Inside the ALG Vacations Elite Emerald Retreat

Over 275 travel advisors gathered in Miches for ALG Vacations’ 2026 Elite Emerald Retreat, held May 13 to 16 at the newly opened Secrets & Dreams Playa Esmeralda Resort & Spa.

The invite-only event celebrated agencies that achieved Emerald status with ALG Vacations in 2025, giving top-performing advisors the opportunity to network with peers, meet with supplier partners, and preview one of the Dominican Republic’s newest resort developments firsthand.

Each qualifying Emerald agency received one complimentary roundtrip airline ticket and accommodations at either Secrets or Dreams Playa Esmeralda, with the option to bring a guest. The three-night experience was offered at a heavily reduced rate of $199.

Travel Market Report was invited to attend the event, which combined general session presentations from ALGV executives, an Amstar excursion, cocktail receptions, and an awards gala. Throughout the retreat, executives emphasized advisor support, new technology initiatives, and strategies for navigating ongoing market challenges.

“Relationships in this industry are first and foremost,” said Heather Bull, co-owner of Peacock Travel Group in Little Rock, Arkansas. “Spending time with ALGV and the leadership team is really critical to the success of our team and the agency.”

ALGV Emerald Advisors: Nearly $35 Million in Commissions

The primary theme of the Elite Emerald event was gratitude: for the travel advisors who sell ALG Vacations to their clients, for Secrets & Dreams Playa Esmeralda Resort & Spa hosting the event, and for the many ways that people in the industry support each other during difficult times.

During the general sessions, multiple ALGV executives emphasized advisor support during turbulent times. Jim Tedesco, ALGV’s vice president of sales, took to the stage to congratulate all the advisors present on reaching Emerald status, stressing how central advisors are to the tour operator’s overall strategy.

“My job in this industry is to make sure that you remain a relevant piece of the vacation planning process every day for as long as time that I’m here,” he said.

In total, the advisors in the room represented $34.8 million in commission revenue last year. To earn Emerald status, an agency must sell at least $800,000 in bookings with ALGV. Tedesco also celebrated strong attachment rates for both Hyatt Inclusive Collection properties and Amstar transfers within the Emerald group.

The general sessions weren’t all good news: the ALG Vacations executives spoke candidly about the difficult start to 2026, citing disruptions ranging from Jamaica’s hurricane recovery to geopolitical tensions, long TSA wait times, and travel anxiety surrounding Mexico. The tour operator stressed that its relationships within the trade are more important than ever during these times of uncertainty.

“This first quarter really did quite honestly kick all of our asses,” said Jackie Marks, global head of trade brands.” You’re always going to hear us listen to you, and what you need. You’re always going to see us respond versus react.”

Another major topic was ALGV’s latest trade updates, including its new travel advisor portal and its expanded support for Europe and long-haul destinations through ALGV’s Premier Destinations team. Anderson Hernandez, senior vice president of contact centers and operations at ALG Vacations, went into detail about the benefits of the new portal, including its real-time data on booking performance, elite status tracking, attachment rates, and even customer care ticket status.

“The Advisor Portal is going to change the way you run your business in a positive way,” said Hernandez.

Giving Back to the Advisor Community

Much of the Elite Emerald Retreat was focused on celebrating the achievement of the advisors in attendance. There were no fast-paced hotel inspections or lengthy supplier presentations. Instead, the general sessions was focused on ALGV updates, an informative panel on content creation tips, and a delightful Q&A with travel advisor champion Carson Kressley.

The itinerary included an Amstar excursion for advisors, with options like a Cacao Plantation Tour with Chocolate Tasting and more adventure-focused options, like snorkeling. TMR joined in the “give back” option, which invited advisors to participate in voluntourism activities. For this event, the group helped fix up a local school by painting and laying out gravel in the yard.

Throughout the stay, there were also several festivities, including outdoor cocktail receptions, a lunch, and a gala dinner on the final night with live music and prizes.

Speaking with the advisors present, it was clear that those who attended saw the event as not just an opportunity for networking and learning about a destination, but also a true recognition event with the added benefit of relationship-building with the company’s key executive team.

“This, to me, feels like an appreciation event,” said Hannah Reed, co-owner of Once Upon A Time Vacations. “[ALGV] appreciate what we’re doing and they recognize us for what we put into the brand and into the company.”