ALG Vacations® (ALGV) hosted its first-ever Kindness Conference August 7 – 10 at Secrets® Moxché Playa del Carmen, an Inclusive Collection resort in Mexico’s Riviera Maya. In alignment with ALGV’s Kindness Vision of demonstrating Kindness to Ourselves, Kindness to Others, and Kindness in Travel, the conference gave 40 chosen travel advisors under 40 years of age the opportunity to collaborate, learn and network with ALGV leadership, guest speakers and their peers — the future leaders in travel.
“I couldn’t be happier with the outcome of this conference. It was such a fulfilling and gratifying experience, and the positive energy and enthusiasm of the attendees was truly heartening. This first Kindness Conference will not be our last. Our intention was for the advisors to walk away with a renewed sense of collaboration and kindness across travel, and I’m confident that we accomplished that,” said Jacki Marks, ALGV’s Global Head of Trade Brands.
Throughout the event, attendees learned to take a holistic approach to caring leadership as they collaborated on strategic, kindness-based approaches to management with other young leaders in travel. The busy agenda included eight workshops on relevant topics ranging from mental health, productivity and inclusion to tips on public speaking, effective communication and the art of listening.
The dynamic keynote speakers — partners Glennon Doyle and Abby Wambach — inspired the audience with their messages. Doyle is a bestselling author and founder of Together Rising, an all-women-led nonprofit organization supporting women, families and children in crisis. Wambach is an author and two-time Olympic soccer gold medalist. The two activists co-host the We Can Do Hard Things podcast, named the #1 New Podcast in 2021 by Apple Podcasts.
For most attendees, the highlight of the conference was the hands-on Advisors Give Back activity in the rural Mayan village of El Delirio. An impressive $13,000+ was donated by the advisors — all through their personal networks — to purchase donations for the villagers. After packing up the supplies purchased locally in Cancun, the advisors and ALGV staff traveled to the village to engage with the schoolchildren over a pizza lunch, gifting them with much-needed school supplies and backpacks. Diaper bags filled with necessities for five young toddlers, and baskets of food and other essentials for the 25 families living in the village were also donated by the group, all paid for by the donations. ALGV Group President Ray Snisky was on hand for the event and promised to come back over the holidays with more gifts, thanks to the extreme generosity of the advisors and staff.
In addition to the keynote speeches, workshops and give-back event, activities included a Mayan purification ceremony and welcome dinner, healthy morning workout sessions, and a general session. The conference concluded with a festive farewell party at the hotel's infinity pool, where advisors bonded with their new-found friends over a common vision — a world where we #AlwaysTravelKInd.
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