The Connection will start with us coming together to welcome everyone to the Bahamas and set the stage for what attendees can expect during the Connection. We’ll also provide an overview of all the DMCs/destinations, partners, and sponsors that you will have the chance to meet with during your time in the Bahamas. If this is your first time attending the Connection, have no fear! We'll have some fun activations that will allow you to forge new connections and friendships right from the start.

Attire: Resort/Business Casual
 

Step into the oasis of the Bahamas as we extend a warm Bahamian welcome with a traditional fish fry! We’ll serve up local favorites for you to enjoy while you soak in the sunset, breathe in the fresh ocean air, and meet and mingle with our Partners, your GDP Global Advisor, and your fellow planners.

Attire: Resort Casual – Bright colors suggested. We will be outside in the grass so no heels please.

Sponsored by: Grand Hyatt Baha Mar, Sunbound, Zamar

Georg Garnitschnig, Certified Sound Healer

This 45-minute-long session is open to all, regardless of age or experience level. Participants will find the guided instructions easy to follow and deeply relaxing. Just bring an open mind and a willingness to receive the holistic benefits of guided meditation and sound. Tibetan singing bowls, a gong and other musical instruments will be used to stimulate deep relaxation and promote overall well-being.

Catherine Chaulet, President & CEO of Global DMC Partners, with Industry Panelists

What’s next for global business events and travel? Catherine Chaulet opens this panel session with an overview of the macro trends shaping the MICE industry, such as economic shifts, budget pressures, safety and security, changing attendee expectations & generational differences, and evolving destination and venue trends. Then, a panel of event experts takes the conversation further, breaking down how these trends are impacting real-world planning and destination strategies. Bring your questions for the panel and walk away with the knowledge and tools to make informed decisions to ensure your events stay relevant, resilient and ahead of the curve.

Attire: Resort/Business Casual
 

Speakers: Catherine Chaulet, Stacy Roberts, Erin Rougeux

Discover new potential MICE destinations in 2nd and 3rd tier markets that offer exceptional value without compromising quality or experiences. This fast-paced session spotlights alternative destinations where your budget stretches further while delivering unique, authentic experiences your attendees will remember. Learn how these secondary locations can provide greater flexibility, personalized service, and distinctive local flair—often at lower costs than traditional meeting hubs. This will be a rapid tour of destinations around the world for you to consider that may have never crossed your mind before.

Attire: Resort/Business Casual
 

The one-on-one appointments are a key highlight of the Connection, offering meeting planners a valuable opportunity to connect directly with DMCs and Sponsors. During registration, you’ll have the chance to schedule up to six personalized appointments each day. These focused sessions are the perfect platform to discover new destinations and unique local offerings and uncover partners or places you may not have previously considered.

Attire: Resort/Business Casual
 

Get ready for an epic beach cleanup that combines community service and friendly team competition! On Friday afternoon, we'll split into groups that will battle it out to see who can make the biggest impact on a local Bahamian beach. Bring your competitive spirit and get ready to move, clean up, soak up the sun, and give back in the most fun way possible!

Attire: Workout Wear - t-shirts, shorts, leggings, sneakers, etc. Hats, sunscreen, sunglasses are also encouraged.

Sponsored by: Baha Mar Foundation

Attire: Resort Casual, this will be outside on solid ground. Heels are fine!

Sponsored by: Bahamas Ministry of Tourism, Sunbound, Titan Hospitality Group, Zamar

Georg Garnitschnig, Certified Sound Healer

Location: Cocoplum, exit out the casino doors at T2 where we exited for dinner on Thursday. Follow the staircase down, make a left and the lawn is on the right (before the pools).

This 45-minute-long session is open to all, regardless of age or experience level. Participants will find the guided instructions easy to follow and deeply relaxing. Just bring an open mind and a willingness to receive the holistic benefits of guided meditation and sound. Tibetan singing bowls, a gong and other musical instruments will be used to stimulate deep relaxation and promote overall well-being.

AI isn’t here to replace event planners—using it strategically can actually make your job easier. In this interactive, hands-on session, we’ll walk through the lifecycle of an event—think budgeting, F&B planning, proposal creation, content generation, and more—demonstrating how specific AI tools can save time, streamline tasks, and elevate your work. Whether you’re new to AI or already experimenting, you’ll leave with concrete examples, tool recommendations, and tips you can immediately apply. Get your burning AI questions answered by industry experts, and bring your laptop to test out powerful tools for yourself in this hands-on working session.

Attire: Resort/Business Casual
 

Inspire your next event with a fast-paced, high-energy session designed to ignite creativity and drive innovation for meeting planners. This dynamic presentation is packed with fresh, actionable ideas that were crowd sourced from Connection attendees during registration. These could include show-stopping décor concepts, unique incentive ideas, engaging activations, cutting-edge F&B trends, creative solutions for attendee engagement, and meaningful CSR and sustainability initiatives. Our goal is that you leave this session inspired by your peers’ ideas and equipped with some new ways to create unforgettable experiences.

Attire: Resort/Business Casual
 

The one-on-one appointments are a key highlight of the Connection, offering meeting planners a valuable opportunity to connect directly with DMCs and Sponsors. During registration, you’ll have the chance to schedule up to six personalized appointments each day. These focused sessions are the perfect platform to discover new destinations and unique local offerings and uncover partners or places you may not have previously considered.

Attire: Resort/Business Casual
 

Attire: Resort Casual, Country Club Chic (Tropical colors, pinks, greens, etc encouraged), we will be outside on concrete so heels allowed. 

Sponsored by: SLS Baha Mar, Sunbound, Zamar

Vouchers will be handed out during Registration for Breakfast.