Cadence Connects: Where Everyone Got Their Ticket to Thrive
There is a distinct, undeniable energy that fills the air when the right people gather in the right space for the right reasons. It is a mix of quiet anticipation, genuine warmth, and the kind of creative spark that makes you want to pull up a chair, lean in, and stay a while. Hosted at the breathtaking Four Seasons Westlake Village, this year’s Cadence Connects was built entirely on that feeling.
Coming off our 10th anniversary event, we brought over 30 years of experience to the table in crafting this gathering, knowing exactly what it takes to curate an environment where people feel genuinely cared for. But rather than simply relying on our history, we wanted this event to focus entirely on where we are all going together. We envisioned a space where every conversation, every meal, and every quiet moment of reflection felt deeply intentional.
That vision came to life through our central theme: Ticket to Thrive. This was our North Star for the entire experience. We wanted every person who walked through the doors to feel an immediate sense of renewal, leaving with the inspiration, perspective, and deeply rooted connections to truly thrive in their relationships, their daily lives, and their craft. This is the story of how that intention blossomed into a few unforgettable days.
“When we truly embrace the journey, we create the conditions for people to thrive, because thriving starts with feeling cared for, supported, and valued at every step. That is what Cadence is built for, and that’s the promise behind our Ticket to Thrive.”
- Wendy Burk, CEO of Cadence
SPACES DESIGNED FOR THRIVING
"Our vision was to move beyond a traditional conference and create something that felt more human. Every space, activity, and interaction was intentionally designed to help people connect more deeply with themselves and one another."
- Ashley Case, Senior Director of Meetings & Incentives Operations at Cadence
If you want people to think differently and tap into their own creativity, you have to take them out of their usual environment. You cannot expect fresh ideas to bloom in a stale space. Our brilliant Meeting and Incentive planning teams took this philosophy to heart, treating the entire event as their own personal creative playground.
They brought an incredible level of imagination and flexibility to the table, designing experiences that pulled us far beyond the typical four walls of a traditional conference room. Every single activation was an invitation to step out of the ordinary and experience something wonderfully unexpected.
From our Farmers Market Dinner to a guacamole "Guac-Off" competition and treatments in the wellness lounge, the teams proved that a little out-of-the-box thinking goes a long way. They crafted three unique “WeThrive” environments that shaped how we felt, interacted, and showed up. Here are a few examples:
WeThrive Wellspace: We believe that to care for others, you must first care for yourself. This drop-in space was a quiet haven for attendees to recharge and focus on their own well-being. From massages and an oxygen bar to cryotherapy and meditation, Wellspace was all about physical and mental restoration, offering a much-needed break from the hustle and bustle.
WeThrive Workspace: We all know work doesn't stop just because you're at a conference. This dedicated co-working lounge offered a practical space for attendees to stay productive and connected. Whether they needed to check emails, hold a quick meeting, or simply find a quiet corner to focus, this space supported their professional well-being and provided peace of mind.
WeThrive Meetspace: Because connection is at the heart of what we do, Meetspace was designed to nurture our community's social and professional well-being. This dedicated hub brought advisors and partners together for 1:1 meetings, networking and the sharing of inspiring stories and successes, strengthening the bonds that make our community so special.
SETTING THE STAGE FOR GENUINE CONNECTION
When the spaces are designed with intention, the real impact comes from how people show up for one another. For us, that begins with truly knowing the person beside you. Knowing what makes them laugh, what keeps them going, and what they care about most. That is exactly why we dedicated day one entirely to bringing people together on a purely human level.
Instead of moving straight from arrivals into a full itinerary, we convened everyone together to set a welcoming, compassionate tone. The Cadence team welcomed every attendee, grounding the experience in genuine connection and a shared sense of purpose from the very start. From there, we had the joy of recognizing standout achievements among our advisors and partners with peer-voted awards, celebrating one another in the room. We closed the gathering with inspiring partner presentations, a special visit from Virtuoso, and a memorable keynote speaker—all of which helped frame the experience to come.
“What I’m most proud of is the care, intention, and connection each person brings into the experience. When I hear this is their favorite conference, it is a reminder that we’ve built something truly special together.”
— Wendy Burk, CEO of Cadence
To ensure everyone found their footing in a way that felt personal and special, we set the mood with a trio of highly intentional, welcome receptions. For our newest attendees, the 1st Timers Reception wrapped both new advisors and partners who haven’t attended in the past, in a warm embrace, helping them feel like instant insiders. We hosted separate receptions for our Elite and Trailblazer Advisors, so they had an opportunity to reconnect with one another, toast their collective accomplishments, and swap early stories.
