KHM Travel Group recently hosted its 2023 Crystal Conference, the largest in-person event in its 18-year history. From February 26 to March 4, 2023, a group of 506 sailed on Royal Caribbean’s Harmony of the Seas. The group consisted of 282 travel advisors, 122 guests, 44 supplier and guest cabins, 12 friends and family cabins and 46 KHM staff members. More than 150 of these advisors were first-time Crystal attendees.
The last Crystal Conference was in 2019, and the excitement of having it back after three years without it was obvious throughout the week. KHM Travel Group President & CEO, Rick Zimmerman, was among those on board, and he explained just how valuable attending in-person events is for travel advisors.
“That is just so important because they are all going through the same thing together,” Zimmerman said. “We have our ears to what’s going on in the agent community, but they really dig in, and they help one another.” Zimmerman has seen several friendships form and flourish at KHM’s events over the years.
The week-long conference included a Supplier Scavenger Hunt on board, which helped advisors get to know Harmony of the Seas, and several presentations and workshops from suppliers in attendance. In between the scheduled events, agents and suppliers met in one-on-one and small group settings for networking and additional education opportunities.
KHM Travel Group honored a host of advisors at the Crystal Awards, highlighting supplier awards, regional awards and DE&I awards, among other categories. Emily Bookey, CEO of Emily’s Travel, not only took home the title of “Agent of the Year,” but her agency was also recognized as “Agency of the Year” for 2022.
“This award goes far beyond just its physical representation of the work put in to earn it. It is the true personification of the human condition,” Bookey said. “It’s not just a travel award. To me/us, this award is the culmination of passion, love, endurance, and mostly of perseverance.”
For Bookey, it was vital not only for her to attend but for her entire agency to be in attendance. She refers to KHM Travel Group as her “second family” and said the week felt similar to a family reunion.
“It was extremely important for myself and my team to be here this week to cultivate our relationships with suppliers, KHM and travel advisors,” Bookey said. “These are crucial to having a successful business.”
Advisors and suppliers were also able to network during excursions in the ports visited, which included Nassau, Bahamas; Falmouth, Jamaica; and Labadee, Haiti. Other onboard activities included “Morning Reflections with Rick” and DEI-focused sessions throughout the week.
“Early on, with our people-first mentality, it only made sense to embrace some sort of DE&I type of program. We committed to calling on our suppliers to show collateral that would speak to a more diverse clientele,” Zimmerman said, adding that many of KHM Travel Group’s partners were wonderful and open to change. The DEI-focused sessions throughout the conference were an important aspect for many advisors in attendance.
“Every day is a step towards more inclusion, more diversity, more equity,” Zimmerman shared.
The 2024 Crystal Conference will be taking place onboard Celebrity Cruises’ Celebrity Reflection. The event is scheduled for early 2024, and more details will be released in the coming weeks.
To learn more about KHM Travel Group, visit khmtravel.com.
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