Leading global luxury travel network Virtuoso® hosted three networking and professional development events this month for its Australia & New Zealand member agencies, advisors and preferred hotel partners. Virtuoso On Tour Australia & New Zealand kicked off in Sydney on April 30, continued in Melbourne on May 1 and wrapped on May 2 in Brisbane. The events were fully subscribed, connecting over 400 Virtuoso advisors with 50 partners, resulting in approximately 2,030 hours of one-to-one connections across the trio of events.
“We were delighted to host our much anticipated On Tour events again this year, linking luxury hotelier partners from around the world with our regional members,” said Virtuoso General Manager, Australia and New Zealand Greg Treasure. “These were my first On Tour events in my new role at Virtuoso, and the energy in the room at each location was extraordinary. Virtuoso advisors are some of the most engaged across Australia and New Zealand, and are always willing to learn and foster human connection with our preferred partners to better understand the product and experiences they can offer to their clients.”
Virtuoso advisors appreciate the opportunities that On Tour events provide to connect with partners in the network. Kelly Gelfand, Managing Director of TRIBE Travel, shared, “Virtuoso events hold a special place in our team’s calendar throughout the year. It’s a time when we reunite with familiar faces, reconnect with valued partners and forge new connections. Looking back on my years of attending Virtuoso events, I realise that many of my closest industry friendships were nurtured during these times. The significance of in-person meetings cannot be overstated. As an Australian-based team, we deeply appreciate that Virtuoso On Tour events offer an invaluable opportunity to engage with a comprehensive network of industry professionals and explore new opportunities for our clients.”
Karla Goring Regional Director of Sales of The Goring Hotel London emphasised the effectiveness of Virtuoso events, saying, “Each year, we prioritise our attendance at Virtuoso On Tour events because of the calibre of advisors within the network in Australia & New Zealand. They are a cut above the rest. Virtuoso advisors attend to learn and collaborate with partners to ensure they are consistently curating the right travel experiences for their clients. This approach to travel curation reaps the rewards for preferred partners like ourselves.”
Continuing to elevate and educate Virtuoso advisors is a core pillar of the Virtuoso community across Australia & New Zealand. According to Virtuoso’s 2024 Brand and Travel Trend Tracker, a proprietary study conducted by YouGov, 68% of Virtuoso clients cited an advisor’s expertise on accommodations, in addition to 65% of clients who cite advisor’s expertise on destinations are some of the top benefits of working with a Virtuoso advisor. Virtuoso’s commitment to professional development was confirmed in 2023 with the appointment of Michele Duncan into the role of regional professional development & training specialist.
The 2024 Travel Trend Tracker also saw high interest in luxury accommodations from 46% of Virtuoso clients, while noting a decrease in interest for rental accommodations among luxury travellers overall, down to 30 percent from 38 percent in 2023. In addition, 40 percent of Virtuoso clients listed adventure travel as one of their top interests, an increase from 20 percent in 2023. These indicators continue to support the role of Virtuoso advisors in offering their expertise across the luxury travel space to clients who value their expertise.
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