Global hospitality leader Accor has launched the HERA Challenge, an exciting initiative designed to celebrate and reward the outstanding performance and expertise of top travel advisors worldwide. This challenge is exclusively open to members of HERA, Accor’s comprehensive global loyalty and rewards program tailored specifically for travel professionals. The pinnacle of the HERA Challenge is an invitation for 33 elite advisors to an exclusive, all-expenses-paid trip to Colombia, featuring stays at two of the country's most luxurious properties: the Sofitel Legend Santa Clara Cartagena and the Sofitel Barú Calablanca Beach Resort.

Pascal Visintainer, Accor Luxury & Lifestyle’s Global Chief Sales Officer, underscored the significance of the challenge, stating, “The HERA Challenge is our way of recognizing and rewarding the extraordinary advisors who bring our brands to life for guests around the world. We believe that it is incredibly important for us to celebrate the expertise, commitment, and the human connections that are at the heart of truly memorable travel.” He further emphasized that HERA, introduced last year, provides travel advisors with essential tools and opportunities to excel in their profession, and now, a chance to be honored among the industry's best.

The HERA program itself was launched approximately a year ago, aiming to provide travel advisors with enhanced capabilities, a wider array of brands, and an improved digital experience. This includes user-friendly online tools for booking, tracking, and reviewing activity. HERA members benefit from generous redeemable points for hotel stays or shopping, along with access to enriched hotel profiles and direct hotel-level support contacts. The challenge serves as a novel way for advisors to engage more deeply with the program.

The HERA Challenge offers a unique opportunity, posing the question: what if the experts who meticulously design journeys for others were afforded a dream trip of their own? The top three advisors in each of 11 distinct categories will earn an invitation to this exclusive hosted trip in Cartagena, Colombia, scheduled from March 9 to 12, 2026. The qualifying period for all bookings made with a travel advisor’s HERA number runs from November 15, 2024, to November 15, 2025, with the final winners slated for notification in December 2025.

The challenge categories are thoughtfully designed to recognize diverse forms of excellence. These include: Performance Champions, for the top three HERA members by total revenue on HERA.Accor.com and the top three by revenue on a single reservation; Regional Stars, recognizing the top three HERA bookers in revenue across The Americas, Europe, Africa, and Turkey, and the Middle East, Asia, and the Pacific; Brand Experts, for the top three HERA advisors by revenue for specific brand portfolios such as Orient Express, Fairmont, Raffles; Sofitel, Sofitel Legend, and MGallery; and Ennismore lifestyle brands; and finally, Destination Diversifiers, for the top three HERA bookers demonstrating the most diverse range of destination countries booked.

The prize itinerary promises a truly immersive experience. The journey will commence at the Sofitel Legend Santa Clara Cartagena, a magnificent 17th-century convent meticulously transformed into an iconic luxury hotel in the heart of the walled city, blending colonial charm with refined French elegance. After one evening, winners will be transported to the Sofitel Barú Calablanca Beach Resort, a LEED-certified sanctuary nestled on the pristine shores of Isla Barú, boasting French elegance, Caribbean charm, and stunning sea views from its 187 rooms and suites. Both resorts offer exceptional culinary experiences and wellness facilities. Importantly, the trip itinerary for winning agents will feature meaningful local encounters and community integration, aligning seamlessly with Accor’s long-standing commitment to sustainable and culturally sensitive travel.

Accor, a world-leading hospitality group founded in 1967, operates across more than 110 countries with over 5,600 hotels and resorts. Its extensive portfolio encompasses approximately 45 hotel brands, ranging from luxury to economy, along with lifestyle brands under Ennismore. Through its ALL booking platform and loyalty program, Accor aims to deliver unique experiences while upholding its commitment to business ethics, responsible tourism, environmental sustainability, community engagement, and diversity. Accor’s overarching mission is to pioneer the art of responsible hospitality, connecting cultures with heartfelt care.