Dan Chapelle

Our keynote speaker for conference this year was Dan Chapelle, the Wealthy Travel Agent author of Get your S.H.I.P Together.
We actually got to have smaller sessions with him doing some training at the beginning of the week. On the last day he delivered his keynote address. I enjoyed listening to him about how to find clients and how we can be the best at servicing them. Part of what I need to do is get myself out there which is what I am going to do when I get home.As I signed up for the North Dundas Business Expo. I also need to tell people what I do when we discuss travel and not feel badly about handing out my business card. Really the worse thing a person can do is throw it out an never contact me. They are the one's missing out not me.
I will continue to specialize in family travel which includes multi-generational being as I personally enjoy travelling with my parents and my children. I also specialize in special interest groups. Stay tuned for some interesting groups that will be happening in the next year. I have group space still for my December family cruise Western Caribbean on the Norwegian Getaway and next Summer the Mediterranean on the Norwegian Epic.
I am planning some special Golf groups, Yoga/Wellness, a Cycling tour as well as an Oberammegau 2020 Passion Play with the Church. If any of these sound interesting to you please feel free to reach out to me for details and keep your eyes peeled her on my blog.
I look forward to working and following Dan Chapelle in the future as a coach/mentor. I have already signed up for one training since being back home.
Every year there is a key note speaker and I have to say they are very much worth it. The two that I have been two have left me inspired and the first was Robin from Pencil from Kids so while I missed that address I have been blessed with hearing from her last year and meeting and hearing her speak this year.

Dan Chapelle (photo courtesy of Danchapelle.com)

Where you can find me:

Facebook: www.facebook.com/stephaniethetravelagentnextdoor

Website: http://www.exclusivetoyoutravel.ca

Email: slough@exclusivetoyoutravel.ca

TICO 500212282

55 York Street, Suite 803

Toronto, On M5J 1R7

Majestic Colonial Resort

I am going to start this post with some pictures from our room. It was very spacious for two people. 2 beds a couch and coffee table. A great desk and chair. It was very easy to work in.

 two beds and couch

 flat screen tv and desk and chair

soaker/jacuzzi tub

When I go away for business or pleasure it is important that I have a place to work. I need to be able to connect with clients if there are any problems with their travel arrangements. They even made us our own custom signs for our doors.

 This one explains I am busy working

This one asks to clean the room while I am exploring

The resort itself is decorated very well and kept clean. Smoking is not allowed in the rooms but is allowed throughout the resort. I found that a little hard to adept too. Every morning I watched them clean the sand in the ashtrays and stamp them with the "M" symbol for Majestic. The downstairs lobby bar was a nice place to hang out every night and catch up with my fellow agents and suppliers. I did not make it to the casino as I am not fond of providing donations.

 These lovely birds were on display

I enjoyed talking with them

 Sports bar (where the hockey playoffs were watched)

food truck area (snacks all night)

 Me

 Debbie

The small chapel

The man in the front was our butler Freddie

I really did have a great time at the resort!!

Where you can find me:

Facebook: www.facebook.com/Stephaniethetravelagentnextdoor

Website: http://www.exclusivetoyoutravel.ca

Email: slough@exclusivetoyoutravel.com

Tico # 50021282

55 York Street, Suite 803

Toronto, ON

M5J 1R7

Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Punta Cana

So just like our Air Canada sponsored evening buses dropped us off at the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Punta Cana for our Rock themed night. We were dropped off at the main lobby.

 Here  I am with the owner of my agency Steph Switzer

 (photo courtesy of Dan Galbraith)

We then got to walk through a long hallway to get to the events rooms. This hallway was filled with all kinds of stores such as Pandora and Nautica etc... As always there were many a la carte restaurants. I also noticed an escape room and a virtual reality game room. There was also lots of rock memorabilia, pictures and quotes from artists. Here are some pictures.

 Santana

 Elton John

 Gene Simmons "Kiss"

 The Allman brothers 

The Escape Room

On this night our theme was can you guess "rock star". Lots of agents took this theme to heart. Here are some pictures of them.

 Chantal

 Debbie

 Matt from Westjet (photo courtesy of Dan Galbraith)

Flemming President of TTAND and Aubrey from Goway 

 (photo courtesy of Dan Galbraith)

 (photo courtesy of Dan Galbraith)

The cocktail party was held in a huge ball room and they served food, once again buffet style. However the difference was that all of the a la carte restaurants were represented. 

 Seafood and Mexican

Sushi and Italian

I realized I actually missed the desserts. I did that a number of times throughout this vacation. Some agents went on a tour to see a room but because they were fully booked it was just a standard room, so I will be honest I did not go.Instead I snuck out went to the Pandora store to get my new Pandora charm. At lasts years conference I purchased my first Pandora bracelet and an Eeyore charm in the Bahamas. When I did my Mediterranean cruise I got my second charm a Frog Prince. This year I got a Palm tree and even held a guessing contest on my Facebook business page for a $ 10 Tim Horton's gift card. The winner was Diana Saunders.

my new charm

When I came back we moved to the ballroom next door where they held the Green Light VIP party. We learned more about West Jet Vacations and the AIC Hotel group, which includes The Hard Rock Hotels, Unico and more.

I strongly encourage you to book at these resorts they have so much fun for families, couples, golfers and those looking for awesome spas.

