Vacation.com officially kicked off its 18th International Conference & Trade Show at the Diplomat Resort & Spa in Hollywood, Florida, Sunday, May 22. The event, which is set to run through Thursday, is organized around the theme “Connect More,” and offers more than 130 hours of classes and seminars, a Supplier Partner Trade Show, General Sessions and Supplier Partner Connections to connect and network with over 1,300 agent members, top suppliers and Vacation.com staff.
The event includes six General Sessions with industry presentations and special guests, including a lineup of top CEOs.
New this year are Supplier Partner Connections, 90-minute forums enabling key suppliers to present on topics important to agents and their businesses. Other highlights will include technology training, focus on all aspects of social media, supplier partner training, networking opportunities and Vacation.com’s Power Speaker sessions throughout the week. Noted industry speakers and authors Mike Marchev and Nolan Burris, of Future Proof Travel Solutions, will lead several seminars and brainstorming sessions. Members also have opportunities for hands-on training related to Vacation.com programs and benefits through the “Experience Room.”
Cruise Holidays International Honors Top Agencies and Frontline Travel Agents
During the conference, Cruise Holidays International honored its top-performing agencies and travel agents during a special ceremony. The awards presentation included recipients of Cruise Holidays’ Golden Anchor, President’s Circle, Top Overall Producer and Outstanding Sales Achievement awards.
Awards were presented in the following categories to these winners:
Golden Anchor Award
Store Winner: Cruise Holidays of Frederick owned by Jayne and John Bohgard
Hosted Owner Winner: Michelle Jackson, based in St. George, Utah
The Golden Anchor Award celebrates the one store and one hosted owner that stand out because of the following attributes: participation in programs, attendance at the organization’s meetings and conventions, use of tools to attain greater profitability, generating ideas to enhance the success of the network, and a willingness to help other owners reach their goals.
Top Overall Producer Award
Store Winner: Cruise Holidays of Kansas City (Missouri), owned by Mimi and Mark Comfort
Hosted Owner Winner: Michelle Jackson, based in St. George, Utah
Affiliate Winner: Cruise Brothers, a Cruise Holidays affiliate, owned by Steven Gelfuso, based in East Providence (Rhode Island)
This honor is awarded to the store, the hosted agency, and the affiliate with the highest sales volume during the previous year, from January through December. The above winners were also named as Outstanding Sales Achievers, with eight Cruise Holidays of Kansas City travel consultants winning the award, and four Cruise Holidays/Cruise Brothers travel consultants picking up that honor.
Outstanding Sales Achievement
Cruise Holidays bestowed this award upon 40 agency owners and frontline travel agents who reached or exceeded a pre-determined amount in sales. The top achievers across the entire network were:
1. Joan Yam, Cruise Holidays of Scarborough (Ontario)
2. Cassie Johnson, Cruise Holidays of Kansas City (Missouri)
3. Andrea Redding, Cruise Holidays of Kansas City (Missouri)
4. Patti Edwards, Cruise Holidays of Kansas City (Missouri)
5. Bill Walsh, Cruise Travel Outlet (New Hampshire)
President’s Circle Award
A total of 20 Cruise Holidays agencies earned 2016 President’s Circle status based on their overall gross profit or their year-over-year growth, with approximately half in each category.
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