The 6th annual Ascend by ALG Vacations kicked off last week with a “Good Vibes” blowout at the new Hyatt Vivid Grand Island, a member of Inclusive Collection, part of World of Hyatt, and kept the energy on high all the way through to the Nashville-themed closing party at the also new AVA Resort Cancun, a 1,622-room, -suite and -villa resort ocean-liner-inspired behemoth operated by AIC Hotel Group.
In between, travel advisors were treated to a sneak peek of the company’s expanded luxury portfolio, cutting-edge technology and forward-thinking strategies, a floor filled with top-notch suppliers and more.
Ascend: Updates, Innovation and More
Group President, ALG Distribution, Ray Snisky, welcomed everyone to the first General Session at the Cancun Center with a special video message from Hyatt President and CEO Mark Hoplamazian. This was followed by a dive into DMC Amstar’s brand evolution, which celebrated its 35th anniversary by unveiling a new “brand essence” titled Destination: You.
“[It’s r]eally a focus on the customer to be an extension of you in the destination,” said Snisky. “We want to be sage advisors that can give people all the ins and outs of what to do while on vacation. We’ve invested in some heavy training for the team and the colleagues, and it’s really a complete brand refresh with a real focus on the customer.
“Kindness and care are at the center of what we do. Obviously, you know our purpose is to care for people so they can be their best. We’ve got a bunch of new technology and infrastructure. We’re implementing a whole new tech stack for the Amstar team. There’s a new CRM that’ll help them better take care of customers.
“There’s a new logistics platform that is being used by Google right now that we’re really excited about. Lots of great things. And then, obviously the most important thing, enriching the products. So, lots of new products that we’re adding to the platform. Take a look. Our brand is more than our logo.” Currently on soft launch, the full implementation will take place on Jan. 1, 2025.
Snisky was followed by Keynote Speaker Laila Ali, daughter of the inimitable Muhammad Ali, champion boxer and successful entrepreneur.
Truth is, this year’s event was a resounding success even before it started, so much so that Global Head, Vacation Trade Brands, Jacki Marks, shared it sold out in just three days, with a total of 1,300 registrants, 767 advisors and 149 suppliers. “It speaks volumes to your dedication and your passion for Ascend,” she said, adding this year’s conference included changes based on advisor feedback, such as expanding onto the length of all workshops and expanding the supplier showcase. “We added all suppliers to both days stretching it for two days, which is what you guys asked for as well so that you have more time with your key partners or to get to know those that you don’t know as well.”
Along with Travel Advisor Champion and celebrity Carson Kressley, she reminded advisors to get recertified via the ALGVPro program while chatting about their joint media efforts to advocate for the use of travel advisors and highlight the value they bring to vacation planning.
On the exhibit floor, attendees visited the Supplier Showcase and sampled cuisine and cocktails, checking out presentations and snagging swag from destinations and hotels including sponsors like Jamaica, the Dominican Republic, The Hawaiian Islands, Aruba, The Cayman Islands, Dubai, RIU Hotels and Resorts, Outrigger Resorts and Hotels, Hilton, Marriott Bonvoy, Iberostar Beachfront Resorts, Hoteles Xcaret, Paradisus by Melia, and Blue Diamond Resorts, just to name a few.
Workshop sessions across the two full days of the event included timely advisor education topics such as “How and Why to Become Best Friends with AI” and “Voluntourism: Applying Kindness in Travel Through Give-Back Initiatives”—a particular focus for ALG Vacations—plus focuses on boosting business and productivity, destination weddings and group travel, public speaking, social media and more. “Luxe by ALG Vacations: All About Our Exciting New Luxury Program” was a highlight, a program that aims to position the company as a go-to resource for luxury travel, offering travel advisors enhanced tools and services to cater to the upscale market segment, as was the “ALG Vacations Executive Panel” discussion, where executives including Anderson Hernandez, SVP Vacations, Contact Center & Operations; Mike Ehlers, VP Vacations Groups; Jay Setlz, Managing Direcctor Brands; and Ferenc Kitzinger, SVP Vacations Revenue Management along with Snisky and Marks answered a series of prepared questions from advisors.
During this year’s event, attendees stayed at a mix of World of Hyatt and sponsor properties, including Hyatt Vivid Grand Island, AVA Resort Cancun, Dreams Vista Cancun, Royalton CHIC, Breathless Cancun Soul, Riu Palace Kukulkan and Iberostar Selection.
For more information, visit alg.www.vaxvacationaccess.com
