For the first time since 2019, the Hard Rock Showstopper Awards are back. Hosted at the swanky Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Punta Cana, this year the multi-day event hosts a whopping 415 top-selling travel agents and guests. With pool parties, beach parties, special dining experiences and loads of extras, this event is a huge celebration!
If you’re not already in the know, AIC Hotel Group includes luxury resort properties in the US, Mexico and Caribbean, including Eden Roc Miami Beach, Nobu Hotel Miami Beach and Nobu Hotel Chicago, as well as Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Punta Cana, plus properties in Cancun, Vallarta, Riviera Maya and Los Cabos. Also Nobu Hotel Los Cabos and UNICO 20˚87˚ Hotel Riviera Maya, the first of its new luxury all-inclusive concept.
This year, because of the long wait, the competition for the Showstopper Awards was fierce – and some agents were forced to be creative. Ash Tembe, Vice President of Global Field Sales at AIC Hotel Group, told Open Jaw, “Our Showstopper Awards have become an industry staple and something our travel partners look forward to every year. Some travel agents who did not meet the booking threshold to be invited were trying to book rooms at full price to sneak into events, which is something we’ve never had happen before.”
Canadian advisors made off with some of the most coveted hardware at the awards ceremony. Congratulations are in order for Amitt Saini from Destawed, who earned the highest accolades: Diamond for 2019 sales and Double Platinum for both 2020 and 2021 - a huge achievement. Other prestigious winners (all for 2019 sales) include Diamond level winner Mishma Fernandez also from DestaWed and Double Platinum winners Nashila Remtulla from Imagine Grand and Jatinder Singh from Hype Travel. Last but definitely not least, the Gold level winners for 2019 include Gina Leblanc from Voyages Nicole St-Hilaire, Samantha Kailey from Celebration Travel, Sandra Stirling from Destination Weddings and Jennifer Langlois from Suite Trip Travel TPI.
These agents aren’t just big bookers of AIC Hotel Group, they live it and love it: AIC is their jam! It's a given that next year's awards - and even the invitation to the party - will be high in demand too, so agents are advised to get booking clients now if they want to avoid having to try to sneak into events next year!
