Building Connections, Inspiring Travel: Wander Network Conference 2025
- worththemilestrave
- Oct 6
- 9 min read
When you become a travel agent one of the most important decisions you will make is deciding your host agency. Your first choice will mold and influence ALL of your future plans you make with your business, so choose wisely. The right host agency will open doors for you, connect you with the best suppliers and even be there when you call crying 1110 times. Thankfully it was a no brainer for me when I saw Shannon promoting The Wander Network.
I became your favorite travel agent in February 2024, and it's been the best almost 2 years of my life. One thing is for sure you will find me crying at least once during a FAM trip, conference or opportunity that's been graciously extended to me. It's happy tears I promise, I just can't believe this is my life sometimes. Don't worry this blog post isn't about me crying, although I'll share the picture below of where the tears came this go around when I was attending the FIRST annual Wander Network Conference in Orlando. So let me show you what it's like to be part of this amazing team.
We arrive Wednesday evening at the Drury Inn and Suites Disney Springs, apologizing to my roommate Rachael for being delayed and rushing to get ready since I-4 will never disappoint you by turning an hour drive into a three-hour drive. If you have read my blogs in the past, you know the first thing I do when I get to a hotel is check out the view. We hit the jackpot!
With my drink in hand from the FREE nightly cocktails you get (limit 3), it was time to go finally meet all the amazing people I had come to know through the computer screen. We were set up in a nice alcove of the property where we checked in with Shannon and Kellie to receive our swag bags and name tags. After a couple hours of laughs it was time to get a good night's sleep because the next morning the real fun began.
After a delicious buffet breakfast at the hotel, it was time to head down to the conference rooms and hear from our valued suppliers.
First, Mark with Sandals/Beaches and boy did he set the tone for the day, I was ready to book an overwater bungalow right then!
We then got to hear from not only one of my favorite suppliers but favorite people to work with Lourdes with Price Agencies. Thanks to her I have a nice new resource for my cruise clients (you'll just have to book with me to see what it is). The next supplier Peggy with Holland America highlighted their truly epic Land and Sea Journey's where you can sail upon one of their ships and then take the train all around the beautiful Alaskan tundra really getting up-close and personal with such an amazing destination.
The only way to top off the morning was with Omar from Margaritaville at Sea where his pretty self-had me looking on amazon for my new flowered shirt and our mouths watering with those cheeseburgers in paradise.
It's a good thing it was time for a break to stretch our legs and get ready for our dine and learn with TTC. This company is my featured Trip of the Month everyone gets in my newsletters and also will be who I will be utilizing for 2027 Travel with Me Group! (Details will be coming soon, and I'd love for you to come with me). They bring a whole new meaning to guided tours.
Now Alex with Celebrity Cruise Lines makes you want to pay attention because not only are you learning all about this incredible cruise line that is venturing into river cruising in 2027, but he is famous for throwing goodies when we answer our questions correctly! His highlights of the XCEL ships will truly help you understand the ELEVATED level of service Celebrity offers. Of course I scored me Celebrity Cruise Luggage tag.
One thing about the travel industry you will have hard time finding anywhere else is collaboration over competition. Our last session of the day was everyone I just mentioned above coming together to do a Q and A Panel for us agents. We got to dig a little into ways we can become better for our clients and what we can do to ensure a successful partnership with our suppliers and support teams. I mean do you understand that's 3 different cruise companies (competition) sitting together to ensure I succeed. Of course, that's why it's important to know our clients to know which company you would enjoy the most!
That evening we hopped on the shuttle the hotel provides and went over to Disney Springs for a special dinner at Terralina that myself, Rachael, Lillie, and Amber put together for the agents who didn't have plans elsewhere. We sure did miss Amber who was part of the planning but couldn't make the conference last minute. We were even blessed with Lourdes and Omar's presence that night!
Each conference I commemorate with something special to take home with me. I budget to spend a little more than just a $10 t-shirt and with all the wine at dinner I found myself in Vera Bradley making just that purchase. (It was a little more than $10). But it's cute!!!
OK OK ALRIGHT!!! I won't lie to you, I bought 2 things, but come on look at them!!
Now that you've uncovered my dirty secret. It was time to head back to the hotel and try and get some sleep for the next day which was epic!
It was time to meet everyone downstairs for our private transfer to Port Canaveral because it was time to tour....
Royal Caribbean's Utopia of the Seas!!! This absolutely stunning Oasis Class Ship is also better known as The World's Biggest Weekend. This ship sails out of Port Canaveral and only offers 3 or 4 day sailings. Royal Caribbean was really onto something with creating such an epic ship and giving people a taste of it on shorter sailings. Each sailing will take you to Nassau Bahamas, and their private island Perfect Day at CoCo Cay.
