Step into the oasis of Punta de Mita as we extend a warm Mexican welcome to all Connection attendees right by the beach! Soak in the sunset, breathe in the fresh ocean air, and meet and mingle with our Partners, your GDP Sales Representative, and your fellow planners. If this is your first time attending Connection, have no fear! We'll have some fun activations that will allow you to forge new connections and friendships right from the start.

Catherine Chaulet, President & CEO of Global DMC Partners

Always one of the Connection's highest rated education sessions, get ready for a captivating exploration of global business and travel trends led by Catherine Chaulet, President & CEO of Global DMC Partners. Discover the latest developments shaping the MICE industry, economy, and travel landscape, and uncover strategic insights to empower your role as a planner. Engage in dynamic roundtable discussions to unpack the real-world implications of these trends and exchange best practices for effectively managing and adapting to the ever-changing environment.  Topics covered will include the current geopolitical climate, inflation, airline & hotel trends, sustainability, Diversity Equity & Inclusion (DEI), generative A.I., destination trends, and more.

Tracy Judge, CEO, Soundings

Discover the correlation between strengths and job roles in the events industry and learn why your strengths could be holding you back.
• Learn from Soundings’ data-driven insights connecting strengths and performance
• Discover how to identify your strengths and why you should focus on them
• Leave armed with tactics to ensure your strengths never become your weaknesses

The one-on-one appointments are one of the most important aspects of the Connection. During registration, you’ll choose up to 6 appointments each day with our DMCs and Sponsors. This is your ideal opportunity to discuss your upcoming program needs, learn about destinations and local offerings, hear what is new around the world, ask questions, and learn about places or partners that you may not have considered in the past.

Sponsored by Marriott & Westin Puerto Vallarta & W Punta de Mita

Sustainability, CSR and giving back to the local community are critical components of programs, but determining the most effective ways to incorporate these and how to get creative in doing so, isn’t as easy. Through an interactive panel and discussion, we’ll hear from local organizations as to what is most impactful for them, and how you can incorporate similar ideas into programs around the world. Engage in a collaborative discussion with fellow attendees to exchange real-life examples and ignite inspiration.

Plus, contribute to our mission of giving back by bringing children's books in English (ages 6-12), art supplies, and school essentials with you to the Connection so we can collectively donate a big box of "wish list" items to these worthy causes and organizations in Punta de Mita.

Join smaller group sessions to engage in focused discussions on the topic of your choice, facilitated by fellow industry experts and peers. You will have the opportunity to exchange ideas, seek advice, and learn from the diverse perspectives of your peers. Be prepared to participate actively and ask probing questions so you can leave this session empowered with practical insights to apply in your own work.

Learning Hub Sessions Include:

- Creativity Mash-Up (Tukipa 1-3)  - Creativity is one of our favorite umbrella terms in the industry as it covers so many different areas of Event Planning and means something different to everyone! In the words of Albert Einstein: "Creativity is seeing what others see and thinking what no one else ever thought." This session will include interactive brainstorming to hear ideas around event themes, décor, wow events, sustainability, creative ways to make a budget work, authentic experiences, etc.

- Contract Negotiations and Working with Vendors (Xiriki AB) - Looking for more negotiation tactics and fancy contract terms to add to your planner toolkit? Hear from your peers as to what clauses, terms, and negotiation tactics they are using to have a win-win solution with all vendors involved in a program. From hotels to DMCs, we’ll cover all the key areas including contract terms, Force Majeure, payment terms, and how to get contracts signed on the virtual dotted line.

- Engaging the Attendee (Library / Lounge) - Getting attendees out of their house and to an event is tough, especially with the many travel challenges and trying to appeal to a wide variety of audience demographics. As a result, it is imperative for companies and planners to offer compelling reasons for attendees to want to travel and attend an event. This discussion will revolve around how to cater to different audiences and be inclusive as possible, tactics to boost attendance, and how to increase overall attendee engagement before, during and after the event takes place.

The one-on-one appointments are one of the most important aspects of the Connection. During registration, you’ll choose up to 6 appointments each day with our DMCs and Sponsors. This is your ideal opportunity to discuss your upcoming program needs, learn about destinations and local offerings, hear what is new around the world, ask questions, and learn about places or partners that you may not have considered in the past.