CoNexion 2018: #GetConnected

I was fortunate to be able to attend Nexion’s annual CoNexion event this past month on the Harmony of the Seas. This ship is enormous, as you can see by this picture from the Cozumel port. It was an exciting and engaging event that kept us busy from early in the morning throughout the evenings with receptions, dinners with agents and all around great people to connect with – definitely a ”workation” opportunity.

Events like these often provide multiple opportunities to give back. This one is no different unless you call surpassing the goal by colossal amounts different! Everyone that attended had the opportunity to donate backpacks and school supplies for the children of Haiti.

The goal was to be able to fill enough backpacks with supplies for children in three schools. The team here at VAX joined in the donating fun as did multitudes of agents and suppliers. The goal was surpassed and we were able to donate supplies children in nine schools! What an emotional event to experience when they brought several students and teachers to the beach at LaBadee to accept! Here is a picture of some of the children with Jackie Friedman.

Early on the cruise, VAX VacationAccess was awarded as the Technology/Booking Tool of the Year for our fourth consecutive year!

I never cease to get excited to run up to get an award! A sincere thank you to all Nexion agents that voted for us yet again! AND what a coup: I matched Robbi in his orange suit that day! Winning and accepting this award was definitely a very high point of the entire event for me.

Another highlight of the event was our destination in Cozumel. Cindy Kaul from The Mark Travel Corporation organized a site inspection to Sunscape Sabor and Secrets Aura. It was my first experience with AMResorts and for many of the agents that joined us as well. After a tour of the beautiful connecting properties, we were treated to an extravagant and delicious barbecue on the beach for lunch.

Following lunch, we were allowed to spend an hour on the beach or enjoy the pools on the properties. This was a great opportunity to get to know some of the agents joining us even more and believe it or not, talk VAX while in the pool. One of the swim-up bars at Secrets Aura has water slides from the rooms down into the pool! Well, I couldn’t pass on that opportunity.

As always it’s so great to get together with agents that I know and continue to build those relationships, but even more exciting to meet new agents and develop those new connections as well. When you’ve spent a week with them, getting ready to say goodbye at the end is always a little bittersweet. Here are a few of the goodbye selfies with agents and supplier friends!