by Greg Coates
Last updated: 7:17 AM ET, Mon December 6, 2021
Fun, sun, awards and positive industry vibes highlighted AMResorts' Amazing Agents Celebration held Dec. 1-4 at Dreams Vista Cancun.
As they mark the end of their 20th anniversary, AMResorts and AMR Collection hosted 85 travel agents, including 20 from Canada, and their guests.
"You are amazing and that's why you're here… You've all given exceptional efforts to the industry."
"We're growing in leaps and bounds, all thanks to you," said AMResorts National Director of Sales Mary Ellen Burke. "We're thankful for each and every one of you.
Speaking with TravelPulse, Carolina Bellina, senior director, Canadian Sales, AMR Collection, said it was great to be able to host agents in person once again.
"We're very pleased. It's nice to interact and have fun with them," she said. "We appreciate all they have done for us this year and they're happy with all we have done to support them through all of this."
Agents got a sneak peak of the new all-suite Breathless Cancun Soul Resort & Spa, which will start welcoming guests Dec. 7, and were gifted a future three-night stay at the new Secrets Moxché Playa Del Carmen, opening in February.
Amid concerns of the new COVID Omicron variant, if there was a message coming out of the event it was clearly that consumers are ready to travel again and that the need for travel advisors is greater than ever.
"It's been a wild and crazy year. A challenging, tough time, but we're seeing positive trends going into 2022," said Kevin Wojciechowski, AMR senior vice-president, Sales & Distribution.
"People are seeing the value of using a travel agent, and we need to capitalize on that," said Richard Villeneuve of Voyages en direct in Montreal, adding that during these uncertain times agents give consumers some "confidence" when booking.
Tim Evans, president of Modern Travelworks, said there's definitely a pent-up demand to travel.
"Our groups are getting bigger. Everyone wants to travel together…, travel with their loved ones."
And more good news for agents, executives promised that their BDM team in Canada will be back to four by January.
AWARDS
Part of the gala celebration included the inaugural Be Amazing Awards by AMR Collection, given to six agents whose professionalism went "above and beyond." Honoured from Canada were Chris Rollinson and Tannis Dyrland.
Rollinson, co-president and general manager of escapes.ca, was honoured for exceptional achievement in sustainability and environmental initiatives.
"Helping to preserve and protect is central to this honourees belief system, which is why at escape.ca, working through edenprojects.org, a tree is planted for every online vacation package booked," said Claudio Zboznovits, vice-president of Global Sales & Business Development, AMResorts, while presenting the award.
Dyrland is owner of Travel With Tannis and was honoured for exceptional achievement in creativity and for innovation in travel.
Carolina Bellina, senior director, Canadian Sales, AMR Collection, said Dyrland "steps outside of her comfort zone, thinks outside the travel agent box and finds creative ways to engage with her community."
She hosts a weekly podcast and is also the creator of The Fu*k-it List & Mile High Cocktails.
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