Debbie Rodriguez, regional vice president, Global Sales Americas, Hyatt Hotels Corp., (right) and her team hosted top meeting professionals at the 20th annual Insurance and Financial Business Exchange, including Elaine Vannatta, sales support division manager, Allstate Insurance Co.
The Andaz Peninsula Papagayo Resort on Costa Rica's Pacific coast, which opened in December 2013, hosted Hyatt's 2014 Insurance and Financial Business Exchange.
Enjoying some networking time on the beach are (from left) Angel Tassone, director of group sales, Hyatt Regency Huntington Beach Resort & Spa; Kimberly Dahl, education and conference manager, Cetera; Betsy Gonzalez, CMP, manager, meetings & events, Liberty Mutual Insurance; and also from Liberty Mutual Mike Lifson, CMP, CMM, senior meeting planner.
Getting ready for a sunset catamaran tour: (from left) Michaelene Sullivan, associate director of sales, Hyatt Regency O'Hare; Diane Smith, senior sales manager, Hyatt Regency Greenwich; Deborah Lloyd, senior sales manager, Park Hyatt Beaver Creek Resort & Spa; Mary Ann Battista, vice president, conferences and events, Securities Industry and Financial Markets Association
Time to board the catamaran.
Cruising Costa Rica's beautiful Culebra Bay
Daniele Menache, managing director/global head of events, AllianceBernstein (left), and Lynn Schwandt, CMP, senior event planner, Thrivent Financial for Lutherans, relax during a cruise off the Papagayo Penninsula.
A beachfront restaurant on Bahia Coco was the site of a sunset dinner for Hyatt's insurance and financial group.
Irene McLoughlin, senior event planner, MetLife, and Steve Hunt, CMP, regional director, Hyatt Resorts & Spas in Hawaii, are all smiles in the Costa Rica sun.
Can you spot the monkeys? Costa Rica's Papagayo Peninsula is rich with birds, butterflies, howler monkeys, and white-faced (capuchin) monkeys (shown here).
The foothills of one of Costa Rica's volcanoes can be seen in the distance as a group from Hyatt's Insurance and Financial Business Exchange head off on a trail ride.
On the final evening of the Insurance and Financial Business Exchange, Hyatt Hotel Corp.'s Global Sales Americas team offers some final thank yous to clients and hotels: (from left) Michael Williamson, director; David Riederman, director; and Debbie Rodriguez, regional vice president
Meeting planning pros Elaine Vannatta, sales support division manager, Allstate Insurance Co. (left), and Kathy DeLand, global travel and meeting services, Cigna, enjoy the final-night dinner at the Insurance and Financial Business Exchange with Michael Williamson, director, Global Sales Americas, Hyatt Hotels Corp.
Jamie Kiger, CMP, manager, meeting strategy, Nationwide, and Mary Schneider, CMP, director, strategic meetings & events/executive services, CUNA Mutual Group
David Riederman, director, Global Sales Americas, Hyatt Hotels Corp., with Betsy Gonzalez, CMP, manager, meetings & events, Liberty Mutual Insurance
Local Costa Rican dancers entertained on the final night. Some of the performers pose with Anita Rahman, director of sales and marketing, Andaz Maui at Wailea (left), and Daniele Menache, managing director/global head of events, AllianceBernstein
The new Andaz Peninsula Papagayo Resort, with its curved roofs and bamboo accents, fits wonderfully with its surroundings.
The spa at Andaz Peninsula Papagayo Resort feels like a stylish treehouse.
