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Rain failed to dampen the spirits of the 110 travel advisors and guests who attended Sandals Resorts’ 20th Annual USA Travel Advisor Golf Tournament in Jamaica.
The host resort for the Oct. 26-30 event was Sandals Ochi Beach, and golf was played at Sandals’ Upton Estate Golf &Country Club nearby.
From left, Jodi Hoeser, business development director for Sandals; Garth Laird, vice president-trade sales for Sandals; Adam Anderson of Vibe Getaways in Bristol, Wis., a member of the Chairman’s Royal Club Diamond Elite; and Chad Krueger, regional sales director-Midwest. (Source: Theresa Norton)
The first round of golf barely got started when rain began to fall. It was canceled when thunder and lightning was spotted. Safety first! A small-business marketing session was scheduled instead.
All 18 holes were played during the second round, despite intermittent rain.
Megan Sams, winner of Women’s Longest Drive from Riverside Tours and Travel in Jacksonville, Fla., and her husband Eric. (Source: Theresa Norton)
“You all are true golfers. Rain or sunshine, we play,” Mark Harvey, a business development manager for Sandals and Beaches Resorts, posted on the event’s WhatsApp chat.
Travel advisors also were treated to a cocktail party at Sandals Dunn’s River, breakfast at Sandals Royal Plantation, and drinks and hors d’oeuvres at Beaches Ocho Rios.
Pete Drab of Sun and Fun Travels in Mokena, Ill., right, with his colleagues Jessica and Kyle Quinn. (Source: Theresa Norton)
The scramble event was by invitation only. “The goal when qualifying was to get travel advisors who will want to grow their business through golf,” said Jake Coldiron, national manager of golf sales.
Coldiron said the aim is to help advisers book golf groups and individual golf travel, working with their local golf courses or country clubs.
“The goal is to see bookings and groups from everyone who attended,” he said, “and to give the travel advisors more knowledge on Sandals’ golf and our resorts.”
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