This year marked our second year running Nerdventures Travel, and we celebrated by attending the 2nd annual conference hosted by our host agency, The Wander Network! It was so good to reconnect with friends and colleagues from last year and to catch up with fellow agents who just totally get this work.

We walked away with new contacts, sharper knowledge, and a much clearer picture of what is happening on the supplier side of the travel industry. Here is a look at how each day unfolded, and what it means for the trips we plan.

Day 1: Rooted in connection

The morning kicked off with supplier trainings from Rental Escapes, Norwegian Cruise Line, Arch RoamRight, and Riviera Travel, and it wasn’t just a rundown of products. We walked away with real, practical knowledge we can use to make better recommendations for our clients.

At noon we shifted into a Social Media Lunch & Learn sponsored by Atlantis Paradise Island Bahamas, which focused on creating content around resort and all-inclusive travel. Knowing how to book a trip is only half the job, and this session was a great reminder of how much marketing matters, too.

We closed out the day with two ExpertConnect panels featuring Virgin Voyages, Globus, Chubb, and Riviera Travel on what top advisors are doing differently and how to build stronger supplier relationships. The exact things that take a trip from good to unforgettable.

Afterwards, everyone met up at the Stargazer Bar at Planet Hollywood to celebrate a great first day with the team!

Day 2: Growth, strategy, and momentum

We started with supplier presentations from Celebrity, Holland America, and Virgin Voyages, followed by a Lunch & Learn with Visit Anchorage.

The biggest highlight was the Wander Brainstorm Tables. These were small-group rotations on topics like building a profitable travel business, building a consistent client pipeline, creating clients for life, simplifying your business, and selling with confidence. Real conversations, not just sessions to sit through, and exactly the kind of strategy we can take straight back into how we run our business and serve our clients.

The night wrapped with an amazing dinner at Sanaa, at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge, where we were recognized as being one of the most engaged travel agents at our host agency.

Day 3: Celebrate the journey

The final day began with supplier education from Globus Family of Brands, Memorable Travel, Royal Caribbean, and more, including another interactive quoting workshop and 2:1 Supplier Office Hours. This gave us dedicated time to sit down with different suppliers, ask questions, and build relationships face-to-face. That kind of access is exactly what turns into better service for our clients down the road.

Then it was time to get dressed up for our agency’s very first Wander Awards Gala! We celebrated our Top WanderPoints advisors, cheered on the Rising Star Award winner, and officially closed out The Wander Network Conference 2026.

Three days of learning, connection, and strategy, and all of it going straight back into how we serve our clients.

What we actually learn at conference, and why it matters when you book with us

Attending a conference is not a vacation, and it is not just a stack of presentations. It is where we learn how the travel industry really works from the people who run it, then bring that straight back to our clients. Here is what that looks like in practice:

• Quoting and positioning. Hands-on workshops teach us how to build accurate quotes and match the right cruise line, tour, or resort to each traveler.
• Real supplier relationships. Face time with suppliers and their business development managers means we know who to call, and how to ask, when a client needs something handled.
• Handling the tricky moments. Scenario planning covered price objections, difficult clients, client emergencies, and ghosting, so we are ready before those situations come up.
• Running a business you can rely on. Our Brainstorm Tables focused on building a profitable business, a consistent client pipeline, and clients for life, which is about being here for the long haul.
• Sharing travel well. The Atlantis Lunch & Learn on creating content around resort and all-inclusive travel helps us share destinations in a way that lets travelers picture the trip.

When you book with us, you get the benefit of all of it. That means more accurate quotes, faster answers from the people behind the brands, and a travel agent who has practiced for the moments that do not go to plan.

Thank you to The Wander Network for hosting a fantastic conference, and to every agent who showed up with questions, ideas, and encouragement.

We are so lucky to be part of such an amazing team, and we are already looking forward to what comes next!