Marking 20 years of operations in Australia and New Zealand, global luxury and experiential travel network, Virtuoso has announced its annual regional award winners at a gala dinner to conclude its 2024 Forum in Bangkok.
This year, the conference was held at the Four Seasons Hotel on the banks of the iconic Chao Praya River. The theme was ‘Together for Tomorrow,’ and the event program was curated to offer development sessions, networking opportunities, and a focus on how members can future-proof their businesses.
The annual awards handed out at the Forum’s gala dinner honoured Virtuoso members and partners who “elevate the travel industry and create memorable experiences for luxury travellers in Australia and New Zealand.”
Setting the standard in their given category, the winners were recognised based on their sales volume and engagement within the Virtuoso network over the last 12 months.
The Australia and New Zealand Virtuoso Awards categories and winners were:
Southern Cross Award
The Southern Cross Award recognises one member who goes above and beyond in engagement, activism, advocacy, sponsorship, and promotion of Virtuoso Australia and New Zealand. This member embodies the commitment, humility, and spirit of human connection within the Virtuoso network and is an example of what matters most to members, partners, and travellers.
Winner: Anthony Goldman, Goldman Travel Corporation
Most Engaged Award
Collaboration is one of Virtuoso’s core values, and this award recognises a member and a partner with the highest engagement based on participation within the Virtuoso network.
Member winner: Goldman Travel Corporation
Partner winner: Regent Seven Seas Cruises
Top Producer Awards
These awards honour members and partners with the highest overall network sales per category.
Member winners:
Cruise Top Producer: Travel Associates
Hotels & Resorts Top Producer: Goldman Travel Corporation
Tour Top Producer: MTA – Mobile Travel Agents
On-Site Top Producer: Frontier Travel
Partner winners:
Cruise Top Producer: Viking
Hotels & Resorts Top Producer: Kamalaya Koh Samui
Tour Top Producer: Island Escapes
On-Site Top Producer: The Tailor – Australia
Highest Annual Growth Awards
These awards acknowledge members and partners with the largest annual year-over-year growth per category.
Member winners:
Highest Cruise Annual Growth: Spencer Travel Pty Ltd
Highest Hotels & Resorts Annual Growth: Jigsaw Travel
Highest Tour Annual Growth: MTA – Mobile Travel Agents
Highest On-Site Annual Growth: Frontier Travel
Partner winners:
Highest Cruise Annual Growth: Silversea
Highest Hotels & Resorts Annual Growth: The St. Regis New York
Highest Tour Annual Growth: 50 Degrees North – Norway, Finland and Iceland
Highest On-Site Annual Growth: Canada by Design powered by Discover Holidays
Speaking at the gala awards, Virtuoso Chairman & CEO Matthew D. Upchurch commented, “We congratulate those who received regional Virtuoso Awards during the Australia & New Zealand Forum. Their dedication and engagement with Virtuoso are paramount to our continued success as a leader within the luxury travel industry.”
This year’s sold-out Virtuoso Forum saw some 200 attendees, 90 dedicated member agency owners and managers and 50 global and regional preferred partners fly in from Australia and New Zealand.
International Virtuoso senior executives, including Chief Operating Officer Brad Bourland and Executive Vice President David Kolner, also attended the forum.
The event concluded with the announcement of the destination for the 2025 Virtuoso Australia & New Zealand Forum, to be held in Perth/Boorloo.
“We’re thrilled to collaborate with Tourism Western Australia to bring our Forum event to Perth in 2025, showcasing the city’s captivating beauty and its picturesque surroundings. The highly anticipated annual event promises to be a transformative gathering fostering learning, sharing and empowerment,” said Virtuoso’s incoming General Manager, Australia and New Zealand Greg Treasure.
For more information, visit virtuoso.com