Hyatt’s Inclusive Collection Honors Travel Advisor Icons in Tulum

Located about 80 miles south of Cancun, Tulum continues to grow in popularity among vacationers to Mexico. With all the latest happenings, including a brand new airport and new resorts, it’s no surprise that Hyatt’s Inclusive Collection chose this destination for its 2024 Confidant Connect Live. This year’s event took place at Secrets Tulum Resort & Beach Club from December 6-9.

Now in its 5^th year, this sought-after event celebrates the brand’s top 100 travel advisors. The company shows its appreciation by treating these advisors and their plus ones to a weekend of fun, education, reflection and more. Thirty travel advisors were celebrating their first time attending this year, and while there were several repeat advisors, only two have earned a spot for all five years: Mike Schellhase of Travel Haus and Trudy Lagerman of Liberty Travel.

“The relationship that we’ve always had with advisors is fundamental to our success and always has been for the last 20-plus years of the brand being in existence,” said Mark Benson, associate vice president sales & strategy at Hyatt’s Inclusive Collection.

Confidant Connect Live kicked off with an opening event on Friday evening, where advisors were able to mingle with the Hyatt team as well as each other and take in the laidback vibes of the property. The following morning, the general session included presentations from various members of the Hyatt Inclusive Collection team, a panel of experts and a keynote speaker (Sarah Dandashy).

“The one thing we hope this morning that you really have felt has been a common thread is truly our gratitude and our appreciation and our love for each and every one of you,” said Mary Ellen Burke, national director of sales at Hyatt’s Inclusive Collection. “The portfolio continues to grow. We are very thankful for each and every one of you for your business, your support, your partnership. So a huge thank you, a huge congratulations, a thank you from the bottom of our hearts from the entire Hyatt and Hyatt Inclusive Collection team.”

Beyond the general session, advisors had plenty of chances to engage with not only the Hyatt team but with members from other companies and each other. There was a small trade show, a handful of workshops to attend and property tours for both Secrets Tulum and the nearby Casa Zamna. United Airlines was in attendance as a sponsor and gave away prizes throughout the weekend in the form of airline tickets – which were well received by advisors. In between all the learning, advisors had the option to participate in activities such as a sound healing session, an afternoon at the beach club and a neon party.

"It’s such an honor to be here among so many talented professionals,” said Joslynne Light of Light Travels LLC. “My husband and I work hard to create amazing travel experiences for our clients, and being recognized like this means so much to us. It’s a reminder of the trust our clients put in us and the strong relationships we’ve built with Hyatt Inclusive Collection. Events like this really reignite our passion for the industry and motivate us to keep finding new ways to deliver incredible experiences."

It wouldn’t be a true travel conference without a theme, and on the final evening of the event, attendees were encouraged to dress up as their favorite icon. In some of his final remarks, Benson noted that everyone in the room is special and deserves to be recognized. No one advisor stands out above the rest. So instead of doing typical awards, Hyatt’s Inclusive Collection gave out humanitarian awards called Confidant Cares awards. The recipients of this year's Confidant Cares awards were Joshua Harrell, chief revenue officer at WorldVia Travel Group, Dan Smith, owner of Destination Wedding Travel, Sharon Benoff, co-owner of Vacationeeze, Dawn Rzepka, senior director at Luxe Destination Weddings, and Vikas Malhotra, travel expert at ITravel 2000.

“The Icon Ball was definitely a highlight — it was so much fun to see everyone dressed as iconic figures and to walk the red carpet with friends and colleagues,” Light said. “It’s moments like these that create lasting memories and deepen the connections we have with each other. Events like this are just so special.”

If claiming a spot at the 2025 Confidant Connect Live event is on your wish list, connect with your BDM today and figure out how you can be in attendance next year.