Two Canadian travel advisors were singled out for praise as the AMR Collection celebrated its partners at the December 1-4 'Amazing Agent Celebration' at Dreams Macao Beach in Punta Cana.
Julie Theberge of Club Voyages Montmagny et St-Jean Chrysostome with Carolina Bellina, Senior Director Canadian Sales for AMR Collection. (Bruce Parkinson)Julie Theberge of Club Voyages Montmagny et St-Jean Chrysostome was honoured "for inspiring and promoting give-back initiatives in her community," while Shalene Dudley, owner of Toronto-based Latitude Concierge Travels, received an award "for inspiring leadership and promoting diversity in tourism."
The third-annual gala event brought 130 North American travel agents and their guests to the 500-room resort where 12 of the 16 room categories offer Preferred Club services and amenities.
Shalene Dudley, owner, Latitude Concierge Travels, accepts an award for inspiring leadership from Claudio Zboznovits, VP Global Sales and Business Development, AMResorts. (Bruce Parkinson)"This is a company that really values its advisor partners," said Dudley. She took part in a luxury travel panel on the first day of the Amazing Agent Celebration and encouraged her fellow agents to take advantage of surging consumer appetite for the kind of product delivered by AMR Collection properties.
"There is tremendous demand for luxury all-inclusive travel right now - we're having a hard time keeping up."
All of the attendees - including 15 Canadian agents, were considered winners, and they all took home prizes, including a three-night stay at the Secrets Tulum Resort & Beach Club, set for a June 30, 2023 debut. The 'Amazing Agent' winners were also gifted with 15,000 AMRewards points.
AMR Collection executives, including Senior Director of Sales Canada Carolina Bellina (third from left) at the third Amazing Agent Celebration. (AMR Collection)
Those announcements earned big rounds of applause at the Saturday morning session where AMR executives brought agents up to date on a wide range of developments at the company, which now manages a total of 113 properties, 63 in the Americas and 50 in Europe.
A year ago, AMR was purchased by Hyatt, and integration within that organization and its powerful World of Hyatt loyalty program is ongoing. Over the next six months, the AMR Collection designation will fade, but the Dreams, Secrets, Breathless, Zoetry, Sunscape and Alua brands will live on as an integral part of the Hyatt Inclusive Collection, which will also feature the Hyatt Ziva and Zilara brands.
In the meantime, the AMR Collection continues to evolve and expand. Secrets Impression is a line extension of the Secrets brand, offering the company's most 'elevated' luxury experience. Secrets Impression Moxché Playa del Carmen just opened and a second new-build will debut in March 2023 as Secrets Impression Isla Mujeres.
A conga line at the AMR Collection Amazing Agent Celebration at Dream Macao Beach in Punta Cana. (Bruce Parkinson)
December will see the opening of Zoëtry Marigot Bay St. Lucia, located on the island's most desirable marina. It will be followed late next year by Secrets St. Lucia Resort & Spa.
February 2023 brings the 520-room Dreams Flora Resort & Spa to a palm-studded beach in Cabeza de Toro, Punta Cana, followed later in the year by Secrets Tides Punta Cana. The year will also see the opening of the company's first location in Mazatlan on Mexico's Pacific Coast, with the Dreams Estrella del Mar Mazatlán Golf & Spa Resort, situated on 3.5 miles of pure, secluded beachfront.
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