This week: Travel Oregon host Brand USA FAM winners; Virtuoso and Uniglobe Travel Canada members gathered in exotic locals; First in Service enhanced support for members; and a Toronto TRAVELSAVERS advisor received a uniquely prestigious award.
Travel Oregon
Travel Oregon hosted three Canadian travel advisors the winners in Brand USA’s ‘Sell Your Way to the USA’ incentive campaign. Taking place May 5-10, the FAM included Michelle MacKenzie, Tier One Travel, Calgary; Misty McKnight, Direct Travel, Regina; and Callan Thompson, Sportscorp Travel, Bolton, Ont.
After arriving in Portland, the FAM participants headed out with First Nature Tours to explore the Oregon Coast with stops in Astoria and Seaside with visits to state parks, a local brewery and a bonfire onCanyon beach.
Other stops included the the Willamette Valley for wine tasting and a cooking class; Mt. Hood Territory, home to the state’s tallest peak; a visit to Timberline Lodge – a National Historic Landmark; a tour of the “Fruit Loop” – a collection of orchards, vineyards and farms; and Columbia Gorge National Scenic Area, home to North America’s most concentrated stretch of waterfalls.
“It was very important to Travel Oregon to support the Sell Your Way to the USA campaign at a time when we want to re-confirm our commitment to Canadian travel advisors and visitors,” said Thomas Moser, Global Sales Manager, Travel Oregon. “Travel Oregon was proud to showcase our Why Guides program to the winners.”
The Why Guides Program encourages visitors to consider a licensed guide or outfitter to provide safe and responsible travel experiences in Oregon.
TRAVELSAVERS Canada
Lina Matturo, owner of Islington Travel, long-standing Toronto-based travel agency and TRAVELSAVERS Canada affiliate, has been awarded the King Charles III Coronation Medal in recognition of her outstanding community service spanning more than four decades.
A community leader for over 45 years, Matturo has devoted her time to local outreach programs, Canadian citizenship classes, and served on numerous community boards, helping strengthen and uplift countless individuals, and through trust, connection and resilience, and being a driving force of positive change.
“This recognition is not just for me, but for the collective effort of every individual who contributes their time, energy, and passion to making our community a better place,” Matturo said.
Uniglobe Travel (Canada)
Uniglobe Travel (Canada) recently gathered agency owners from across the country for its 2025 Owners Retreat in Cancun, Mexico. After a hiatus since Covid, the retreat will now be reinstated as an annual event, says the organization.
Taking places May 7-11 at Secrets The Vine, the event aimed to strengthen relationships, foster networking with supplier sponsors, and create deeper connections through informal social events and group dinners. A highlight was dinner was hosted at the rooftop event space of Breathless Cancun Soul.
Virtuoso
Virtuoso hosted its annual Symposium May 13-17 aboard the privately chartered Crystal Serenity with 375 industry professionals from 38 countries. Guests embarked in Barcelona and enjoyed shore excursions in Portofino and Monte Carlo before disembarking in Marseille.
During a day at sea, Virtuoso executives took the stage for the Opening Session, including Chairman and CEO Matthew D. Upchurch and Executive VP David Kolner, who, along with Sr. VP Jennifer Campbell reflected on the broader transformations in the luxury travel industry – particularly in the areas of personalization, sustainability, exclusivity and technology.
Upchurch discussed the top factors influencing luxury travel this year, according to a Virtuoso survey of agency owners and managers, which included geopolitical conflicts, political uncertainty, labour and staffing challenges, stock market volatility and more. Notably, half of respondents indicated they see AI as an opportunity, as opposed to a threat.
It was also shared that first-quarter 2025 sales surpassed the first quarter 2024 by 14%, and that sales were up across all categories within the same time frame.
First in Service (F1S)
First in Service Travel (F1S) has launched First24 in-house support as part of its “F1S Service Around the Sun” initiative. First24 was designed to provide 24/7 in-house support to both travel advisors and clients across its global network. The program, which had a soft launch for advisors on March 17, is now fully operational, with expanded access for clients beginning early autumn.
Phase one of First24 delivers round-the-clock support to F1S travel advisors in all sectors – luxury leisure, corporate, and entertainment travel – ensuring that whenever and wherever they need assistance, help is just a call away. This support is provided by dedicated F1S staff located in Canada, Colombia, the Philippines and Spain, currently offering service in both English and Spanish, while French will be offered soon.
“Unlike traditional outsourced after-hours models, all First24 calls are answered in-house by our very own F1S employees to ensure ‘Service Around the Sun,’” says Fernando Gonzalez, CEO of First in Service. “This means the person on the other end of the line has a personal stake in the success of every advisor and client interaction – aligning with our ‘FANAT1CAL Service’ pillar, which is part of our broader One Global Network (1GN) philosophy.”
“Our advisors are known for being available to their clients at all times – and now we are just as available to them,” said Gina Gabbard, Chief Strategy Officer for First in Service. “We’ve built a team that understands the nuance and urgency of our business, particularly in complex fields like entertainment and luxury leisure travel. First24 ensures that even after hours, our people are being supported by a team that they know and trust.”
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