Karisma Hotels & Resorts' seventh annual Gourmet Inclusive Vacation Consultants (GIVC) Awards and Sales & Marketing Forum arguably had much to recommend it, but one of the most eagerly anticipated segments of the program was the gala awards dinner honoring the company's top producers.
This year, top honors went to VIP Vacations' Jennifer Doncsecz, who captured not only the Hall of Fame Award, but the Five Diamond Award, Top 10 Wedding Producers for Azul Hotels Award, Top 10 Wedding Producers for El Dorado Spa Resorts & Hotels Award and Top 10 Producers for Azul Hotels Award.
Other big winners included Destination Weddings Travel Group and Beach Bum Vacation Agency, which had 38 and 25 agents honored, respectively.
Sally Jane Smith of TravelSmiths won for top selling storefront agent and top-selling producer for El Dorado Royale and Azul Hotels. Like Doncsecz, she also received a Five Diamond Award.
Karisma Hotels & Resorts also paid tribute to 18 other GIVC agents with Five Diamond status, the company's highest agent recognition category. Those agents included: Thomas Carr, All Inclusive Outlet; Amy Lewis, Beach Bum Vacation; Hayley Whorrall, Beach Bum Vacation; Mimi Comfort, Cruise Holidays; Brittany Schiffler, Destination Weddings Travel Group; Shelli Nornes, Destination Weddings Travel Group; Lisa Pease, Fox World Travel; Burt Kramer, KHM Travel Group; Nicki Squittieri, Legacy Travel; Terrah Rominger, Legacy Travel; Matt Soloway, Luxe Destination Weddings; Nancy Finn, My Island Getaways; Tina Hearn, Paradise Weddings and Travel; Kim Crosby, SunLovers Travel; Sarah Bonsall, Sunset Travel; Pamela Walker, Tier One Travel; Michael Schellhase, Travel Haus of St. Louis; and Emily Fisher, VIP Vacations.
During the four-day event, Karisma announced a host of major announcements including the opening of a second resort in Jamaica in 2016, and the addition of 58 over-water infinity pool suites at El Dorado Maroma in mid 2015.
In travel agent news, Karisma announced it would debut a new agent portal and booking engine by Jan. 1 - and agents who book through the portal will receive 19 percent commission on all room categories.
Karisma launched the GIVC program in 2008. GIVC agents must meet specific requirements and standards. In return, they receive marketing tools and a broad range of sales incentives as well as an array of incentives for their clients.
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