Following the success of the first event which took place earlier this year in Santa Monica, Connections, the international private community for senior executives in high-end travel, has announced plans to again showcase its award-winning networking formula to the luxury travel industry in California.
The second series is confirmed to take place in March 2020, at the five-star, Five Diamond Monarch Beach Resort in Dana Point, southern Orange County. The event will run in partnership with Visit California and will be supported by leading sponsors, including Visit Dana Point, Monarch Beach Resort, The Ritz-Carlton, Laguna Niguel and Marriott Laguna Cliffs.
Caroline Beteta, president & CEO of Visit California, said: “Connections’ unique networking model is very much in line with our marketing strategy for California as the Golden State of Luxury. This year’s event successfully showcased the best of Californian luxury travel to key clients from across the globe.
“The Connections platform, which has been designed with the travel trade in mind, has been a game changer for us, and we are very much looking forward to working with the team to deliver the second series, which will put Dana Point on the global luxury travel map.”
Connections will bring a hand-picked selection of luxury agencies representing California’s key and emerging source markets to meet with the region’s finest suppliers. The immersive event will also welcome distinguished CEOs from Californian destination management companies, providing a strategic platform for them to engage with.
Dana Point is famous for being Southern California’s original surf town, and, more recently, for being the “Dolphin and Whale Watching Capital of the World™”. Experiences offered at the 2020 event will be local and authentic – pairing high-end luxury with the laid-back surf culture of Dana Point. They will include surf lessons, whale watching, seaside golf and a visit to the beautiful island of Catalina.
Micaela Giacobbe, founder of Connections, said: “We are absolutely delighted to be returning to California to deliver the second series in Dana Point. Our bespoke destination events have been created to strategically target luxury travellers on a global scale by strengthening the destination knowledge of key luxury agencies. They also encourage our attendees to fully immerse themselves in local experiences which bring out the best of the destination.”
The 2020 Visit California Luxury Forum will also include an educational programme, which will address key trends and challenges facing the luxury travel market.
Connections, www.weareconnections.com