I have an example of pricing for August 18th to August 25th

Flights from Montreal to Punta Cana

Family of 4 2 Adults, 2 kids 5 and 7

Signature Presidential Suite 2 bedrooms

$11596.00 CAD (obviously this is not a lead in category)

You can follow me at 

Facebook: www.facebook.com/Stephaniethetravelagentnextdoor

Website: www.exclusivetoyoutravel.ca

Email: slough@exlcusivetoyoutravel.com

Tico 50021282

55 York Street Suite 803

Toronto, On

M5J 1R7

Pencil for Kids

The Travel Agent Next Door has a charity that we have been supporting since our first conference in 2016 when their President Robin Mednick was our keynote speaker. This charity helps the people of Niger in Africa. The charity is Pencil for Kids and we are happy supporters to this cause.
This charity was created in 2005 after Dan Galbraith happened to visit this city during common wealth games as he is a well know photographer. He was left unsettled after this visit and with the help of Robin and a great group of people the charity was born.
In 2007 they built their first school. There goal was to have sustainable programs in the community and income generating opportunities for women.  They have several programs. The farmers of the future program is the brainchild of Professor Dov Pasternak an agricultural scientist with fifty years experience in dry regions. The program is done in partnership with an American NGO, Eliminate Poverty Now. They have sewing programs and scholarships for girls.

 Robin photo courtesy of Dan Galbraith

Robin photo courtesy of Dan Galbraith

Robin is an awesome speaker and very passionate about this cause and so are the travel agents from the travel agent next door. Every year we raise donations at out conference. This year between donations made by agents and suppliers a match of $4000 from head office and online silent auction for three items donated by suppliers we managed to raise $19822.00 CAD for pencil for kids.

This an amazing amount and I feel honoured for the small contribution I was able to make last year and this year. If you would like to make a donation to this great cause please visit their website www.pencilforkids.com 

Where you can find me

Facebook: www.facebook.com/stephaniethetravelagennextdoor

Website: www.exclusivetoyoutravel.ca

Email: slough@exclusivetoyoutravel.com

TICO 50021282

55 York Street, Suite 803

Toronto, ON

M5J 1R7

The Teppanyaki Experience at the Majestic Colonial

So we did have a free evening for dinner. I got together with a few travel agents and suppliers to go to dinner. I have never had the opportunity to eat Teppanyaki before. I had hoped to the have the opportunity last year on my Norwegian cruise but the opportunity did not present itself. So needless to say I was very happy.
This dinning show is very much made by the chef and his ability to perform to his audience. We did start with the unlimited Sushi bar as you have to wait a while for the chef. They had six stations with three chefs. Each station seats twelve so depending on your party size you could be eating with strangers. We were a party of six so there was another party of six with us.
When the chef comes over he heats up his grill. The first food he adds is eggs. Once the egg is cooked he takes turns throwing it to the guests to catch in their mouths. Our suppliers Aubrey and Michael both did this. Aubrey did require more than one attempt. The rest if us declined.

The sushi. I just had to try one of everything

Once he finished the egg he added rice and veggies. He then served us each a giant bowl.

 The pictures do not do justice to his knife skills

fried rice made fresh right before our eyes

While we were eating this he continued his show. He cooked veggies which included my favourite water chestnuts, chicken, beef, shrimp and salmon. It tasted so good but there was just too much food.

 our chef

 some of the yummy food

I just loved the noodles and they were so simple

After all of this they offered dessert. I took a picture of someone else's as I had to pass on dessert. It was just too much. Especially starting with so much Sushi. We did not feel rushed at all. However we had a later reservation time at 7:45 pm and it was closer to 8:00 pm when we got seated. Some colleagues who booked earlier did feel rushed to get in and out faster so I do recommend having a later start time if possible.

chocolate mousse

You can find me here

Facebook: www.facebook.com/stephaniethetravelagentnextdoor

Web: www.exclusivetoyoutravel.ca

Email: slough@exclusivetoyoutravel.com

TICO 50021282

55 York Street Suite 803

Toronto, On 

M5J 1R7

Giving Back

The Travel Agent Next Door head office and agents along with Travelbrands and Am Resorts had the awesome experience of giving back to a school in La Romana, Dominican Republic. Many agents brought along with them backpacks filled with school supplies. On the Tuesday which was our free day many of us loaded on to buses for the drive to the school. The school is made up of 4 complexes and has 1800 students. Complex 1 is a preschool, Complex 2 is an elementary school and complex 3 and 4 are the high schools divided between boys and girls.
We were divided into two buses, one going to the boys school and one going to the girls school. We were further divided into four groups from there. One group painted the newly refinished basketball courts, a second group painted newly refinished benches and tables. The third group did crafts and the fourth group did board games.
The painting groups brought paint brushes with them. The craft groups brought craft supplies and the board game group brought board games. When we got to the school we were taken on a tour of the school

welcome to the school photo courtesy of Dan Galbraith

They are very dependent on teaching trades such as hotel, restaurant as they rely heavily on tourism revenue in the country. They also have health care as well.

 Sewing room

 health classroom

 computer lab

 Industrial Kitchen

Service classroom

Once the tour was done we broke up into groups. I met a bunch of girls my daughters ages and we played many rounds of Connect four and we got to know each other. Some girls had more English than others. Unfortunately my Spanish is not good at all.

photo courtesy of Dan Galbraith

After games we had a break and we more time to interact with the girls. They were very much like my daughters. They were teasing each other playing around and very excited to do selfies.

We then boarded a bus back to the boys school and the girls loaded into school buses. We then were treated to dancing and musical performances by some of the boys and girls. 

 photo courtesy of Dan Galbraith

 a group photo of agents and students photo courtesy of Dan Galbraith

A gift I received from one of the students

It was such a great time being able to give back. There is a waiting list to getting into the school. It costs $10 a month and some families have trouble paying that amount. The school website is www.fundacionmire.org

Where you can find me

Facebook: www.facebook.com/stephaniethetravelagentnextdoor

Website: www.exclusivetoyoutravel.ca

Email: slough@exclusivetoyoutravel.com

TICO 50021282

55 York Street Suite 803

Toronto, ON

M5J 1R7