Luxury and experiential travel specialist Virtuoso presented its third annual regional Virtuoso Awards at its recent Canada Forum at Fairmont Palliser in Calgary. The event brought together more than 100 attendees, including owners and managers from Virtuoso’s travel agency members in Canada and preferred partners from around the world.
The regional awards recognized members and partners that consistently demonstrate a strong commitment to the Virtuoso network through outstanding sales performance, sustained growth and active engagement.
Honourees included:
Northern Lights Award: Kemi Wells-Conrad, Wells Luxury Travel, was recognized for going “above and beyond in engagement, activism, advocacy, sponsorship and the promotion of Virtuoso in Canada.” The award embodies “the commitment, humility and spirit of human connection within the Virtuoso network and is an example of what matters most to members, partners and travellers.”
Most Engaged: Recognizing a travel agency member and preferred partner with the highest engagement based on participation within the Virtuoso network:
- Member winner:Momenti Travel
- Partner winner: Viking
Top Producers: Recognizing members and partners with the highest overall network sales per category.
Member Awards:
Direct Travel earned Virtuoso’s Top Producing member awards across the Cruise, Hotels & Resorts, OnSite, Tour Operator and Specialty categories, reflecting the highest overall network sales in Canada.
Partner Awards:
- Top Producing Cruise: Celebrity Cruises
- Top Producing Hotels & Resorts: Four Seasons Resort and Residences Anguilla
- Top Producing On-Site: Giltedge – South Africa
- Top Producing Tour Operator: Collette
- Top Producing Wholesaler: Bedsonline
- Top Producing Specialty: Allianz Partners
Highest Annual Growth: These awards acknowledge partners with the largest annual year-over-year growth per category.
Member winners:
- Highest Cruise Annual Growth: Renshaw Travel
- Highest Hotels & Resorts Annual Growth: Wells Luxury Travel
- Highest On-Site Annual Growth: Wells Luxury Travel
- Highest Tour Operator Annual Growth: K. Benn Travel, Inc.
- Highest Specialty Annual Growth: Trevello Travel Group
Partner winners:
- Highest Cruise Annual Growth: AmaWaterways
- Highest Hotels & Resorts Annual Growth: Sonora Resort Canada
- Highest On-Site Annual Growth: Arno – Travel & Event Design – Italy
- Highest Tour Operator Annual Growth: Rocky Mountaineer
- Highest Wholesaler Annual Growth: Bedsonline
- Highest Specialty Annual Growth: Allianz Partners
“Virtuoso’s strength is rooted in the people who drive the network forward every day, demonstrating that human connection translates into business success,” said Virtuoso Chairman & CEO Matthew D. Upchurch. “Our Forum events across the globe spotlight leaders who are shaping the future of luxury travel and delivering exceptional experiences with consistency and care. We’re honoured to recognize this year’s regional award recipients and deeply value the role they play in strengthening Virtuoso’s influence.”
Virtuoso’s Global Awards will continue to recognize top members and partners at Virtuoso Travel Week in Las Vegas (Aug. 8-14), and the network’s highest honour, the Pinnacle Event, will celebrate extraordinary preferred partner production through an exclusive, fully hosted experience for qualifying advisors.
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