As part of Travel Agent's recent coverage of Karisma Hotels & Resorts' 9th Annual Gourmet Inclusive Vacation Consultant Awards and Sales & Marketing Forum, we learned about Nickelodeon Hotels & Resorts' first destination in Central and South America.
Rafael Feliz, CEO of Karisma, told us Cartagena, Colombia, will be home to the new family brand's first hotel outside of the Caribbean and Mexico. Feliz told us the property is expected to open roughly three years from now.
In 2015, Feliz and Lubo Krstajic, the company’s executive vice president of sales and marketing, told Travel Agent the plan was to expand Nickelodeon Hotels to Central and South America with destinations such as Brazil; Cartagena, Colombia; and Panama being heavily discussed. With Cartagena now confirmed, it is quite possible either Brazil or Panama could be Nickelodeon's second destination in Latin America.
Winners From 9th Annual Gourmet Inclusive Vacation Consultant Awards
Travel Agent was on hand last week as Karisma Hotels & Resorts announced the award winners of the 9th Annual Gourmet Inclusive Vacation Consultant Awards and Sales & Marketing Forum.
The Gourmet Inclusive Vacation Consultant Awards and Sales & Marketing Forum, which took place at El Dorado Royale, A Spa Resort, by Karisma in the Riviera Maya, from December 7-10, hosted 600 of the most accomplished "Gourmet Inclusive Vacation Consultants" and their guests from around the world.
Karisma Hotels & Resorts concluded the event by revealing the winners of the Gourmet Inclusive Vacation Consultant Awards.
The most awarded winner was "Diamond Level 5 agent," Tina Hearn of Paradise Weddings and Travel, who was named a Top 10 Producer for El Dorado Spa Resorts & Hotels by Karisma and Generations Resorts by Karisma, as well as a Top 10 Wedding Producer for El Dorado Spa Resorts & Hotels and Generations Resorts by Karisma.
Additionally, and most notably, Karisma honored Hearn with the "Hall of Fame" recognition for her significant difference to Karisma Hotels & Resorts throughout the course of the year, resulting in an overall increase in business.
Other noteworthy honors included Elaine Holley of Ultra Tech Travel as the Top Selling Home Based Agent (US), Pamela Walker of Escapes.ca as the Top Selling Home Based Agent (Canada), Lisa Pease of Fox World Travel as the Top Selling Storefront Agent (US), Jen Jackson as the Top Selling Storefront Agent (Canada), Donna Daniels of Fox Travel American Express as the Top Producer Hidden Beach Resort by Karisma, and Carl Howard of Expert Honeymoons by Uniglobe Five Star Travel as the Top Selling Agent of the Villas by Karisma.
Top Sellers of Palafitos – Overwater Bungalows at El Dorado Maroma, which Karisma is selling exclusive through Gourmet Inclusive Vacation Consultants in recognition of their support, include Burt Kramer of KHM Travel Group, Susan Peavey of Susan Peavy Travel, Inc., Nancy Finn of My Island Getaways, Thomas Varghese of Travel Tom, Lindsay Smith of L & S Travel, Barbara Vong of Wright Travel Agency, Emily Bertsch of VIP Vacations Inc., Elaine Holley of Ultra Tech Travel and Grace Bonaguro of Landmark Destination Events LLC.
Karisma Hotels & Resorts also recognized three of its top performing agents with the Elite status including: Jennifer Doncsecz from VIP Vacations Inc., Anthony Tucker from All Inclusive Outlet and Brenda Mlynarczyk from Luxe Destination Weddings.
Visit www.karismahotels.com