Last week, I attended a conference, WORLD25, for my business to help me grow, improve, and bring back more knowledge to share with you all. While it was a fun little getaway, this trip wasn’t really a vacation. At the end of the day(or week😉), I was there for my clients and my business. 💜

A big shoutout to WorldVia Travel Network for being an amazing host and true partner in building my business!

Travel Day (aka Day 0, aka The Never Ending Drive 😭)

I hit the road later than planned, but still managed to arrive on time after a 6.5–7 hour drive… without a single stop. There’s not much of a story in the drive itself, but a few things stood out:

The Bottomless Gas Tank ⛽️

I started with 398 miles to go and around 390 miles to empty. Somehow, my car pulled off a little magic trick – I never dipped below 100 miles to empty the entire way, and I still rolled into Dallas with gas to spare. (Maybe my car was just as shocked as I was to cruise at 85 mph for hours on end!)

Speed Limit is WHAT?! 🚗💨

For about 180 miles, the speed limit was 85 mph. Yes, you read that right! At times, I honestly felt like I was about to take off from the toll road like a plane.

💬 I thought I was driving not flying!

When My Car Decided to Be Dramatic

Just when I thought I was in the clear, my car decided to test me. With about two hours left, it lit up my dash with three different warning lights, YES, all while I was flying down the road at 85 mph. Thankfully, it hung in there long enough to get me safely to Dallas. 🙌

Mishaps Still Happen to Me, a Travel Advisor 🙃

First stop: a supplier roadshow in Dallas before heading to my hotel. Already running a bit behind (thanks to my car’s theatrics), I had no time to spare. So yes… I did a quick change in the car. (So glamorous, right?)

I rushed into the conference center, skipped a bathroom stop from the entire drive, and made it to the line for check-in. “Perfect, I’m not late!” I thought. But then…curveball.

Staff started coming down the line with tickets, saying the room was full and only standing space was left. Even those of us who had confirmed RSVPs were out of luck. Since accidents happen and I didn’t want to stress, I handed my drink ticket to someone behind me and decided to head to the hotel instead for dinner and a little socializing. Sometimes, that’s just how travel days go.

Day 1 of WORLD25 & The Amazing Opening Number 😍

The event officially kicked off…and WOW, WORLD25 was gonna be amazing. The opening number was nothing short of superstar-level. I mean, who doesn’t love a musical number?! 🎶 Watch it below 👇

General Sessions 🎤

I joined two general sessions packed with knowledge from WorldVia staff and supplier partners for the first day of WORLD25. Honestly, I don’t think I could ever capture all of the wisdom in those rooms. The energy was contagious, and it really set the tone for the week ahead.

Networking and Breakout 🤝

There was one dedicated networking session all about cruises (my favorite, of course 😉), which gave me the chance to connect with other advisors and exchange ideas. The rest of the sessions were more presentation-style, led by suppliers who shared updates, insights, and new opportunities. Each one wrapped up with time for questions, which made it easy to dig deeper and get practical takeaways I can bring back to my clients.

Purple Party 💜

No conference kickoff is complete without a party! And the Purple Party delivered. It was a night full of fun, laughter, and memories in the making. I had the chance to connect with some amazing people, from WorldVia staff to fellow travel advisors, and the conversations were buzzing with collaboration and fresh ideas. And of course, what’s a Purple Party without purple drinks in hand and a sea of purple outfits everywhere?

📸 Pictured to the right is my new friend Colle O’Neil — a WorldVia staff member and total marketing genius. I made sure to pick his brain as much as I could (without wearing him out, of course 😅).