By the time the sun set on that first afternoon, the energy in the rooms had shifted from quiet, polite anticipation to warm, familiar laughter. The foundation was set, and we were ready to dive into the heart of the event.
Stepping Outside: Wellness, Kickballs, and Guacamole
We made sure well-being was far more than just a talking point on an agenda. We wove daily group wellness experiences into the fabric of the event, offering morning yoga sessions, a deeply restorative floating sound bath. and peaceful group walks around the lush property gardens. These wellness moments brought us together in quiet, meaningful ways, providing focus and space for both intention and restoration. It was our version of taking care of business with both body and spirit in mind.
But wellness and connection also mean knowing how to cut loose and play. We took team building outside the typical boundaries and leaned into some friendly Advisor vs. Partner competitions.
Enter the Kickball Game. We thought these groups might go easy on each other, but that hilariously was very much not the case. The energy was electric, sparked by Leigh Rowan’s opening kickoff, a truly standout catch by Melinda Pitsaros, and lively, hilarious play-by-play commentary from Cadence Sr. Director of Culture, John Knob. Ultimately, the win went to Team Partners! A little friendly rivalry never hurts, and honestly, not every conference ends with a kickball game, but after seeing the joy on that field, we think maybe more should!
The friendly battles continued in the kitchen with our Guac-Off Culinary Challenge, where Carol Porter, Lisa Freeburg, and Amber Winger took home the win. These playful moments made one thing abundantly clear: sometimes the absolute best connections happen over a little delicious competition and a lot of shared laughs.
Discovery and Play: The Thrive Quest Challenge
But the fun didn't stop there. To encourage discovery and self-sufficiency, we introduced the Thrive Quest Challenge through our event app. This playful mission was crafted to bring out the curious adventurer in each attendee, weaving a sense of discovery through every hallway and corner. The app buzzed with clues, cheerful notifications, and just the right amount of friendly competition, inspiring colleagues, partners, and even first-timers to team up and explore the bounds of the event. We happily awarded daily winners for completing their challenge tasks, keeping everyone excited, engaged, and on the move.
Speaking of which, a huge shoutout to our Thrive Quest superstars: Connor Maddox crushed it on Day 1; Liesel Hlista and Aimee Dunford took the crown on Day 2; and Margaret McGehee and Yasmeen Sarwar secured the victory on Day 3.
MEANINGFUL MEETINGS & MAIN STAGE MOMENTS
This year's event saw a strong presence from Virtuoso, with their Executive VP of Strategic Communications, David Kolner, kicking off our general session. A true crowd favorite, he shared the latest industry trends with our community.
We were also joined by keynote speaker John Chester, the five-time Emmy® Award-winning co-founder of Apricot Lane Farms. John shared his compelling story of building something meaningful from the ground up, highlighting the power of resilience, innovation, and long-term vision. It was a message that resonated deeply with our advisors.
Finally, Tim Altbaum, CEO of Vario and a leader in event production and emerging technology, presented on the state of AI in travel and led an interactive workshop for advisors. With a background in experiential marketing, AR/VR, and AI, he continues to push the boundaries of innovation.
Better Together: The Power of Partnerships
At the heart of Cadence Connects are the people and the intimate, impactful moments they share face-to-face. We approached our matched appointments with a simple philosophy: pair advisors and partners based on shared objectives and a desire to nurture relationships. We also featured a DMC Showcase, highlighting the growing importance of these hyper-local experts who act as trusted partners on the ground. Our Advisor & Partner Roundtables brought these groups together for guided conversations built around practical prompts, encouraging collaboration, shared problem-solving, and deeper partnership.
“This year was the best energy yet. All the advisors were extremely engaged in these meaningful 1:1 conversations.”
- Kendall O’Malley, Abercrombie & Kent
Celebrating Our People
A community is only as strong as the people who hold it up. Each year, we come together to celebrate the partners and advisors who go above and beyond. Voted on by our advisors, our partners, and our internal team, these awards honor the individuals whose dedication, innovation, and spirit inspire us all.
This year’s recognition carried immense emotional weight. Within our Advisor Community, the Eternal Optimism Award was given to Jennifer Kutzner. We created this award in her honor, as her optimism and resilience redefined what it means to thrive, even in the face of life's greatest challenges. Awarded posthumously, after her courageous battle with cancer, we were incredibly proud to honor her beautiful legacy together.
Special congratulations to this year’s winners:
Eternal Optimism - Jennifer Kutzner, Cadence: Honoring a Cadence advisor whose optimism and resilience redefine what it means to thrive.
Mensch Award - Jeff Lavender, Travel Concierge by Jeff Lavender: Recognizing a person of integrity and honor in all that they do.
