Key Takeaways
- The annual ALG Vacations® Ascend conference is one of the top professional conventions in the travel industry, in no small part due to the comprehensive unlimited workshops offered
- The ALGV team gathered feedback to create a collection of the top ten most popular, well-reviewed workshops of Ascend 2025, and is making them available with a series of webinars starting December through February 2026
Time and again, the feedback from the ALG Vacations® highly anticipated annual Ascend conference is how incredibly helpful travel advisor attendees find the workshops. Pulling in top talent, thought leaders, and travel executives, this busy schedule of enrichment is one of the most valuable features the event offers.
… Which got us thinking.
As the tour operator that gives you MORE, striving to support the entire travel advisor community as holistically as possible, why not share this knowledge with those who couldn’t attend but could still benefit from the insights shared?
So we’ve done exactly that. For the first time ever, we’re sharing the top ten most useful workshops via webinars for all of our partners, whether you’re someone who’s never been to Ascend or an attendee who could use a refresher.
Here’s what’s in store for you this season, and why you should RSVP yes! to these deskside sessions.
From Busy to Better: How to Take Back Control and Create a More Focused Workday
Esteemed efficiency expert Scott Friesen of Simpletivity breaks down how to get more out of your working hours, including a blueprint with immediately actionable, easy adjustments you can make for near-instant results.
Tuesday December 9th at 2pm ET/1pm CT | Register Now
From Clients to Champions: Build Your Brand and Turn Travelers into Fervent Fans
Strengthening client loyalty and transforming travelers into your biggest advocates is easier than it sounds, and corporate branding veteran and president of Reach William Arruda has the formula for you to use.
Wednesday December 10th at 2pm ET/1pm CT | Register Now
Your New Favorite Employee: How to Build a Custom GPT for Your Travel Biz
Think a background or experience in tech is required for using AI? Not according to Brooke Sellas, author, LinkedIn Learning course instructor, and founder of B Squared Media, “the conversation company” focusing on social media customer care.
Tuesday December 16th at 2pm ET/1pm CT | Register Now
The Game of Sales: How to Win the Customer and Close More Sales
There’s room for everyone to be a winner when it comes to the game of sales, as ALGV’s Vice President of Sales Jim Tedesco and Regional Sales Director, Midwest Kathy Mehring demonstrate in an illuminating workshop that show you exactly how to turn inquiries into bookings, with proven sales techniques that put clients first.
Thursday December 18th at 2pm ET/1pm CT | Register Now
Photography Unleashed: Level Up Your Creativity Using Only Your Phone
Fan favorite Ascend workshop leader and Chicago-based photographer Will Byington is back again with his quick pro tips on how to create beautiful imagery and video with the camera you always have on hand – your smart phone.
Tuesday January 13th at 2pm ET/1pm CT | Register Now
Pre & Post-Cruise Bookings: Seamless Travel Planning Around Cruise Voyages
Join Clint Scheirer, Senior Manager of Implementation for ALGV, and Business Development Manager for the Southeast region Cheyenne Camp as they share their insights on how you can make your clients’ cruise vacation the best ever by extending it (and your commission!) with pre- and post-cruise experiences.
Friday January 16th at 12:00pm ET/11am CT | Register Now
Winds of Change: Navigating the Latest in Airline Trends & Ticket Sales for 2026
Mark Wertschnig, Account Implementation Advisor for ALGV, and Samuel Rogne, Manager of Air Distribution Strategy, alleviate confusion, diminish intimidation, and show you how to build sales with this breakdown of what’s in store for air travel this coming year.
Tuesday January 23rd at 12:00pm ET/11am CT | Register Now
Jet Set, Tech Ready: AI Essentials
Vice President of Operations for Trazel CRM Krystal Aziz and ALGV’s Senior Director of Transformation Pamela Burget join forces to show just how easy it is to master essential AI tools that can help travel advisors save time, every time.
Tuesday January 27th at 2pm ET/1pm CT | Register Now
How to Attract and Keep Luxury Clients
ALGV’s Senior Manager of Account Implementation Clint Scheirer and Heather Di Pietro, Director of Business Development for NEST and Affluent Traveler, know how to book – and keep – high-end travelers and elevate service. After this session, so will you.
Tuesday February 3rd at 2pm ET/1pm CT | Register Now
Social Media Made Simple: Building Confidence & Consistency
Years of experience and measurable results make Associate Manager for Emerging Media Megan Weisser of ALGV not only a pro at social media, but creating effective, easy strategies that work for travel agencies and busy schedules. Here’s where you start.
Tuesday February 10th at 2pm ET/1pm CT | Register Now
The Bottom Line
The Best of Ascend Webinar Series brings back the top 10 most popular workshops so you can revisit your favorites, catch any you missed, or share the experience with your team. Covering everything from social media and sales strategies to luxury travel, AI, and beyond, these sessions are packed with ideas and inspiration to help support your business and/or carry your Ascend experience forward.
