In this week’s round-up, Ensemble reveals details of its newly launched luxury certification program; Virtuoso cruise icons are treated to a trip to Tahiti, and First in Service (F1S) agents convene for the organization’s second annual summit in Orlando, Florida.

Ensemble

 Ensemble has launched a Luxury Certification Program. Developed in collaboration with The Travel Institute, Ensemble says the program is designed to equip its members with the skills and knowledge necessary to excel in the luxury travel market, enabling them to distinguish themselves as elite professionals in the industry.

The program offers a comprehensive curriculum that covers the following key areas:

• Understanding the Luxury Travel Market: Covering the scope and identifies current trends in luxury travel.
• Luxury Travel Products: Types of luxury travel products and their principal attributes.
• Identifying Luxury Travellers by type and characteristics.
• Strategies for Finding Luxury Travellers: Effective methods to locate and attract luxury clients.
• Brand and Marketing Planning: How to craft a brand and marketing plan that supports a luxury specialist focus.
• Sales Messaging: Tools to develop compelling sales messages that appeal to luxury travelers.
• Presentation Skills: Effective strategies to present luxury travel products.

Ensemble announced earlier this year its expansion of offerings in the luxury travel sector with the announcement of several new partnerships and programs as well as the launch of its exclusive member community for advisors who specialize in luxury travel, Luxe Circles.

First in Service (F1S)

Independent travel agency F1S recently convened its annual SUMM1T at the newly opened Conrad Orlando, drawing 250 travel advisors (including Canadian members), plus supplier partners, and F1S staff from global locations.

The theme, “Storytelling,” underscored the vital role F1S travel advisors play in shaping memorable journeys for their clients across the agency’s three verticals: leisure, corporate and entertainment travel.

“Our vision has always been to provide excellent service and create amazing travel experiences, but more than that, it’s about establishing a travel company that values human relationships over corporate bureaucracy,” declared First in Service president Erika Reategui.

Fernando Gonzalez, CEO of First in Service, delivered a comprehensive keynote address, including introducing the One Global Network (1GN), a pivotal concept for F1S’s operations and further growth of its advisors.

Gonzalez emphasized that 1GN is more than just operational support; it is about creating a cohesive, multicultural environment that prioritizes efficient shared services and partnerships to drive growth.

He further noted that F1S has “doubled down” on its focus on ICs (independent contractors), achieving a ratio of 3:1 ICs to staff and that further expansion into new markets includes the UK, Mexico, Vancouver, and Los Angeles.

Virtuoso/Windstar

Virtuoso recently saw 50 of its 2024 Virtuoso “cruise icons” (including Canadian members) aboard Windstar’s 312-guest, all-suite Star Breeze in French Polynesia. The hosted experience provided an opportunity for some of the network’s cruise producers to become acquainted with a key partner and discover spectacular Tahiti.

Virtuoso Cruise Icons are an elite group of 146 Virtuoso advisors across eight countries who have earned the Icon designation and who collectively represent the top one percent of the network’s cruise sales.

As cruise icons, these advisors earn special access to exclusive events, with Windstar’s weeklong ‘Dreams of Tahiti’ cruise from June 20-27 being the latest. A nod to the group’s distinguished reputation, they were welcomed at the Presidential palace with a private event with Moetai Brotherson, the President of French Polynesia.

“Virtuoso Cruise Icons are a special group, not only for their impressive sales record but also for the dedication they show to supporting our preferred partners,” said Virtuoso VP of Global Member Relations, Cheryl Bunker. “We are so appreciative to Windstar for recognizing and celebrating the effort it takes to maintain status as a top-tier cruise producer by hosting this group for a truly iconic experience.”

The sailing comes as 58% of Virtuoso’s cruise community anticipate cruising will be the strongest tourism sector in 2024-25, even surpassing land-only experiences.

Swan Hellenic

In other Virtuoso news, Swan Hellenic has been accepted into the network’s portfolio of luxury travel partners. According to the cruise line’s CCO Patrizia Iantorno, inclusion in Virtuoso will present new sales and marketing opportunities to the network’s luxury travel advisors and their highly desirable clientele.