There are some trips you take because you need a vacation, and then there are trips that become experiences you know you’ll remember for the rest of your life.

Our 2026 convention in Oahu was definitely one of those trips.

We actually booked this trip about 12 months in advance, as soon as the convention dates were released. We knew this would be a special year because it marked our organization’s 10th year, so we expected a full week packed with events, training, networking, and plenty of opportunities to learn from some of the best in the travel industry.

What we didn’t expect was just how special the entire experience would become.

A Very Special Upgrade

Before we even left Dallas, we received an incredible blessing from one of our special followers who surprised us with an upgrade to First Class.

And not just any First Class.

We flew American Airlines aboard one of their Boeing 787 Dreamliners, where each passenger has their own private little pod and a seat that fully reclines into a bed.

Now, I’ll be honest…

I wasn’t convinced I would actually be comfortable enough to recline all the way back and sleep on an airplane.

Turns out, I was wrong!

That eight-hour flight to Hawaii was incredibly smooth, and I ended up sleeping for about three of those eight hours. That’s saying something for someone who normally doesn’t sleep particularly well on airplanes!

It was definitely a pretty amazing way to start our Hawaiian adventure.

Aloha, Oahu!

After landing in Honolulu, we made our way toward baggage claim, where our driver was waiting for us.

And talk about a Hawaiian welcome!

We were greeted with beautiful Hawaiian leis before being escorted to our transportation. It was one of those moments where you immediately realize, Yep…we’re in Hawaii!

Our destination was the Hilton Hawaiian Village Waikiki Beach Resort.

This particular hotel was especially meaningful to me because I used to work for Hilton. I’ve stayed at a lot of Hilton properties over the years, but I had always wanted the opportunity to stay at this iconic property on Waikiki Beach.

And now, here we were.

After getting settled into our room and unpacking our luggage, we headed down to the convention registration area to get checked in and officially begin the week.

A Week of Learning, Training & Connecting

If you think a travel convention is just a week of hanging out in Hawaii, let me tell you…

We were BUSY!

We were up early every morning and had a schedule packed with events, training sessions, networking opportunities, and meetings.

Our first major event was a Travel Trade Show, where many of our top travel suppliers and vendors came together to share information about their products and destinations.

This was one of my favorite parts because I got to meet and speak with several vendors that I regularly work with for my own clients.

There’s something completely different about being able to sit across the table from a supplier you’ve communicated with online and actually have a face-to-face conversation.

It’s one thing to sell travel.

It’s another thing to build relationships with the people who help make those travel experiences possible.

Learning From the Experts

The second day was filled with training from several of our preferred suppliers.

We had the opportunity to learn more about their products, programs, destinations, and what they offer travelers.

For us as travel advisors, this kind of training is incredibly valuable.

The travel industry is constantly changing. New ships are launched, resorts add new experiences, destinations evolve, and suppliers introduce new programs.

The more we know, the better we can serve our clients.

Then came another full day of company training.

We had sessions covering different aspects of our organization, led by some of the company’s top booking agents as well as some of the top business-building agents and mentors.

Hearing directly from people who have actually built successful travel businesses was incredibly motivating.

They weren’t just talking about theory.

They were sharing their experiences, the things that worked, the challenges they faced, and what they learned along the way.

A Little Time to Explore

Even with such a packed convention schedule, we did manage to find some free time in the evenings.

And when you’re staying at the Hilton Hawaiian Village on Waikiki Beach, it’s pretty hard not to take advantage of that!

We explored the property, walked around, took in the scenery, and enjoyed simply being on Oahu.

Those little moments between the scheduled events were some of the ones we enjoyed the most.

Because while the convention was the reason we were there, we were still in Hawaii!

The Big Night — The Annual Gala

Then came the final big evening of the convention: the annual gala.

This year’s theme was Black & White, and everyone showed up dressed to impress.

There was a sea of formal attire, and honestly, everyone looked amazing.

The evening included special speakers, entertainment, and the presentation of awards recognizing some of the company’s top booking agents and top mentors.

One of my favorite parts was hearing from the people receiving those awards.

Each person had the opportunity to give a short speech and tell a little bit about their journey.

And that was the part that really hit me.

You could hear the emotion in their voices as they talked about where they started, the challenges they had overcome, the people who had helped them along the way, and what their hard work had produced.

It was eye-opening.

It was inspiring.

And honestly, it was one of the most special parts of the entire convention.

Success doesn’t happen overnight. What we were seeing on that stage was the result of consistency, hard work, learning, helping others, and simply refusing to give up.

One Last Adventure Before Heading Home

Our final day included more internal training, but fortunately our classes wrapped up around noon.

That gave us a little time to get out and enjoy some more of Oahu before heading to the airport.

We hopped on a trolley and took a ride around a portion of the island, getting one last look at the beautiful scenery before it was time to say goodbye.

Then it was off to the airport for our flight home.

Our return flight was about seven hours, and apparently the combination of a long week and another comfortable airplane seat worked in my favor because I slept for about four of those seven hours!

I think my body had finally figured out this whole sleeping-on-airplanes thing.

More Than Just a Convention

Looking back, this trip was about so much more than attending a convention.

It was about people.

We met so many incredible people in person that we had previously only known through Facebook, Zoom calls, messages, training sessions, and online conversations.

There’s something special about finally putting a face and a voice to someone you’ve talked to countless times online.

We learned from industry experts.

We connected with suppliers.

We trained with successful agents.

We celebrated the accomplishments of others.

And we came home with a renewed appreciation for the opportunities available in this industry.

Most importantly, we were incredibly blessed to have the opportunity to experience all of it together.

Our 2026 Oahu convention is an experience that both of us will never forget.

And apparently, we liked it enough that we didn’t waste much time making our next decision…

We’re already booked for the 2027 convention!

Next stop: Fort Lauderdale, Florida.

The 2027 convention will be a little shorter — four days packed with training, networking, and connecting with our travel family.

Oahu may have been the adventure of a lifetime, but we’re already looking forward to seeing where this journey takes us next.

Until then…

Mahalo, Oahu. 🌺

We’ll never forget you.