This ship also has something no other ship in their fleet has. The Royal Railway Utopia Station dining experience (additional charge). This is the most interactive dinner at sea. You will be transported to the Wild West onboard a dining railcar where you will be served a 5 - course meal, all while having views of the expansive desert passing you by through the "windows". This experience will make you forget your supposed to be on a ship in the middle of the ocean.
I will be writing an entire blog post on this ship, but some highlights to also discover onboard are 20+ dining options, suite neighborhoods, surf simulator and waterpark, along with an aqua theater and one of the most iconic things to do onboard, the Ultimate Abyss. I know it sounds scary, in all honesty I was scared when I went on it, that would be the dual dry slides on the back of the ship, you saw it in the first picture, those purple winding tubes take you 10 stories in 13 seconds.
We toured the vast number of staterooms available onboard before then being treated to a lunch in the solarium (adults only area 18+), where I found a friend.
The options for the entire family while onboard will make even the biggest cruise critic ready to book another one maybe even a 7 day one next time on Icon or Star of the Seas which believe it or not is even bigger than this one. Our amazing BDM Joanne really went above and beyond to show us as much as we could fit in those 5 hours, and when my watch told me I was at 12,000 steps I decided to take a pit stop on this lovely lounger.
After 5 hours of trying to find someone's suitcase to sneak into so we wouldn't have to get off the ship, we all arrived back in the terminal to say our goodbyes to both the ship and Joanne. I would also like to add I was appointed the caboose of this 23-agent train and I took my job very seriously, with a picture to prove everyone got off the ship and stayed together.
The day was just beginning though because it was Friday night, and we had a monorail bar crawl to get to! The monorail bar crawl is where you stop at every resort along the Disney monorail and grab a drink or two or three, then proceed to convince Shannon to stay out for one more, catch the Mickey's Not so Scary fireworks at The Polynesian Resort and then barely survive the Uber trip back to our hotel. (Recommendation: The Espresso Martini at The Contemporary is the drink to get.) Also, sorry again Shannon for making you stay and then me leaving as soon as I could.....(listen.. that espresso martini hit and I was feeling adventurous, plus we had people in the group who had never even been on the monorail we had to).
The next morning sore as sore could be, thanks to the 15000 steps I walked and the monorail bar crawl it was time to head back into the conference to meet with some more suppliers.
Now the first supplier of the day was Arch Roam Right Travel Insurance. You can grab your FREE Quote right HERE! Even though the insurance is great, my favorite thing about Arch Roam Right is Sam! No not me, Sam who works for Arch Roam Right! I was lucky enough to spend almost every night with this amazing lady! I think the favorite part was letting her know we love Arch Roam Right, but we love Sam more!
We then had Tommy with Beds Online, where we learned about the Luxurist program they offer for clients! How does concierge on your trips sounds?
The next supplier and BDM knows how to bring the fun just like her company, Sydney with Carnival Cruise Lines! I cannot say enough how she not only passes on Carnival knowledge, but sales knowledge to set us up for success.
Our next speaker Lisa was with The Travel Institute teaching us the ways of Netiquette. (The way you act on the internet). I don't know if she would be proud or mortified at my blog posts, but we keep it real around here.
The final presentation of the conference was with Mia with the Michael Kors plane purse that I wanted from Chubb Travel Insurance. When I say after her presentation, I had a few clients in mind whom I would be telling about their annual plans they offer. If you are a frequent traveler for both work and play let's get you on an annual plan!
The rest of the afternoon was a chance to do your own thing, and my calves were screaming at me to get in the hot tub and relax!!! So that's what I did, because I still had one more early morning to go!
Now this next part, really meant a lot to me. I strive daily to make everyone's travel amazing, and really connect with my clients. It was announced about a week before that I was in the Top 3 Sales for the entire Wander Network for the year and we would be having breakfast at Boma at the Animal Kingdom lodge to celebrate with Shannon, Kellie, Mia with Chubb, Paula and Lillie. This could not have been done without my amazing clients, and the trust that everyone has shown since I started this business. I truly hope that everyone takes the opportunity to see the world.
The rest of the day was spent at the pool party, where we were gifted some swag from Visit Miami, and got to mingle with the fellow agents, in a laid back kind of style.
WARNING: I did burn, but it was Florida!!!
It was now time for my least favorite part, the see ya later reception...
If you know conferences or work trips, you know that other people see you on vacation, but these events are work. They are work for the hosts, and the suppliers and the attendees. I mean the best kind of work there is but still work. So thank you again Sam with Arch Roam Right for my survival kit because this is how I ended the conference.
This entire experience was amazing, I am grateful and thankful to be a part of The Wander Network, I continue to be grateful for every opportunity I am blessed with on this journey. I want to Thank Kellie for all that she does for The Wander Network and our partnerships, and a very special Thank You to Shannon for creating this company that I have truly found myself in.
I have to go pack another suitcase, because I leave for Cancun to ALG Ascend Conference in 7 days!
As always Take the Trip
-Samantha
Owner/Agent
Worth the Miles Travel
Comments