1000 Mile Travel Group wraps up inspiring 2025 North American Conference in Punta Cana

1000 Mile Travel Group (1000MTG) wrapped up its vibrant and impactful 2025 North American Conference at the stunning Dreams Onyx Resort & Spa in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic, where travel professionals from across North America gathered from May 1–4 to connect, learn, and celebrate.

With a theme focused on growth and meaningful impact, the conference brought together travel advisors, preferred partners, and industry leaders, and featured a high-impact agenda that included supplier roundtables, advisor-led workshops, and a keynote session with renowned travel strategist Geraldine Ree.

“This year’s conference perfectly captured what makes 1000MTG so special—our people, partners, and purpose,” said Nicola Veltman, CEO of 1000 Mile Travel Group. “We’re incredibly proud of the community we’ve built, and this weekend reminded us how much we can achieve when we come together with intention.”

Professional growth and global networking

The event officially kicked off with a hosted site inspection by Hyatt Inclusive Collection, followed by a welcome cocktail reception where advisors reconnected.

In addition to core sessions, attendees engaged in professional development panels and peer-to-peer workshops highlighting success stories, shared strategies, and fostered best-practice learning. Platinum and Gold partner presentations delivered cutting-edge insights into global travel trends and business opportunities.

“It was incredible to see the energy, learning, and collaboration that unfolded across every session,” said Christy Shafer, 1000MTG General Manager – North America. “This wasn’t just a conference—it was a true celebration of how far we’ve come and where we’re headed together.”

Celebrating excellence: 2025 Top Producers and Awards

Saturday evening’s Top Achievers Awards honored the best of the best, followed by a dinner reception, prize giveaways, and a lively party celebrating the incredible growth and momentum of the global 1000MTG network.

The 2025 Top Producers recognized for their outstanding performance and business growth were:

• Cathy Nilsen, Direct Access
• Jeannette Young, Allure Elite
• Sheri Deen Broeder, Sheri’s Ultimate Dreams Travel LLC
• Lisa Salloum, The Travel Concierge by Lisa
• Jean Williams, Travel By Design, LLC
• David Petlin, Flair Travel
• Wendy Rozak, Yachta Yachta Yachta Travel LLC
• Andrea Keiderling Fehl, AKF Travel, LLC

In addition to top production, two special awards celebrated remarkable contributions:

• Most Engaged Advisor 2025: Marcia Yallech, Yallech Travel – for her active participation, leadership, and community spirit within the 1000MTG network.
• Rising Star 2025: Kirsten Billhardt, Rosedale Travel – for her impressive business growth and entrepreneurial momentum as a newly established advisor.

“Our advisors are the heart of our business, and we’re thrilled to honour their achievements,” said Shafer. “These award winners embody the spirit of independence, excellence, and service that defines our network and we can’t wait to reward them with a trip on the Crystal Serenity in December.”

Advisors give back to the Dominican community

In true 1000MTG fashion, advisors didn’t just come to learn and network—they also gave back. This year’s community initiative generated more than $900 in cash donations and Amazon gift cards to support charity, Fundacion Pequenas Sonrisas (Little Smiles).

Advisors also donated 13 bins filled with school supplies and backpacks, helping equip Dominican children for the academic year ahead.

Advisor Marcia Yallech led a heartfelt initiative to donate 100 hand-sewn pairs of boys’ shorts and 100 handmade dresses for girls – all of which she personally brought with her. The initiative reflected 1000MTG’s belief in making a positive impact on every community it touches.

“We talk about the power of travel to transform lives—and our advisors live that every day,” said Veltman. “Their generosity and heart never cease to amaze us.”

Elevating expertise with FAM experiences

Ahead of the main event, select 1000MTG advisors participated in an exclusive Pre-Conference FAM trip from April 28 to May 1, 2025, at the elegant Grand Palladium Punta Cana Resort & Spa. Designed to enhance destination expertise, the experience included comprehensive site inspections of top-tier resorts.

“These FAM experiences gave our advisors a firsthand look at the luxury and diversity Punta Cana has to offer—empowering them with deeper knowledge, stronger supplier relationships, and renewed confidence to craft unforgettable travel experiences for their clients,” said Shafer.

Following the main conference, a group of advisors continued their learning journey by joining the Virtuoso Resort Post-Conference FAM at the prestigious Casa de Campo Resort & Villas. This curated experience, featured immersive resort tours, luxury accommodations, and direct supplier engagement—equipping attendees with the tools to elevate their luxury travel sales.

Recognizing our generous sponsors

The success of the 1000 Mile Travel Group Annual Conference is made possible by the generous support of Platinum Sponsors including Hyatt Inclusive Collection, Delta, Delta Vacations, Princess Cruises, Sabre, and Virtuoso, along with Gold Sponsors, Allianz Insurance, Virgin Voyages, Norwegian Cruise Line, Globus Family of Brands, Royal Caribbean, Crystal, ALG Vacations, and Oceania Cruises.

As well as our Silver Sponsors, Context Travel, Tauck, African Travel, The Travel Corporation, Hilton, Moloney and Kelly, United Airlines, Travel Guard, AmaWaterways, Silversea, Travefy, Viking, Pleasant Holidays, Celebrity, and Kensington, and Bronze Sponsors, Abercrombie & Kent, CIE Tours, Project Expedition, Uniworld River Cruises, Regent Seven Seas, Aurora Expeditions, and our partner ASTA.