Unique Vacations Canada Shines at Sandals Conference

More than 180 sales team members from Canada, the US, South and Central America, the UK, Europe and the Caribbean attended the recent annual Sandals Global Sales Conference held Sandals Barbados and Sandals Royal Barbados (Aug. 23-26).

Hosted by Gary C. Sadler, senior vice-president of sales, Unique Vacations, the conference featured notable speakers including Tammy Gonzalez, CEO; Unique Vacations; Jeff Clarke, COO, Unique Vacations; and Gebhard Rainer, CEO, Sandals Resorts International. Barbados Prime Minister Mia Amor Motley delivered the keynote speech. Throughout the weekend conference, all sales team members participated in team-building and learning activities with interactive talks by Sandals executives, breakout classes and more.

Four members of Unique Vacations Canada were recognized with individual honours during the awards ceremony, including two of the evening’s top prizes: Winston Chang – Business Development Manager, Western Canada – won two awards: Regional BDM of the Year, Canada, and National BDM of the Year – North America. Teresa Villanueva (pictured below accepting her award) – Inside Sales Manager, Canada, Outstanding Team Player, Canada; Grant Lawlor – National Groups Manager, Canada, Spirit of Excellence, Groups Department; Omar Josephs – National Manager, Industry Relations, Warren Cohen Award. Posthumously named in honour of the longtime Sandals executive, the award celebrates exemplary team spirit and dedication to the organization.

Pictured (top), Chang (second from right) accepts his two awards from Clarke, Maureen Barnes-Smith, director of sales and marketing, Canada; and Sadler.