LAS VEGAS - International luxury travel network Virtuoso has honoured 20 outstanding destination, cruise and lifestyle partners as well as two advisors specialising in active and specialty travel. The awards highlight partners that have adapted their product offerings to best fit the needs for Virtuoso’s advisors, whether it’s delivering a superb traveler experience or offering stronger support of the travel advisor community.
Award winners were announced at three events during the 29th annual Virtuoso Travel Week conference, happening this week at Bellagio Resort & Casino, ARIA Resort & Casino and Vdara Hotel & Spa in Las Vegas.
Ten of the awards were unveiled at the Destination Showcase dinner August 14 at Bellagio, celebrating partners that offer exceptional experiences globally to Virtuoso clients, while providing superior expertise to network travel advisors:
- Best Curated Travel Partner: Made for Spain and Portugal
- Best Escorted Tour Partner: Tauck
- Destinations & Experiences Ambassador of the Year: The Pinto Family/Micato Safaris
- Destinations & Experiences Partner of the Year: Classic Vacations
- Best Multi-Generational Program – Cruise: Royal Caribbean International
- Best Culinary Experience – Cruise: Crystal Cruises
- Most Innovative Itinerary – Cruise: Silversea Cruises
- Most Luxurious Guest Experience – Cruise: Regent Seven Seas Cruises
- Best Virtuoso Voyages Experience: Decouvertes – Bordeaux, France: French Cooking Experience in Bordeaux
- Tourism Board of the Year: Tourism New Zealand
The Virtuoso Active and Specialty Travel Awards recognise advisors and partners involved with VAST, the network’s popular and enduring adventure community. The winners, presented at a reception August 11 at Bellagio, are:
- Top Producer – VAST: Michelle Bemis, McCabe World Travel
- Most Innovative Advisor – VAST: Natasha Rhodes, Vision Travel Solutions
- Most Innovative VAST Experience: Natural Habitat Adventures – Classic Polar Bear Adventure
- Best VAST Partner: Micato Safaris
The Alliance Partner Awards were presented August 13 at a luncheon at Bellagio, acknowledging outstanding preferred destinations and lifestyle suppliers:
- Most Engaged Tourism Board - North America: Tourism Australia
- Most Engaged Tourism Board – Global: Visit California
- Most Innovative Tourism Board: Auckland Tourism, Events and Economic Development
- Most Comprehensive Advisor Program: Argentina National Institute of Tourism Promotion
- Hottest Destination of the Year: Tourism Fiji
- Top Destination of the Year: Mexico Tourism Board
- Ambassador of the Year: Ina Rodin, Croatian National Tourist Board
- Most Innovative Lifestyle Partner: El Corte Ingles
