Global luxury travel network Virtuoso has hosted three networking and professional development events in recent weeks for its Australia and New Zealand member agencies, advisors and preferred luxury hotel partners.
Virtuoso On Tour Australia and New Zealand commenced in Sydney on 30 April and continued in Melbourne on 1 May, and concluded in Brisbane on 2 May.
The events were fully subscribed, connecting more than 400 Virtuoso advisors with 50 partners during approximately 2,030 hours of one-to-one connections and meetings across the three 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 Greg Treasure, Virtuoso General Manager, Australia and New Zealand.
“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,” said Treasure.
Virtuoso says that its members 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,” said Kelly.
“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,” said Kelly.
“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,” said Kelly.
Karla Goring Regional Director of Sales of The Goring Hotel London spoke of 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 and New Zealand,” said Goring.
“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.”
Virtuoso clients survey results
Marie Deeth,
Travel Associates Elsternwick.
According to Virtuoso’s 2024 Brand and Travel Trend Tracker, a proprietary study conducted by YouGov, 68 per cent of Virtuoso clients cited an advisor’s expertise on accommodations, in addition to 65 per cent of clients who cite advisor’s expertise on destinations as some of the top benefits of working with a Virtuoso advisor.
Virtuoso says its commitment to professional development was further cemented in 2023 with the appointment of Michele Duncan into the role of regional professional development & training specialist.
Dwyer, Main Beach Travel in Brisbane.
The 2024 Travel Trend Tracker also saw high interest in luxury accommodations from 46 per cent of Virtuoso clients, while noting a decrease in interest for rental accommodations among luxury travellers overall – down to 30 per cent from 38 per cent in 2023.
In addition, 40 per cent of Virtuoso clients listed adventure travel as one of their top interests, an increase from 20 per cent in 2023.
For more information, visit virtuoso.com
