MAST Travel Network recently held its annual conference following a three-year pause. While the company held numerous in-person events over the past two years, the previous annual MAST Conference was held in 2019.
This year, the conference was held at the Hyatt Regency Coconut Point Resort and Spa in Bonita Springs, Florida from April 27 to May 1. The four-day event convened more than 225 MAST travel advisors, independent contractors, agency owners, travel suppliers, speakers and guests.
Highlights included an Executive Panel with Amelie Brouhard, vice president of marketing, North America for Club Med; Jared Cox, director, American Airlines Vacations; Tricia Wolf, vice president, field sales, Oceania Cruises; and Galen Mathews, director of sales for Royal Caribbean International. The panel discussed travel’s rebound and how their companies have coped with an ever-changing environment. They discussed the methods they have employed to support the travel advisor community to ensure the successful return to business. The panel also discussed what’s selling and the demographics of today’s traveler and who is traveling.
MAST’s group of under-40 professionals held a JV Hangout and Ice Breaker. “Sunrise Yoga with Mimosas” was held early one morning, besides an ASTAPAC fundraiser. MAST agencies made over 1,200 private business appointments with 68 travel suppliers at the event.
Attendees went on a guided bike tour on Sanibel Island, toured the Henry Ford-Thomas Edison Winter Estates in Ft. Myers, took a shelling cruise in Estero Bay, and relaxed at the Hyatt Regency beach on Big Hickory Island.
Wrapping up the general session, John Werner, MAST president, said, “Travel advisors are the authority on all things travel. As customers have become more demanding, travel advisors are in a stronger position than ever to tell them what you will do for them, and how you will work together. Get their agreement to work with you in this manner before proceeding to help them. Secondly, MAST is a community that stands strong working together. Agencies want to associate with other travel advisors willing to share their knowledge and experience. We are a network that truly cares about one another. Our mutual success is tied to a collective objective that believes, ‘I will be successful if you are successful.’”
For more information, visit mvptravel.com.
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