Luxperience Early Bird Winner Sails to Japan

Melissa Smith, Personal Travel Specialist of Spencer Travel in Australia, has won the Luxperience 2013 early bird award. In May, she will sail on a 14-day heritage cruise to cultural sites in Japan and Korea, courtesy of Seattle-based Zegrahm Expeditions and The Small Ship Adventure Co.

Melissa Smith Personal Travel Specialist Spencer Travel Download image here

Ms Smith was among dozens of bespoke travel industry buyers who registered for Luxperience 2013 before February 10. Ms Smith will join the "Treasures of Japan, with South Korea" cruise on the 110-berth Clipper Odyssey May 5 to 18 which retails at US$10,980 per person (share), US$17,568 (single).

"It's like a dream," she said. "Kyoto, Shinto shrines, the heritage and beauty of Japan and Korea in spring time, it's unbelievable. I'm treating it as an educational trip to enhance Spencer Travel's selling of Asia and particularly expedition-style cruising such as the trips offered by Zegrahm."

Since 2003, Spencer Travel, a corporate travel agency, has been one of 100 Australian agencies who are part of the invitation-only Qantas Agent Platinum Club. It is part of leading affinity clubs such as British Airways Prestige, Emirates Preferred, Four Seasons Preferred Partner,Virtuoso and Travelscene American Express.

In 2012 it was the first travel agency to be inducted into Australia's National Travel Industry Awards (NTIA) Hall of Fame for winning best corporate travel agency (single location) 2010, 2011 and 2012.

"Luxperience 2013 in Sydney will deliver hundreds more valuable B2B connections, such as that between Zegrahm and Spencer Travel, when the show opens on September 2," said Michelle Papas, Director of Marketing & Buyer Relations at Luxperience.

She said Luxperience was currently rolling out its Global Buyer Program which is invitation only. Ms Papas said that "proven high worth" international buyers will be eligible for three days' of pre-scheduled appointments with the buyer's choice of exhibitors, access to three days' of networking functions, three nights' hosted accommodation in Sydney, return airport transfers, access to the LuxConnect Private Online Community, and the opportunity to experience luxury products on pre and post fam tours.

Relevant Australia based bespoke travel buyers should apply to attend with Luxperience's National Inspire Buyer Program. It offers Australian luxury travel specialists three days' of face-to-face connections with providers of innovative and life-enriching travel experiences from around the world.

International and domestic buyer opportunities at Luxperience are outlined here.

For further information visit www.luxperience.com.au or email michelle.papas@luxperience.com.au.