The 2024 Virtuoso Forum Australia and New Zealand is taking place at the Four Seasons Hotel at Chao Phraya River in Bangkok, bringing together the best in luxury travel across the region. Karryon reports from Thailand.
The sold-out event has some 200 attendees, 90 dedicated member agency owners and managers and 50 global and regional preferred partners.
Virtuoso senior executives are also attending the forum, including Chairman and CEO Matthew D. Upchurch, Chief Operating Officer Brad Bourland, and Executive Vice President David Kolner.
The conference theme for this year is ‘Together for Tomorrow,’ with the event program designed to offer development sessions and networking opportunities and a focus on how members can future-proof their businesses.
Professional development topics have included discussions on work-life balance, honing storytelling skills, exploring the potential of AI in travel businesses, and how members can craft a bespoke luxury travel strategy that’s relevant to their business.
At the welcome and opening session, hosted at Four Seasons Hotel Bangkok at Chao Phraya River, guests were blessed by a local Thai monk for good fortune, as powerful drum beats enlivened the crowd. The blessing brought a true sense of location into the conference room.
Fiona Dalton, the outgoing Virtuoso General Manager AU/NZ, welcomed guests and spoke of inspired action as event delegates’ key purpose and takeaway.
Virtuoso Chairman and CEO Matthew D. Upchurch addressed the crowd, speaking of Virtuoso’s ecosystem outlook: treating partners as an extension of themselves and where value is created through sharing data and skills.
The incoming general manager for Virtuoso AU/NZ, Greg Treasure, was officially welcomed to the team.
It was also revealed that Virtuoso’s Travel Academy had seen 10,000 completions, an increase of 318 per cent, and preferred partner sales had increased by 95 per cent.
Day one concluded with a white-themed cocktail party, co-hosted with Virtuoso Asia, hosted by Capella Hotel Group. For a full gallery of images from the party, visit the Karryon Facebook gallery.
The Forum continues today with a full schedule of partner and media networking sessions.
Renowned Australian futurist and business commentator Bernard Salt AM is a keynote speaker, providing valuable insights into why the present moment is a defining moment for those invested in the luxury travel sector.
The day culminates in the Gala Awards Dinner this evening, where the 18 winners of the 2023 Member and Partner Regional Awards will be announced. Karryon will provide coverage of the full list of winners tomorrow.
For more information, visit virtuoso.com