Virtuoso

Explora Journeys celebrated its Virtuoso partners who have demonstrated unwavering support since the ultra-luxury brand’s launch at a lavish dinner held at Ocean Prime in Las Vegas. The event coincided with Virtuoso Travel Week, which itself welcomed more than 4,800 participants from around the world.

At Virtuoso Travel Week, a panel of luxury travel advisors brought up the trend of shifting brand loyalty dynamics. Notably, Bharti Keshwala, partnerships director – Global Elite & Luxury, Reed & Mackay Travel, in the U.K., said that her clients are increasingly less loyal when it comes to the airlines they book with.

Virtuoso released its annual vault of client booking data and trends last week in Las Vegas at the 37th annual Virtuoso Travel Week.Taking a deep dive into the data, Misty Belles, Vice President, Global Public Relations for Virtuoso said the traveller profile for Australians in 2025 was gearing towards more active trips and that their interest in cruising continues to expand.

Achievements within Virtuoso’s niche travel sectors were celebrated during its 37th annual Virtuoso Travel Week, with the 2025 Virtuoso Community Awards presented on 9 August during the event’s Community Globetrotting Lunch.

Virtuoso’s top cruise preferred partners were revealed during an awards bash to mark the wrapping up of the 37th annual Virtuoso Travel Week.

Virtuoso concluded the 37th annual Virtuoso Travel Week with a star-studded evening of recognition honouring member agencies, advisors and brand partners from around the globe.

Virtuoso—and the travel industry at large—has boomed over the past 20 years, mostly due to the proliferation of the independent contractor (IC) model. According to The Travel Institute, in 2008, less than a third (29%) of travel advisors were ICs; now, it’s the exact opposite, with 71% of advisors working as ICs.

Virtuoso CEO and Chairman Matthew Upchurch is encouraging the industry to flip from using the phrase ‘over tourism’ to ‘destination stewardship’, which the World Travel & Tourism Council has been referring to the edgy topic for the past four years.

More than three-quarters of Virtuoso travel advisors have observed more interest among their clients in booking sustainable travel experiences when compared to five years ago. In developing its sustainability initiatives, Virtuoso determined three pillars it would focus on: supporting local economies, protecting the planet and celebrating culture—which, in that order, are of most to least importance according to Virtuoso clients.

Despite speculation that international travellers are shying away from the US, Virtuoso Global Luxury Traveller Report 2025 has revealed otherwise.

Virtuoso Travel Week 2025 has kicked off Las Vegas, with more than 4,800 top luxury travel professionals from 107 countries gathering for a frenzied week of collaboration, connection, and strategic growth.

Despite the perception that “travel is down,” Virtuoso is reporting that all travel categories are up when compared to 2024 numbers. Said Misty Belles, Vice President, Global Public Relations for Virtuoso: “Luxury travel just behaves differently.”