In a ceremony full of the glitz and glamor of the Oscars, Playa Lodges & Resorts honored the highest sellers for its accommodations in Jamaica, Mexico, and the Dominican Republic final evening on the 2023 AllStars awards, which occurred on the Hyatt Zilara Riviera Maya.
One of many largest winners on the annual gala was Kim Cook dinner of Kansas Metropolis-based Like to Journey, who obtained the 2023 Playa Ambassador award for the U.S. market. The Ambassador award, which capped a night that included awards in quite a few classes, is introduced every year to a recipient who demonstrates excellent partnership with Playa.
“We’ve had the posh of getting so many nice companions all through the
years and definitely over this previous yr. So it is not all the time straightforward to choose
one ambassador,” stated Andrea Wright, Playa’s vice chairman of journey trade gross sales, as she ready to announce the award.
“Nonetheless, there was one actually constant associate that is all the time there, all the time providing help, all the time asking how we’re
doing,” continued Wright. “This explicit particular person, for a few years, has all the time requested ‘What can I do to really aid you, Playa, to develop your enterprise?’ And when there ‘s been issues, she has all the time stated ‘Effectively, I may need some options
for you.”
Cook dinner, who was available for the occasion, has labored with Playa for the previous eight years. Since her first publicity to Playa years in the past, Cook dinner has been an enormous fan of the model and her shoppers rave about it as nicely. All of which, made final evening’s award significantly significant for Cook dinner.
Kim Cook dinner of Like to Journey receives the 2023 Playa Ambassador award (Photograph Credit score: By Mia Taylor)
“I simply really feel so humbled by this award. I actually do,” stated Cook dinner after the ceremony wrapped up. “These have been my pals for a very long time and I like the model and we’ve all the time supported it. It simply makes me really feel so particular that they’ve chosen me.”
The Ambassador award capped a night that noticed an extended record of journey brokers from across the nation honored by Playa. The awards acknowledge gross sales from 2022 and to fete the highest performers, Playa staged a Hollywood-worthy Oscar-themed ceremony. The Playa crew pulled out all of the stops for the occasion, which took months of planning and concerned contributions from Playa crew members in any respect ranges.
The festivities occurred within the Jade ballroom on the Hyatt Zilara, the place the doorway was embellished with life-size golden Oscar-style statues, a pink carpet and a custom-made Hollywood stroll of fame. Contained in the ballroom, attendees had been handled to leisure from singers, dancers and even acrobats, earlier than the awards had been introduced.
Oscar statues on the Playa 2023 AllStars awards ceremony (Photograph Credit score: Photograph by Mia Taylor)
“This awards present is extremely particular to us as a result of it provides us the chance to actually have a good time and present how our companions how a lot we admire them. And to have a good time all the work they’ve completed and the success that we have now had collectively,” stated Wright.
Awards got out in such classes as high marriage ceremony bookings, high brokers by U.S. territory, and high direct bookings.
“We offer a whole lot of alternative for everyone to shine with these awards,” continued Wright. “We wish to ensure the brokers really feel particular and honored, as a result of with out their partnership, we wouldn’t have had the nice yr we had in 2022. So it’s an enormous celebration for us.”
The final occasion of this sort, the Highlight Awards, occurred in 2020 on the Hyatt Zilara Cap Cana and introduced collectively greater than 100 brokers.
Week of AllStar occasions
The awards ceremony was the end result of a week-long gathering on the Hyatt Zilara Riviera Maya for 2023’s AllStars. The festivities kicked off Monday throughout which some 60 journey advisors from Canada and the USA arrived.
The week additionally included a commerce present with representatives from Playa’s Mexico resorts and the Celebrations, AgentCash+, and marriage ceremony departments. Later within the week, there have been web site visits to further Playa-managed properties within the area together with the Hyatt Ziva Riviera Cancun, Hilton Playa del Carmen, The Yucatan Resort, and Wyndham Alltra.
A wing of Hyatt Zilara Riviera Maya has swim-up lodging. (Photograph courtesy of Playa Lodges & Resorts)
Brokers additionally spent the week getting an immersive take a look at Hyatt Zilara Riviera Maya property, which opened its doorways final December. The luxe adults-only, all-inclusive resort is positioned about 20 minutes from Playa del Carmen and 45 minutes from Cancun’s airport. The week’s go to included a dine-around, which allowed brokers to expertise Hyatt Zilara Riviera Maya’s excellent culinary choices and a sports-themed evening on the property’s Legends Sports activities Bar.
U.S. winners of the 2023 Playa AllStars awards
2023 Playa Ambassador
Winner: Kim Cook dinner, Like to Journey
High Social Teams/Wedding ceremony Company USA
Winner: Destify
High Direct Reserving Agent USA
Winner: Hillary Nollau, Destify
High Producing Agent USA
Winner: Hillary Nollau, Destify
High Producing Company USA
Winner: Cruises and Excursions Limitless OSA
High Producing Agent Midwest USA
Winner: Hillary Nollau, Destify
High Producing Agent, Nationwide Account USA
Winner: Laura Zulaga
High Producing Agent Northeast USA
Winner: Sue Allen
Playa’s 2023 High Producing Agent Southeast USA Kellie Davis (Photograph Credit score: Photograph by Mia Taylor)
High Producing Agent Southeast USA
Winner: Kellie Davis
High Producing Agent TOLA, USA
Winner: Milan Raj
High Producing Agent West Coast USA
Winner: Krista Hull
