Virtuoso‘s top-performing travel agency members, partners and individuals were recognised and crowned at the annual Virtuoso Asia-Pacific Luxury Awards in Singapore last weekend.
Signature Media, the parent company of LATTE, was the exclusive media partner of the Virtuoso Asia-Pacific Luxury Awards.
Held at the Fullerton Hotel, it was the first time the luxury travel network hosted the awards in Singapore, in recognition of Asia’s growing importance in the Virtuoso network, and saw more than 60 owners and managers from the group’s agencies across the region take part.
Virtuoso senior executives, including the organisation’s Chairman and CEO, Matthew D. Upchurch, joined members for two days of strategic overview, business seminars, partner networking and information sharing, culminating in the 2018 Virtuoso APAC Luxury Awards and Gala Dinner.
The Virtuoso APAC Luxury Awards honour member agencies and advisors whose luxury sales performance, reputation and service levels have excelled over the past 12 months.
This year’s winners include Goldman Travel, MTA and Savenio for production and Country Holidays, FBI Travel and Mosman Travel for growth. The awards also recognise the region’s top hotel, cruise and tour partners.
“Luxury travel advising is all about keeping the client in the centre of the business and these award-winners have grown their business by focusing on their customers and delivering service that has differentiated them from the mass market offerings,” Virtuoso Asia-Pacific Managing Director, Michael Londregan, said.
“The Virtuoso Luxury Travel Awards are the result of members’ performance; they are the perfect reflection of both a growing client base and the ability to maintain client loyalty.
“These are the advisors and agencies who have been nominated by the most important audience panel that exists – their clients. Virtuoso is simply recognising client and market sentiment.”
This year’s awards included two new categories acknowledging individual achievements: the Virtuoso Rising Star award, which went to Lynn Mayer of Sabra Travel, and the Most Innovative Advisor, which went to Gloria Gammo of SmartFlyer Australia.
The 2018 Virtuoso APAC Luxury Award winners are:
Cruise Production
Member – Savenio
Partner – Seabourn
Cruise Growth
Member – FBI Travel
Partner – Oceania Cruises
Hotels & Resorts Production
Member – Goldman Travel Corporation
Partner – Halekulani
Hotels & Resorts Growth
Member – Country Holidays
Partner – Rosewood Beijing
Destinations & Experiences Production
Member – MTA
Partner – Island Escapes
Destinations & Experiences Growth
Member – Mosman Travel
Partner – 50 Degrees North
Most Engaged Agency
Winner – Executive Edge
Nominees – Alpha Travel, Charlotte Travel
Most Hospitable Agency
Winner – Sabra Travel
Nominees – FBI Travel, Travelcall
Advisor Awards
Virtuoso Rising Star – Lynn Mayer, Sabra Travel
Most Innovative Advisor – Gloria Gammo, SmartFlyer Australia
Lead image caption – Member winners from left to right: Anthony Goldman, Goldman Travel Corporation; Michael Londregan, Virtuoso APAC md; David Brandon, Savenio; Jessica Yap, Country Holidays; Penny Spencer, Spencer Group of Companies; Lauryn Belleli, Sabra; Matthew D. Upchurch, Virtuoso CEO and chairman; Sara Pearce, MTA – Mobile Travel Agents and David Goldman; Goldman Travel Corporation.