Coterie Retreat Bahamas: Day 2 Recap!

Welcome to the Coterie Retreat, MunaLuchi’s annual three-day conference for wedding and event professionals servicing the multicultural market. Launched in 2014, the Coterie Retreat connects vendors with giants of the industry, to continue mastering the best practices of their craft. More than just your average conference, the Coterie Retreat is a complete experience, championing inclusion, diversity, and community within the multicultural wedding and events industry.
Following a highly successful 2018 Coterie Retreat in Bermuda, the 2019 Retreat was hosted in the beautiful Bahamas, at the stunning Baha Mar in Nassau. Set along miles of pristine beaches, with over 40 dining and nightlife options, full casino, golf course, racquet club, spas, nature sanctuary, and more – this luxurious Caribbean resort was the perfect destination for three days of networking, professional presentations, and fun-in-the-sun.
View the 2019 Coterie Retreat Bahamas, Day 1 recap here.

Event Moderator Karli Harvey-Raymond kicked off day two with some opening remarks encapsulating the previous day while preparing everyone for what’s to come, before introducing speaker Dr. Vidal Annan. Dr. Annan is a clinical psychologist licensed in New Jersey and New York. Through his work in counseling, consulting, training, and coaching, Dr. Annan helps his clients improve their personal growth and functioning across all areas of their lives including relationships, mental health, and personal goals. Dr. Annan spoke on being business-minded, and how understanding how your thoughts work can make you a more successful entrepreneur.

Master visual storyteller and MunaLuchi Coterie Ambassador, Tristian Barrocks of Felicity Moments, spoke about the power of having authentic connections, and how those connections will increase your clientele base and expand your business network. Tristan spoke to the importance of selling not only your business but perhaps more importantly, yourself. “It’s not about your talent, it’s about your ability to connect with people,” – Tristan Barrocks.

Vice President of Human Resources & Employee Experience for the American Heart Association, Heather Wagner, gave a presentation on “Collaboration Without Manipulation: Getting What you Need Done Right.” Heather discussed the pros and cons of hiring an independent contractor vs direct employee relations, as well as the most common employee complaints from a current or former employee.

MunaLuchi Co-Founder, CEO, and Editor-in-Chief of publications, Jacqueline Nwobu, presented on “GenZ: Understanding the Next Generation of Customers & Building an Audience Through Social Media.” Jacqueline spoke to the social media preferences for each generation and how those preferences reflect the mentality of those generations in regards to marketing to them as potential clients of the wedding and events industry. Offering indispensable knowledge on increasing and maintaining social media traffic from over a decade of first-hand experience developing the MunaLuchi brand, Jacquline guided attendees through the do’s & don’ts and tips & tricks of Instagram engagement. “Generation Z does not remember a time before social media. They were born and raised on mobile devices.” – Jacqueline Nwobu.

Pinterest powerhouse, Squarespace samurai, and overall digital marketing master, Cara Chace, spoke next on “Pinterest for Creatives: Inspiration to Market Like a Boss.” Specializing in Pinterest, Cara coached attendees on the vast versatility of the social media platform and provided invaluable tips on how to get the most from your profile. “Keywords get you found. Graphics get you clicked.” – Cara Chace.

Attendees were then treated to a “Flamingle” luncheon, with the Flamingo theme in full flock, from the color palette to being joined by actual Flamingos – ambassadors of Baha Mar’s wildlife sanctuary program. Centered within a tropical garden, attendees enjoyed local cuisines, fusion favorites, and signature dishes!

Day two of the 2019 MunaLuchi Coterie Retreat was rounded out with a beach-front, all white-attire party hosted by Sandals Resorts. The evening began with a tour of the grounds with a focus on the available wedding options available at Sandals, followed by drinks and hors-d’oeuvres by the pool with a spectacular ocean sunset view. Retreat attendees were then guided by the Royal Bahamas Police Force Band to the ballroom, gorgeously decorated in a luxury wedding style, where everyone enjoyed fine dining and dancing to the live performance of the fantastic Essence Band. View the stunning videography below by Felicity Moments.

Stay tuned to MunaLuchi social media for news and updates about the 2020 MunaLuchi Coterie Retreat. Click here for information on becoming a Coterie member. View the Summer 2019 Issue of MunaLuchi Bride magazine here!

Acknowledgments:

General Sessions:

Conference Coordinator: Tiffany Chalk Events
Stage Flowers: Wildflowers Events & Occasions
Linens: Wildflowers Events & Occasions
Venue: Grand Hyatt Baha Mar
Photography/Videography Team: Felicity Moments, Lyndah Wells Photography, Braxton Gardiner Photography, Trene Forbes Photography
In Partnership with Visit the Bahamas