova was still Travel Leaders Group (TLG). It was unveiled with much enthusiasm, both within and outside TLG.
TLG was then under the leadership of Ninan Chacko, who resigned as CEO in January. Since then, J.D. O'Hara has taken the helm as CEO.
Initially, the program was off to a good start. In November 2018, Chacko said it appeared the company would pass its goal number of agents onboarded to Apex. But by the next summer, executives said enrollment in the program and transaction volume fell short of expectations. The training required to participate in Apex was cut in half in an attempt to boost enrollment.
On Friday, Internova announced Apex's discontinuation.
"As part of our regular evaluation of our programs and partnerships, we along with American Express have mutually decided to discontinue our relationship," Angie Licea, president of Internova business unit Global Travel Collection, said in a statement.
Licea said Altour will continue its affiliation with the American Express travel representative network.