Sandals and Beaches Resorts host second home-based advisor conference in Jamaica

Seems like there’s no place like home, so to speak for Unique Vacations Canada Inc. – an affiliate of the worldwide representative of Sandals Resorts and Beaches Resorts – considering that it staged the second edition of its Canadian home-based travel advisor conference Jamaica recently.

Held at Sandals South Coast from Aug. 17 to Aug. 21, 2025, 20 home-based Canadian travel advisors – from British Columbia to Newfoundland and everywhere in between – came together for four nights of listening, learning and a deep dive into Sandals’ Caribbean-forward vision and innovative offerings and how that translates into their sales success selling Sandals and Beaches Resorts.

Hosted by Maureen Barnes-Smith, Vice President, Sales and Marketing, Canada and Lorna Richards, National Training Manager, the group enjoyed:

• Keynote presentations
• Intimate Q+A sessions
• Had a closer look at the brand’s “Made of Caribbean” campaign
• Participated in resort tours of host property Sandals South Coast – including the refurbished Blue Mahoe Overwater Butler Villas – and Sandals Negril and Beaches Negril
• And had a chance to explore beyond the resort with a tour of YS Falls, courtesy of the Jamaica Tourist Board and Island Routes.

Annita Allen-Gordon, Financial Controller, Unique Vacations Canada was also in attendance during the conference. Just in time for the start of the school year, the Canadian home-based advisors made a donation of much-needed (and much-appreciated) school supplies to the Sandals Foundation for distribution across local schools in Jamaica.

Maureen Barnes-Smith said that the conference underscores the importance of the home-based travel advisor community to Sandals Resorts, especially in the Canadian market, observing: “We’ve witnessed the shift to the home-based/host agency model for several years now, even pre-pandemic. In fact, many of our top-producing advisors in Canada for Sandals and Beaches Resorts are home-based. We had such an incredible group of passionate, eager-to-learn advisors at this year’s conference that I know this list will grow even longer in the near future.”

During the conference’s farewell dinner, with an appropriate red and white theme, advisors were surprised with an in-person address from Gary C. Sadler, Executive Vice President, Sales and Industry Relations, Unique Vacations Inc. (and fellow Canadian).

Sadler reminded advisors that Sandals Resorts is fully committed to the Canadian market, having established and maintained a strong presence for over 30 years with its Toronto-based office and team across the country.

Advisors left the conference feeling energized about their partnership and potential with Sandals and Beaches Resorts.   Comments from a few attendees include:

Sonia Lawrence, The Travel Agent Next Door, Cambridge, Ontario, said that: “Attending this conference at Sandals South Coast was such a rewarding experience. Not only did we enjoy the warm hospitality and stunning property, but we also had the opportunity to visit Sandals Negril, Beaches Negril, and the breathtaking YS Falls.”

And Lawrence added: “Meeting and collaborating with other home-based travel advisors was both inspiring and productive. Sandals and Beaches Resorts truly showcase the best in luxury, family, and romance travel … and I am excited to share these experiences with my clients.”

Nabila Hussain of TravQuest in Markham, Ontario, said that: “The Sandals Canadian Home-Based Travel Advisor Conference was fantastic, from start to finish. It was incredibly informative, providing valuable details about Jamaica in general and Sandals Resorts specifically.”

He continued: “The tours of Sandals South Coast, Sandals Negril and Beaches Negril were particularly insightful. ‘Seeing is believing’ and now having experienced these properties first-hand, it will definitely help me sell them more effectively.”

Claudia Biegus, TravelOnly, Cambridge, Ontario, said that: “This was my first time personally experiencing the Sandals & Beaches brand and what an experience it was! The conference was invaluable. The sessions on ‘what’s new’ were incredibly exciting and reinforced my belief in the brand’s commitment to innovation. I am particularly enthusiastic about the car wrap program as a powerful way to promote my business by aligning with the strength of the Sandals brand, especially as a home-based advisor.  Networking with other advisors was also a highlight as it provided new ideas and a sense of community.”

For more, agents can contact their local Sandals Business Development Manager or call Inside Sales at 1-800-545-8283.