Maven & Mentor Award - Susan Whitson, Susan Whitson Travel: Celebrating an expert in their craft who generously mentors others, uplifting the entire Cadence community.
Most Engaged Award - Lai Jarasa, Mauna Lani Resort, Auberge Collection: Honoring the partner most actively engaged with the Cadence community.
Most Innovative Award - Suzanne Shalaby, Park Hyatt, Americas: Recognizing the partner who brings creativity and innovation to representing their products and services.
Most Supportive Award - Chris Liebenberg, Piper & Heath: Celebrating a partner who goes above and beyond to support fellow Cadence advisors, whether solving challenges or helping close a sale.
Cadence Ambassador - Victoria Uslaner, Four Seasons: Honoring the partner who best embodies Cadence's values and represents us with pride in the travel industry.
Cadence Ambassador - Luke Breaux, DCM Travel: Recognizing the advisor who, from our partners' perspective, best represents the brand values of Cadence.
Rising Star Award - Jessica Bazan, SS Gold Travel: Celebrating a standout advisor who exemplifies the qualities of a rising star within the Cadence community.
A BEAUTIFUL FINALE
Every memorable story needs a stunning backdrop, and our final evening together provided exactly that. We gathered under the stars at Four Seasons Westlake Village to celebrate the connections we had made, and the night served as a profound expression of our deep appreciation for the Four Seasons and their remarkable, deeply caring team.
When it was time to kick back and unwind, the Sail Away Soirée brought everyone poolside for a finale worthy of a highlight reel. Sailor and captain hats set a playful tone, alongside dazzling food display and shimmering water reflecting the joy of the night.
Taking It Home: The Passport to Monday
An experience like Cadence Connects is wonderful in the moment, but it’s true, lasting value is measured by what happens after we all pack our bags, board our flights, and head home. We wanted every single person to leave with far more than just a camera roll full of fond memories.
This is exactly where the Passport to Monday came in. We wove this concept thoughtfully throughout the entire event as a gentle, persistent reminder to look forward.
It was a promise to ourselves and to each other that the positive energy, the hard-earned lessons, and the beautiful connections would carry forward, tangibly enriching our daily lives and our work long after returning home.
This focus on the Ticket to Thrive journey left a lasting impression on attendees and partners alike.
Here’s what a few of them had to say:
“The events team really knocked it out of the park. I was tired for the whole week after, but that’s the sign of a good conference, and being around so many people I genuinely really like!”
- Katie Dillon, La Jolla Mom
“I absolutely loved Cadence Connect this year. Getting real face time with so many people I don’t see nearly often enough truly feels like a family reunion. Everything was so well organized and seamless!”
- Lauren Kossack, Two Nights In
“Every year, you continue to improve the event, which is really one of our favorites to participate in, and, of course, our clients and team love working with everyone at Cadence and with its affiliates. Thank you.”
- Rebecca Slater, Rebecca Recommends
“A really great event. You keep getting better each year. Kudos to the team for pulling off a successful event!”
- Maureen Kim, Hidden Doorways
“Thank you! What an incredible program. Thanks to all that made it possible. It was invaluable for my business.”
- Amy Shamus, Studio SCM
“Thank you so much to the planning team and to Wendy for the best conference of the year! It was wonderful to be with energetic, kind, savvy, and thoughtful people. Looking forward to next year!”
- Shane Hara, Four Seasons
To our event sponsors, we are so appreciative - Cadence Connects would not be possible without you!
First Class Premier Sponsors: AmaWaterways, Four Seasons, Regent Seven Seas Cruises, and Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection.
Platinum Prestige Sponsors: Abercrombie & Kent, Auberge Collection, Holland America Line, Marriott International Luxury Group, Princess Cruises, Seabourn, and Silversea.
DMC Partner Showcase: &Beyond, Alluring Asia, Experience Morocco, French Promise, IDI Travel, Journey 2 Croatia, Los Cabos Tourism, Original Senses, See Italy, TempoVIP, Visit Newport Beach, and Wondertrunk & Co.
Earth Day Dinner Farmer’s Market Maestros: Aero, Arch RoamRight Travel Insurance, COMO Parrot Cay, Fairmont Scottsdale, Oceania, Pearl Resorts of Tahiti, Royal Caribbean Cruise Line, Titanium Tours, and Travel Insured International.
Registration Desk Sponsor: Bulgari Hotels
San Diego/Westlake Transportation: Virgin Hotels Collection
Looking to elevate meetings of your own? We’re here to help! Reach out anytime at hello@cadencetravel.com.
Let’s start planning something great together.