At the conclusion of the recent 34th annual Virtuoso Travel Week, the global network specializing in luxury travel shined a spotlight on its most esteemed travel agencies, advisors, and preferred partners.
The awards, honouring individuals and entities that have gone above and beyond in the travel industry over the past year, were presented at a gala evening event at Bellagio Resort & Casino in Las Vegas.
Virtuoso’s 20,000 professional travel advisors from 50 countries served as ‘Best of the Best’ award voters, while editors of Virtuoso Life, the network’s award-winning magazine, lent insights to narrow the field of nominees for which the advisors voted.
Among the (supplier) winners:
‘BEST OF THE BEST’ AWARDS
Best Hotel: This award recognizes an iconic hotel that epitomizes excellence in luxury hospitality and acts as a beacon for positive change in its community, particularly in developing markets.
• Winner: Gleneagles, Scotland – For nearly a century, this historic resort has served as one of Scotland’s top sporting estates, offering outdoor pursuits like golf, fishing, falconry and more – plus Michelin-starred cuisine, an award-winning spa and a robust social calendar. The iconic property is also dedicated to making a difference in its community through partnerships with organizations like Social Bite and Anchor House.
Best New or Reimagined Hotel: This award recognizes a hotel that is either newly opened (within the last two years) or has re-opened after an extensive renovation resulting in a new hotel experience.
• Winner: Cheval Blanc Paris – Set within the 19th-century La Samaritaine department-store complex, Cheval Blanc Paris is LVMH’s first five-star accommodation in the City of Lights. The Art Deco gem is the crowning glory of the complex (16 years in the making), with 72 rooms and suites with views of Pont Neuf, a Dior spa and the largest swimming pool in Paris.
Hotelier of the Year: This award recognizes an experienced hotel manager who demonstrates unparalleled leadership and vision, an unrelenting passion for the industry, an engaged commitment to our network of Virtuoso travel advisors and an astute appreciation for detail.
• Winner: Valentina de Santis, Grand Hotel Tremezzo and Passalacqua, Lake Como
Best Innovative Guest Experience by a Hotel: The award recognizes a hotel that goes above and beyond to create the best guest experience for the Virtuoso guest by providing an innovative Virtuoso added value amenity.
• Winner: One & Only Gorilla’s Nest – This treehouse-style boutique lodge is the closest hotel to Volcanoes National Park, home to over 340 mountain gorillas, golden monkeys, and 300 bird species. Besides gorilla trekking and up-close nature encounters, the hotel also features a sustainable restaurant serving ingredients grown on-site, stilted lodge accommodations, a spa set amid the jungle, and activities like E-bike tours.
Best On-site: The award recognizes an on-site partner who creates outstanding custom experiences.
• Winner: Southern Crossings, Australia, and New Zealand – For over 35 years, the expert travel specialists at Southern Crossings have been designing personalized, bespoke itineraries to Australia, New Zealand, and the South Pacific. With unmatched on-the-ground knowledge and a commitment to five-star service, the company works with a broad spectrum of discerning travellers, from honeymooners to multi-generational families.
Best Tour Partner: The award recognizes a tour operator or wholesaler partner with the most compelling vacation options and itineraries, whether FIT or escorted.
• Winner: Abercombie & Kent – Since 1962, Abercrombie & Kent has been a pioneer in the world of luxury adventure travel. With a globe-spanning network, the company offers adventures in more than 100 countries on all seven continents. Trips combine singular service, authentic local expertise and insider access, promising the best trip ever, every time.
Best Tourism Board: The award recognizes a tourism board Partner that epitomizes excellence and is highly engaged with the Virtuoso advisor membership.
• Winner: Los Cabos Tourism Board – The Los Cabos Tourism Board is dedicated to promoting the best of Los Cabos, located at the tip of the 1,000-mile-long Baja Peninsula. With luxury resorts, world-class culinary and spa offerings, championship golf courses and state-of-the-art convention facilities the area draws tourists and business travellers alike. The office provides visitors with information on the destination and its many facets, while promoting the region’s tourism both nationally and internationally.
Best Specialty, Insurance or Airline: The award recognizes a partner providing exemplary service focused on insurance, auto rental, private jet, and other service partners.
• Winner: Allianz Partners – A global leader in travel protection, working in partnership with over 40 airlines and 100,000 travel agencies, Allianz Partners consistently raises industry standards for partners and their customers. Digital solutions are designed with a customer focus, making it possible to request geo-localized assistance in real time.
Best Ocean Cruise Line: This award recognizes the cruise line that offers the best overall ocean cruise experience to Virtuoso travelers.
• Winner: Silversea – Silversea’s small luxury ships are designed for those who delight in the thrill of discovery while indulging the mind and body in the most lavish surroundings imaginable. Silversea voyages and cruise expeditions sail to over 900 destinations on all seven continents – more than any other cruise line. Plus, with expanded all-inclusive service, door-to-door transfers, and added shore excursions for classic voyages, sailing the world has never been so seamless.
Best River Cruise Line: This award recognizes the river cruise line which delivers the best overall cruise experience to Virtuoso travellers.
• Winner: AmaWaterways – A family-owned company since 2002, AmaWaterways offers unforgettable river cruises with 25 ships sailing through Europe, Asia, and Africa. Each ship carries an average of just 156 guests, allowing for intimacy and personalization, while included shore excursions, fleetwide wellness activities, luxurious accommodations like twin-balcony staterooms pave the way for adventure and relaxation. AmaWaterways is proud to be the only river cruise line inducted into La Chaine des Rotisseurs, one of the world’s most prestigious culinary organizations. The company is also planning the longest-ever river cruise in Europe in June 2023.
Best Expedition Cruise Line: This award recognizes the expedition cruise line which delivers the best overall cruise experience to Virtuoso travelers.
• Winner: Lindblad Expeditions – For generations, the Lindblad name has been synonymous with exploration, adventure, and responsible tourism. These abiding traits were born from Lindblad’s rich heritage as the first expedition company in the world, founded by Lars-Eric Lindblad in 1958 as a way to introduce like-minded adventurers to remote lands, pristine nature, and diverse cultures. Lindblad has inspired tens of thousands of explorers to discover their planet and ponder their place within it.